Cat food recalled after testing positive for H5N1 and feline dies
Oregon health officials are warning cat owners to throw out a brand of frozen pet food. This comes after the food tested positive for bird flu and a house cat died after eating the product.
Health officials say the deceased cat “strictly” stayed inside and wasn’t exposed to the virus in any other setting, noting that the virus detected in the pet food and the cat “were exact matches.”
Veterinarians say H5N1 is particularly deadly for cats, especially big cats.
Earlier this week, it was reported that at least 20 exotic cats died from bird flu at a Washington state animal sanctuary, including tigers, bobcats and mountain lions.
The cause of the outbreak at the sanctuary is still unknown.
However, wildlife officials at the sanctuary say that the virus can infect large cats who eat birds with the virus or other contaminated products. Furthermore, they say that cats’ symptoms can start off subtle but progress rapidly, which may lead to “death within 24 hours due to pneumonia-like conditions.”
The Golden State has also declared a state of emergency over the spread of H5N1 with reportedly the highest number of infected cattle herds and human cases nationwide.
Still, U.S. health officials say the risk to humans remains low but urge individuals working with farm animals to wear protective equipment.
Animal rights groups warn of abandoned pets as Cubans flee in record numbers
Cubans are fleeing their homes in record numbers, fueled by fears of shifting U.S. immigration policy and poverty caused by mass inflation, as reported on Saturday, Oct. 12. More than 1 million Cubans have reportedly left the nation since 2020, which is around a tenth of the island’s population.
Additionally, many Cubans are resorting to a dangerous journey, sailing the open sea on makeshift rafts toward the U.S. and other destinations. Hundreds of people have reportedly drowned or gone missing in search of a new home.
Cuba’s government claims the problem will only get worse, blaming the United States sanctions for tanking its economy and forcing the high migration numbers.
The mass exodus of Cubans also means more pets are being abandoned in the nation. Animal rights groups say they have rescued hundreds of dogs and cats and warn that the situation is getting worse.
Most Cubans reportedly cannot afford to bring their pets with them to another country. Trips to the U.S. and elsewhere cost thousands of dollars, and many Cubans only make about $21 a month. It has forced many migrants to abandon pets and seek the cheapest yet most dangerous option of getting on a raft or poorly constructed boat at sea.
A coastal resident of Cuba who survived a shipwreck told Reuters that he believes another wave of immigration is inevitable, and he’d been offered a seat on a boat, which he declined. He said, “It’s going to kick off again at any moment.”
DeSantis vows to punish those who neglected pets as hurricane approached
As Hurricane Milton was nearing landfall, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., took aim at bad dog owners. DeSantis vowed to punish those pet owners who left their canines tied up as the storm made its way to the coastline.
DeSantis responded to a video posted on social media on Wednesday, Oct. 9, by the Florida State Patrol showing troopers rescuing a dog tied up next to the highway in the Tampa Bay area.
The governor thanked the troopers, and wrote on the social media platform X, “It is cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle an oncoming storm. FL. will hold anyone who mistreats pets accountable.”
In Florida, abandoning a pet is a misdemeanor but repeat animal cruelty offenders can receive jail time.
Nearly 6 million people are reportedly under mandatory evacuation orders in Florida. President Joe Biden urged residents to heed the warnings from local officials and said it could be the worst storm to hit the Sunshine State in more than 100 years.
Researchers unlock new secrets to improving cat health using crochet hats
Researchers from the University of Montreal have developed little crochet beanies for cats, but they’re more than just a fashion statement. The hats are lined with electrodes to measure brain activity, allowing scientists to study feline behavior in a new way.
The findings were published in the Journal of Neuroscience Methods. This research marks the first time EEG brain scans have been done on cats while they’re awake.
With regular cat behavior, the team had to get creative to keep the electrodes in place. Thanks to YouTube, they had the idea to crochet hats for cats.
These tiny wool hats allowed scientists to measure brain activity in felines without having to sedate them. This breakthrough could pave the way for even more advanced research into what cats experience, including chronic pain.
