Officials in Oregon and Washington have issued public health warnings after it was confirmed that two indoor cats euthanized with illness had bird flu.
The cats lived in different households in Multnomah County, Oregon, but both became ill after eating raw pet food. Both felines had eaten the same brand of raw food before they became ill, with the virus being found in both the cats and samples of the food, including unopened containers. Generally, feeding your cat the best dry cat food, for example, won’t see them come to any harm, but cat parents have been urged not to feed their cats this raw food.
Indeed, Wild Coast Pet Foods has recalled Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula Lot #22660 and #22664 with a best-buy date of December 2025. If you still have the product, you’re urged to dispose of it immediately and contact the place of purchase for a refund.
Tyler Duncan, the founder of Wild Coast, said, “If you currently feed our chicken formula and are concerned, I recommend cooking until 165 degrees, replacing with a non-poultry formula, or replacing with a gently cooked formula.”
The recall comes after Northwest Naturals recalled a batch of pet food in December following the death of a cat from bird flu in Oregon. Bags of Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food, sold in 12 US states and British Columbia in Canada, were recalled at the time.
Meanwhile, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suggested that bird flu may spread between humans and cats more than we thought. The study looked at indoor cats from separate Michigan households who died from bird flu last year. They belonged to dairy workers around the time that bird flu was going around on farms.
While bird flu has been known to cause illness and death in cats, it’s generally thought to be due to raw food, milk, or dead birds. However, this offers evidence that bird flu could be a threat even when cats aren’t directly exposed to sick cows or poultry.
How to minimize the risk of bird flu
To help minimize the risk of bird flu, it’s best to do the following:
- Avoid feeding your cat undercooked or raw meat or raw milk
- Stop your cat from eating birds or other wild animals
- Wash your hands after touching raw meat or interacting with animals when not at home
- Change clothes and shoes after interacting with other animals and before interacting with your pets
- Consult your vet as soon as possible if you have any concerns
If your pet has been infected with bird flu, they might have a fever, low appetite, inflamed or red eyes, discharge from the eyes or nose, difficulty breathing, tremors, or seizures. Here are 11 signs to take your cat to the vet.
