Letters | Two measures to help improve cat health in Hong Kong

Readers discuss cat owners’ concerns, how to make the transport subsidy more affordable, and ambulance services

Reading Time:3 minutes

A cat sits in a basket outside a grocery shop in To Kwa Wan on November 22. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:30am, 6 Jan 2025

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A domestic cat in Oregon in the United States recently died from H5N1 bird flu after consuming cat food contaminated with the virus. The incident has raised concern among cat lovers around the world, including in Hong Kong, where the brand in question was available online.

Currently, Hong Kong does not have specific regulations governing the importation of pet food, even though most pet food in local stores is sourced internationally.

In view of our close contact with our pets, legislator Steven Ho Chun-yin has called on the government to strengthen its oversight to address any possible health concerns. As a dedicated owner of four beloved cats, I support the government to work with the Legislative Council and the Consumer Council on enacting a regulatory framework for imported pet food.

In addition to stepping up the monitoring of pet food, Hong Kong should address a glaring gap in its veterinary services – the lack of a definitive treatment protocol for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a fatal viral infection that affects cats.

In recent years, an effective treatment has emerged in the form of GS-441524, an antiviral drug. Countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom acknowledge GS-441524 as a legitimate treatment for FIP and permit veterinarians to procure the drug legally. Hong Kong, however, has yet to legalise this treatment.