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[mefree]

I couldn't help but think of Lorelei when I saw this article:

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1934826,00.html?iid=tsmodule

For all the attention that has whirled around H1N1 in recent months, it seems that one vulnerable, and furry, population may have been overlooked: the family pet.

On Wednesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported the first confirmed case of H1N1 in a house pet, a 13-year-old domestic shorthaired cat. The animal likely contracted the virus from its owners, veterinarians say, since two of the three family members living in the cat's household had recently suffered from influenza-like illness. Late last week, when the cat came down with flu-like symptoms — malaise, loss of appetite — its owners brought it to Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment. The family mentioned to the vet that they had also recently battled illness, which led to testing the pet for H1N1.

[Lorelei]

I wonder why you thought of me?

I did not know cats could catch flu, but I know that ferrets can; they can catch colds, too.

[mefree]

Ferret is cute. I hope he haz no swine flu.

[Lorelei]

So far, he is swine flu-free, and so am I.

I am more worried about catching a bug when visiting my niece, etc. in ATL than I am about him spontaneously catching it indoors. IOW, I'd have to get it first, and then get up in his face to pass the germs on to him. He's safe as houses; I am only slightly less so, as I am a happy hermit.

[Sarcasm Pirate]

I did not know cats could catch flu, but I know that ferrets can; they can catch colds, too.

I once had an elderly ferret who caught the flu from my mother which in turn ended with pneumonia. :-( A couple hundred dollars in very bills and she was better but it was quite possibly the most pitiful thing ever to have a sniffling, sneezy, weezy old lady woozel.