Raw pet food for cats has been identified as a source of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or H5N1) infection in two Oregon house cats.
The owners of the cats, in consultation with their veterinarians, elected to euthanize due to the severity of the illness. Upon further investigation into the source of the illness, officials found the cats all consumed the same brand of raw pet food -- Wild Coast Raw Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula, with lot numbers 22660 and 22664 and a best-by date of December 2025 -- before becoming ill.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA ) collected samples from the affected cats pre- and post-mortem, and from open containers of the raw pet food. Tests conducted by the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ODVL) at Oregon State University and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of HPAI in both cats and the food samples.
After receiving reports of the illnesses, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the ODA are warning pet owners about the risks of raw pet food.
The latest in a wave of bird flu in cats
This latest alert comes amid a broader national wave of bird flu infections in cats. More than 80 cases of domestic cats infected with HPAI have occurred in the U.S. since 2022. Most of these cases involved cats that lived outdoors and likely were in contact with infected wildlife or livestock. In late 2024, however, several instances occurred in which it seems that pet cats contracted the virus from raw pet food or unpasteurized milk.
In Los Angeles County, public health officials confirmed seven cases of H5 bird flu in cats and warned that more cases likely were not detected or tested in laboratories. In Oregon, one allegedly indoor cat caught HPAI virus and subsequently died after eating Northwest Naturals raw frozen turkey pet food. The brand recalled one batch of this product after it tested positive for HPAI, although others challenged these results.
Last week, it was reported that a human adolescent may have contracted bird flu from a pet cat, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that appeared briefly online. The opposite also may have occurred. The CDC data referred to a dairy worker who showed symptoms of highly pathogenic avian influenza two days before a cat in their household sickened and later died from the virus.
Officials have not linked the handling of raw pet food products to human bird flu infections. People can become infected, however, if the virus enters through their eyes, nose or mouth.
FDA urges pet food manufacturers to update safety plans for H5N1 risks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring pet food manufacturers subject to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) rule to reanalyze their food safety plans to address H5N1, a strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The requirement applies to manufacturers using uncooked or unpasteurized ingredients such as meat, milk or eggs derived from poultry or cattle in cat and dog food.
The FDA recommends the following practices to minimize H5N1 risks:
- Source ingredients only from healthy herds or flocks.
- Implement processing steps such as heat treatment, which has been shown to inactivate the virus in meat, milk and eggs.
- Establish supply-chain controls to verify ingredients are free of H5N1 contamination.
The agency has also provided resources and scientific literature to help manufacturers update their plans. Companies that implement preventive controls will contribute to protecting pet health and reducing the spread of H5N1.
