The death of an Oregon domestic cat and a pet food recall are raising questions about the ongoing outbreak of bird flu and how people can protect their pets.
Bird flu has been circulating in wild birds for years, chickens, turkeys and many other animals. It was first confirmed in US dairy cows in March.
The virus is affecting mainly occasionally mild diseases in people In the US, almost all those infected worked on dairy or poultry farms. When the virus is found, all the birds on a farm are killed to limit the spread of the disease.
Oregon health officials discovered the cat’s disease in frozen cat food containing raw turkey. The virus was recovered from the recalled pet food and the infected cat matched.
Some pet owners feed their animals raw meat, but that can be dangerous, even fatal, for the animals, said Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Cooking meat or pasteurizing raw milk destroys the bird flu virus and other disease-causing germs.
“Raw milk, raw meat can and are vectors for carrying this virus,” he said.
Although cases of infection are rare, cats are susceptible to the bird flu virus, or type A H5N1. Even before the appearance of cattle there were cases of felines associated with birds or birds. Since March, dozens of cats have contracted the virus. These include barn and feral cats, indoor cats, and large zoo and wild cats.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating the deaths of four domestic cats that drank the recalled raw milk.
Dogs appear to be more vulnerable than cats, but should only eat well-cooked foods, Bailey said.
Cats should not drink unpasteurized dairy products or eat raw meat. Pet owners should keep cats away from birds, livestock and poultry.
Don’t let them roam free outside, Bailey said, “because you don’t know what they’re getting into. Cats are natural hunters, and one of the animals they love to hunt is birds.”
Avoid touching sick or dead birds yourself. Wash hands thoroughly after handling birds or animals.
Cats sick with bird flu may experience loss of appetite, lethargy, and fever.
If your cat is usually playful and likes to look out the window, but has been sleeping or hiding from you all the time, be aware, Bailey said. “Something is wrong,” he said.
They may have red or swollen eyes and discharge from the eyes and nose. They may have difficulty breathing or may experience tremors or seizures.
If your cat is sick, call your veterinary clinic and keep your cat away from anyone with a weakened immune system.
Northwest Naturals, a Portland, Oregon-based pet food company, issued a voluntary recall Tuesday after a batch of its 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe frozen raw pet food tested positive for the virus. The product was sold in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, as well as in British Columbia, Canada.
The recalled foods have “best by” dates of May 21, 2026 and June 23, 2026. Consumers should throw it away and contact the place of purchase for a return.
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The Associated Press Department of Health and Science is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Education Media Group. AP is solely responsible for all content.