Over 25% of adult cats live with osteo-arthritis worldwide, and the research aimed to see how cats dealt with that daily pain.
Previous studies had to rely on heavily sedated cats for these tests, but now with these innovative hats, researchers can monitor their brain activity while they’re awake. These electrode-filled beanies are already in use to help researchers figure out how cats respond to pleasant smell and sounds.
This is part of a broader effort to ease discomfort these animals feel in their experience of chronic pain. While the study is still in its early stages, new doors are already being opened in ways we can study other animals, potentially through the use of these hats.
Petco stops sale of rabbits after backlash from animal rights group
If a person wants to buy a wiggly-nosed, cotton-tailed, friend at Petco, they’ll have to think again. The pet retailer announced on Tuesday, Sept. 24, that it is no longer selling pet rabbits after backlash from animal welfare advocates.
Petco’s announcement is on the heels of a call out earlier this month from Rabbit.org, which said, the company failed to deliver on its promises in 1994 and 2008 to stop all rabbit sales.
“The selling of rabbits often leads to impulse buys by customers unaware of the extensive care and significant veterinary costs involved,” Rabbit.org said.
The group also said that rabbit purchases often lead to what the organization dubs “summer dumping season,” in which, many pet rabbits are “abandoned outdoors” and become easy prey or roadkill.
Petco said that its decision to eliminate the sale of rabbits is based on feedback it received “from animal rescue and welfare organizations nationwide.”
In order to encourage people into “responsible rabbit adoptions” Petco is now offering a 20% discount for bunny parents who adopt from an established rescue or adoption organization through the month of October. The pet retailer also said that it is putting all remaining miniature rabbits up for adoption as part of a pilot program in select locations.
The president of Petco Love’s said that the move is in line with the company’s mission to “improve lives for pets and the people who love them.”
Bunnies are reportedly the third most popular pet in the United States.
Kamala Harris, Donald Trump go on the attack in presidential debate
We recap the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. And SpaceX launches four private citizens into space for one historic mission. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.
Kamala Harris, Donald Trump go on the attack in presidential debate
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris met for their first — and potentially only — debate Tuesday night, Sept. 10. The two presidential candidates were asked questions about the economy, abortion, immigration, Jan. 6, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and more.
Following a handshake, the candidates went head-to-head for about 90 minutes in Philadelphia, trying to win over any voters who were left undecided less than two months away from Election Day.
On the economy, Harris said, “I believe in the ambition, the aspirations, the dreams of the American people. And that is why I imagine and have actually a plan to build what I call an opportunity economy. Because here’s the thing: We know that we have a shortage of homes and housing, and the cost of housing is too expensive for far too many people. We know that young families need support to raise their children. And I intend on extending a tax cut for those families of $6,000, which is the largest child tax credit that we have given in a long time.”
Trump said, “Look, we’ve had a terrible economy because inflation has, which is really known as a country buster. It breaks up countries. We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before, probably the worst in our nation’s history. We were at 21%. But that’s being generous because many things are 50, 60, 70 and 80% higher than they were just a few years ago.”
On abortion, Trump said, “For 52 years, they’ve been trying to get Roe v. Wade into the states. And through the genius and heart and strength of six Supreme Court justices, we were able to do that. Now, I believe in the exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. I believe strongly in it. Ronald Reagan did also.”
Harris responded, “The majority of Americans believe in a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body. And that is why in every state where this issue has been on the ballot in red and blue states, both, the people of America have voted for freedom.”
But it wasn’t always policy that was the subject. Both candidates took jabs at one another throughout the debate, including on the attendance at rallies.
“And he’s going to talk about immigration a lot tonight, even when it’s not the subject that is being raised. And I’m going to actually do something really unusual and I’m going to invite you to attend one of Donald Trump’s rallies because it’s a really interesting thing to watch,” Harris said. “You will see during the course of his rallies, he talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter. He will talk about windmills cause cancer. And what you will also notice is that people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom. And I will tell you, the one thing you will not hear him talk about is you. You will not hear him talk about your needs, your dreams and your- and your desires. And I’ll tell you, I believe you deserve a president who actually puts you first. And I pledge to you that I will.”
