Kelsey Kearns, 18, made sure she got her H1N1 shot at the free clinic in Lebanon last week after her favorite cat, Buddy Lou, died of the virus Nov. 7.

The 10-year-old cat was the first feline in the nation to die of H1N1. According to the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, there have been two other cases of confirmed H1N1 infection in cats in Iowa and Utah; however, both cats recovered.

The cat is owned by Kearns’ aunt and uncle, Rhonda and Dave Rebmann of Lebanon.

“I was sick but I got better and some of the cats were acting not-so-good,” Kearns said. She said the family took Buddy Lou and three other cats to the Animal Clinic in Lebanon on Nov. 4.

“Buddy Lou couldn’t breathe very well,” Kearns said.

According to the veterinary association, the initial examination showed the cat had a temperature of 101.7 F. Radiographs revealed Buddy Lou had pneumonia.

The other cats were experiencing some sneezing and coughing, but none had  fevers. Nasal swab samples were collected and yielded no other positive results for H1N1.

On Nov. 5, Buddy Lou was treated with oxygen and medication at the Animal Clinic. Two days later, the cat died.

Kearns misses Buddy Lou. “He was kind of lazy and pretty lethargic, but he loved to cuddle up next to you. He would lay on your stomach and knead,” Kearns said.

The family’s four other cats are healthy.