By Jeff Skrzypek

LEBANON, Ore. -- The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association says a 10-year-old cat died from the swine flu last week.

Rhonda Rebmann says one of her family member was suffering from flu-like symptoms before four of her five cats got sick, but she has no way of knowing if the cats got sick from being in contact with that family member.  Rebmann says that three of the cats eventually recovered, while the fourth cat only got worse.

Rebmann took her cat to the Lebanon Animal Clinic when the feline began to have trouble breathing.  Veterinarians say they first thought the animal could have some kind of lung sickness like pneumonia.

Doctors say after they monitored the condition of the cat, they took a closer look and noticed something was not quite right.  The cat died three days later from what doctors confirmed as the first feline H1N1 fatality.

The state health veterinarian says that pet owners do not need to be alarmed because the cat died.  They say if you want to protect your cat or dog, that you should be taking the same precautions with pets, that you would for yourself.