“First, let me respond as to the rallies,” Trump said. “She said people start leaving. People don’t go to her rallies. There’s no reason to go. And the people that do go, she’s busing them in and paying them to be there and then showing them in a different light. So she can’t talk about that. People don’t leave my rallies. We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics. That’s because people want to take their country back. Our country is being lost. We’re a failing nation. And it happened three and a half years ago.”
After the back and forth throughout the debate, the candidates each continued to make their case and claimed victory.
The Harris campaign posted on X the debate was “fun” and to “do it again in October.” While Trump posted on Truth Social saying he thought it was “my best debate ever– especially because it was three on-one,” in a reference to the two ABC News moderators.
Swift has previously been vocal in her support for Democrats in elections at the local and presidential level. Swift encouraged her 280 million followers to do their research and that “the choice is theirs.”
Presidential candidates commemorate 9/11
It’s been 23 years since the 9/11 terror attacks in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania killed nearly 3,000 people. Remembrance events are being held all across the country Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Vice President Harris and former President Trump are both scheduled to visit Ground Zero in New York Wednesday.
Harris, who will be paying her respects alongside President Joe Biden, will also visit the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon.
After Trump visits Ground Zero, he’s set to visit a fire station in New York City before also traveling to Shanksville.
FAA investigating after Delta plane clips another aircraft
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a Delta Air Lines plane clipped the tail of another aircraft at the world’s busiest airport Tuesday. Both plans were on the tarmac at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta taxiing for takeoff when it happened.
One of the planes had its wingtip severed from the aircraft in the incident. No one was hurt but both planes were damaged, and passengers had to get off.
Hurricane Francine expected to make landfall in Louisiana Wednesday
Meteorologists say the storm is still gaining strength and is likely to turn into a Category 2 before making landfall in Louisiana then moving north into Mississippi. However, they also expect Francine to weaken quickly as it moves inland.
SpaceX launches 4 astronauts to conduct first private spacewalk
SpaceX launched four astronauts into space on Tuesday for a historic mission. The Dragon capsule lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center carrying a billionaire entrepreneur — who financed the trip — along with a retired Air Force pilot, and two SpaceX engineers.
It took about nine and a half minutes for the capsule to reach orbit. A few minutes later, the capsule separated from its support trunk revealing a spectacular view of the Earth from the onboard cameras.
What indoor cats testing positive for bird flu could mean for spread
New findings published on Monday, Aug. 19, found that two indoor cats in Colorado tested positive for bird flu. The findings suggest that H5N1 could be more prevalent among the human population than previously thought.
How the cats caught the virus is still unclear. Reported theories range from an infected mouse coming in contact with one of the cats to the felines drinking raw milk or consuming infected meat. Domestic cats have tested positive for the virus in the past, but some lived on dairy farms and lived in states hit hard with the virus.
Pets are also a trickier population for scientists to track because there are no mandatory tests like in livestock in the United States. So far, no dogs have any reported cases to date. However, experts urge pet owners to avoid feeding their dogs and cats raw milk, eggs or meat, and keep an eye on pets that directly handle birds. Scientists say to lookout for symptoms like lethargy or difficulty breathing in pets.
The transmission of the virus through meat is still being determined. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it will begin testing meat of dairy cows brought to slaughter. Only about 10% of meat on the United States market is from dairy cows and the cows are only brought to slaughter after they stop producing milk.
The survey is set to begin in mid-September and will reportedly give scientists a better national outlook on the prevalence of bird flu and determine if the virus can replicate in a lab and what cooking temperature kills or inactivates it.
The USDA also announced new findings into the pasteurization process, confirming that the method inactivates the virus and commercial milk remains safe to drink. Mitigation efforts have been underway with mandatory testing for dairy cow herds crossing state lines implemented earlier this year.
