[johntheexpat]

..... but the three cats have been a bit off colour this week. I thought it was just the shortening days and the change in weather, but having read this, no more hugs or tickles for them.


From the France 24 website:

Vets in the US state of Iowa said Wednesday that a household cat had tested positive for swine flu -- the first known case in the world of the new pandemic strain spreading to the feline population.

The domestic shorthair, a 13-year-old castrated male, apparently caught A(H1N1) off its owners -- two of the three members of the family had previously contracted the deadly virus.

"This is the first cat that we are aware of with the pandemic H1N1," said Brett Sponseller, an assistant professor of veterinarian microbiology who helped treat the pet at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

[RinseOut]

oh dear, will be giving my animals a slightly wider berth from now on

[zanty]

thats worrying
theres a mingy black cat that always s**ts in my driveway

better get a scarecrow