#cats

All articles tagged with "cats"

Vet Worker in Los Angeles Caught H5N1 Bird Flu From Infected Cat

Cat-to-Human H5N1 Case Sharpens Concern Around Household Transmission

A documented H5N1 case involving a Los Angeles veterinary worker and an infected cat adds a new transmission route to the bird flu risk map, even though the exposed person never developed symptoms.

Key Takeaways

A veterinary worker in Los Angeles tested positive for H5N1 antibodies after handling an infected cat.
Officials investigated 19 suspected cat cases, with nine tested cats all positive for H5N1.

DT Editorial Team·May 8, 2026·via gizmodo.com

Japan’s Aoshima Shows What Happens When a Community Shrinks but Its Animal Population Endures

Aoshima, a tiny island in Japan’s Ehime prefecture, now has around 80 cats and only a handful of human residents, turning demographic decline into an unusual ecological and cultural story.

Key Takeaways

Aoshima has roughly 80 cats and only a handful of human residents.
The island was once a sardine-fishing community.

DT Editorial Team·Apr 12, 2026·via livescience.com

A Cat-Food Smell Study Suggests Feline “Picky Eating” May Be More About Novelty Than Taste

A small study found that cats ate substantially more when the smell associated with their food changed, suggesting that declining interest may reflect odor familiarity rather than simple fussiness.

Key Takeaways

A 12-cat study found that repeated exposure to the same food reduced intake.
Introducing a different smell, even without changing the edible food, boosted consumption.

DT Editorial Team·Apr 11, 2026·via newscientist.com