As for the impacts on humans, scientists remain concerned with these latest findings as they study how the virus is transmitted. The discovery of H5N1 in house pets could mean virus-carrying animals or products could already be within the confines of homes.
Meanwhile, the U.S. remains in the midst of farming slump. Straight Arrow News Correspondent Simone Del Rosario spoke with Damian Mason, the host of “The Business of Agriculture” podcast on why the farming slump continues despite the country’s two largest crops having high yields. Check out the interview here.
Nationwide dropping 100,000 pet insurance policyholders due to inflation
Nationwide — the country’s largest provider for pet insurance — is dropping coverage for approximately 100,000 policyholders. The cancellations have already started June 14 and will continue through summer 2025.
Nationwide blamed inflation for these steps. The company said this action will enable it to “maintain long-term viability and profitability.”
“As pet lovers ourselves, we understand the emotions connected to the protection of our family pets,” Nationwide said in a statement. “Inflation in the cost of veterinary care and other factors have led to recent underwriting changes and the withdrawal of some products in some states — difficult actions that are necessary to ensure a financially sustainable future for our pet insurance line of business.”
While Nationwide said the policies being tossed are not associated with a pet’s age, breed or prior claims, USA TODAY reported many of the policies are for older pets with prior conditions who may not be able to be insured elsewhere.
According to a NerdWallet survey released earlier this year, about 24% of pet owners have pet insurance which can cover routine care as well as treatment for illnesses and injuries. The average annual cost for pet insurance for dogs is $676 and $383 for cats.
Over half of those surveyed said they purchase pet insurance for the “peace of mind.” But now that peace is being taken away for many pet owners.
UK considered exterminating cats early in COVID-19 pandemic: ex-official
As countries around the world took extraordinary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, health officials in the U.K. reportedly considered culling the country’s cat population. According to the country’s former health minister Lord Bethell, there was an idea at one moment when they considered asking the public to exterminate all the cats in Britain.
"There was an idea at one moment that we may have to ask the public to exterminate all the cats in Britain."
Former Health Minister Lord Bethell discusses the early government response to the Covid pandemic. pic.twitter.com/YWyp32zPML
These comments come just one day after a massive leak of internal conversations between the former health minister’s boss, Matt Hancock, and senior U.K. figures. Last week, more than 100,000 of their WhatsApp messages from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic were passed over to British media. The former health secretary called the leak a “massive betrayal breach of trust,” as reported by the Associated Press.
The U.K. has approximately 11 million cats, and many owners took to social media after the news saying they wouldn’t have given them up anyway. At the pandemic‘s onset, it was unclear how dangerous animals with COVID-19 actually were. While animal-to-human transmission is a real thing, the CDC has said animals do not appear to play a significant role in spreading the virus.
That did not stop countries like Denmark from mass culling 17 million minks and places like Hong Kong from killing some 2,000 hamsters last year as part of its zero-COVID policy.
Proposed Florida bill bans dogs from sticking their heads out of car windows
It’s the time of year that state lawmakers are reconvening for their legislative sessions to debate bills that could become new state laws. A bill from Florida is catching national attention because it would ban pet owners from allowing their dogs to stick their heads out of car windows, and the dogs wouldn’t be allowed in a driver’s lap. The bill was introduced with the intention to protect animals.
Not only would dogs be banned from sticking their head out of the window, but they would have to be secured inside the car. The bill says dogs would have to be in a crate, restrained with a seat belt, or under the physical control of someone other than the driver.
The bill includes laws related to other animals too. Cats can’t be declawed unless it is for a necessary medical reason, and it also includes a number of bans on cosmetic testing on animals.
Should the bill pass both chambers of the Florida legislature and gain approval from the governor, it would take effect Oct. 1, 2023.
Currently, New Jersey is the only state with a law on the books that bans dogs from sitting in driver’s laps. The state considers it animal cruelty.