The ongoing bird flu outbreak continues to concern officials with the New York City Health Department issuing warnings to cat parents not to feed their pets raw cat food from Savage Cat Food.
This comes after three cats were infected with bird flu over the past two months, with all three cases potentially connected to the company’s food, according to officials. The lot number for the packages concerned is 11152026.
NYC Health Department Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said, via FOX 5, “We strongly encourage New Yorkers whose cats are experiencing illness after consuming Savage Cat Food products or other raw meat or dairy products to contact their vet.”
Health officials reported that one cat fell ill after eating Savage Cat Food, displaying signs of bird flu in cats, including fever, appetite loss and respiratory difficulties. It was confirmed to be bird flu, and the cat later died as a result.
Another cat also died due to the virus after showing symptoms of fever, respiratory difficulties and liver disease. Testing indicated that the cat was infected with a strain of bird flu related to the one found in Savage Cat Food. Per the officials, the cat didn’t actually consume the food themselves but was exposed to a sick cat – the third cat who fell ill.
This cat developed a fever after eating Savage Cat Food but went on to survive. This cat wasn’t tested for bird flu, but it’s thought that they had the virus given that the other cat exposed to them tested positive.
The Health Department has been in contact with cat owners, veterinary staff and Savage Pet Food.
Meanwhile, officials in New Jersey have also confirmed that bird flu has been detected in a number of outdoor cats in Hunterdon County, and Wild Coast Raw food has been recalled following cases of bird flu in Oregon and Washington as part of the ongoing outbreak.
If you have any concerns about your own cat, it’s important to seek veterinary advice as soon as possible. As well as fever, loss of appetite and respiratory difficulty, symptoms to watch out for include lethargy, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the ears and nose, and neurological issues like tremors and seizures – take a look at these 11 signs to take your cat to the vet, too.
To minimize the risk of bird flu, avoid feeding your cats raw food or unpasteurized dairy products. Looking to swap your cat’s food? Here’s our guide to the best dry cat foods on the market.
