Pet owners need not be alarmed because one cat has been diagnosed with swine flu, says local veterinarian Dr. Marty Greer.

An Iowa cat has become the first of its species to come down with a confirmed case of H1N1 flu, officials said Wednesday. The 13-year-old cat was brought to Iowa State University's veterinary college, where tests confirmed that it had the new flu virus, the state health department said.

Symptoms in the cat included lethargy, a loss of appetite and difficulty breathing. The cat has since recovered.

Two of the three people who live with the cat had the flu before the cat got sick, according to USA Today.

Greer, from Veterinary Village in Lomira, said one cat does not make an outbreak.

"It is certainly not mainstream to test cats at this point. Part of it may be that Ames, Iowa, is where the national animal disease control lab is located," she said.

The isolated case is no indication there is any major health threat to pets, said Greer, while emphasizing the importance of practicing basic hygiene.

"If your cat sneezes, wash your hands," she said.

To protect pets, some experts suggest taking the same precautions with animals in the family as with someone who has the swine flu, including wearing a mask, keeping some distance, and repeated hand washing.

Greer said that at this point, veterinarians need a lot more information before any conclusions can be drawn about H1N1 and pet populations.

"It's just too early to tell," she said.