Health officials and veterinarians are raising alarms about raw pet foods after a cat in Oregon died from bird flu-contaminated food. The case triggered a recall by Northwest Naturals for specific batches of their turkey-based products and has highlighted broader concerns about raw pet food safety. According to Ron Simon, the most experienced food poisoning lawyer in the United States,
“we are used to outbreaks of salmonella, listeria and e. coli affecting pet food, but this poses a whole new level of concern. Pet food needs to be made with the same care that human food is made with.”
The Oregon incident marks a troubling milestone as the first documented case where an indoor cat, with no direct contact with poultry or dairy cows, died from bird flu after eating commercial raw food. The discovery came after the cat’s owner sought answers about their pet’s death, leading to testing that revealed the same strain of bird flu in both the deceased cat and the raw food product, according to nbcnews.com.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now launched an investigation into bird flu cases affecting cats across California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. While no humans have fallen ill from handling the contaminated foods or infected animals, investigators are working to trace food sources and analyze test results from both affected animals and suspected products.
Recent reports from Los Angeles County in California underscore the growing scope of the problem. Officials confirmed bird flu in five domestic cats, with four cases linked to recalled raw milk and one to Northwest Naturals products. In another incident, raw milk consumption led to illness in seven cats and death in five out of a group of eight exposed cats.
The impact extends beyond domestic cats, with a Washington state wildlife sanctuary reporting the loss of 20 big cats to the virus. The mortality rate for cats infected with bird flu is particularly concerning, with an estimated 67% of infected cats dying, often within just 24 hours of showing their first symptoms.
The threat appears most significant for cats consuming raw food products, though such diets represent a small portion of the pet food market. A 2024 American Pet Products survey found that only about 2% of pet owners feed their animals commercial raw food diets. Traditional pet foods undergo heat treatment and pasteurization, which effectively kill viruses and bacteria, making them considerably safer.
Some pet owners have turned to freeze-dried raw products, believing them to be a safer alternative. However, the freezing process actually preserves viruses rather than destroying them. This preservation effect is so reliable that researchers routinely use freeze-drying to maintain virus samples for laboratory studies.
Cat owners should watch for several warning signs of infection. Early symptoms can include:
- Coughing and sneezing
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Severe depression
- Runny nose
- Eye discharge
As the disease progresses, some cats develop neurological symptoms, including stumbling, coordination problems, seizures, or blindness. Detection can be challenging since cats often hide their symptoms until severely ill, making early intervention difficult.
The timeline of bird flu’s impact on American cats shows a recent but rapidly developing problem. No cases were reported in the United States until 2022, but by late 2024, over 25 cases had been documented. Most early cases occurred in cats on dairy farms in Texas and Colorado, though some indoor cats with no known exposure were also affected.
The FDA has responded by warning pet owners against feeding raw foods that might come from farms with infected animals. For those uncertain about their products’ origins, officials recommend thoroughly cooking or pasteurizing the food to neutralize the virus. Veterinarians advise several protective measures:
- Keep cats indoors when possible
- Remove bird feeders to reduce contact with potentially infected wild birds
- Seek immediate veterinary care if symptoms appear
- Consider switching to traditionally processed pet foods
Treatment options for infected cats focus primarily on supportive care, including maintaining hydration and encouraging food intake. Veterinary researchers are still working to understand the full spectrum of the disease in cats, including whether some might experience only mild symptoms or carry the virus without showing signs.
The outbreak has drawn comparisons to cats’ experience with COVID-19, though with notably different outcomes. While cats proved susceptible to both viruses, many COVID-19 infections in cats were asymptomatic, contrasting sharply with the often fatal impact of bird flu.
The Oregon case has served as a crucial wake-up call about the potential risks of raw pet food diets, prompting increased scrutiny of manufacturing processes and safety protocols throughout the industry. As more information emerges about the spread and impact of bird flu in cats, both pet owners and veterinarians face important decisions about balancing natural feeding preferences with safety concerns.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading food poisoning lawyer, from Ron Simon & Associates, said, “Humans can often be infected after handling contaminated pet food. Any consumer in possession of the recalled cat food should take precautions and dispose of the product properly to minimize their risk.”
