A domestic cat in southeastern Saskatchewan has died after contracting “highly pathogenic avian influenza,” according to a news release from the provincial Ministry of Agriculture.

The cat that contracted the illness seemed normal on the morning of April 20, but very quickly deteriorated — showing sudden neurological and respiratory signs.

It died the same day. 

Post-mortem testing from Prairie Diagnostic Services and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the presence of the H5N1 strain of the highly pathogenic avian flu, the news release says.