What to Know About Cat Foods to Remember After Pets Die from Bird Flu in Oregon

A pet cat in Oregon died of bird flu after eating raw cat food that tested positive for H5N1. This is the latest worrying development in the ongoing spread of bird flu among animals and humans this year.

Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Announce The cat died on Thursday. Death comes after a Bird flu outbreak At the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Washington this month. The outbreak killed 20 big cats, including African cats, lynxes and cougars.

According to ODA officials, the indoor cat tested positive for the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, which was genetically identical to viruses found in samples of raw and frozen pet food sold by Northwest Naturals. While there have been no human cases linked to the pet food to date, the company has issued a voluntary recall of its affected products.

“We are confident that this cat became infected with the H5N1 virus by ingesting Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet foods,” said Ryan Schulz, ODA state veterinarian for one of the departments. statement. “This cat was an indoor cat; She was not exposed to the virus in her environment, and genome sequencing results confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and the infected cat were an exact match to each other.

Northwest Naturals has issued a voluntary recall of its Northwest Naturals 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe brand of raw and frozen pet food. The company is specifically recalling 2-pound plastic bags with “best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. The products were sold nationwide in the United States

H5N1 avian influenza has become a serious public health concern recently, thanks to continuing outbreaks among wild birds and poultry, as well as the emergence of H5N1 and other avian influenza strains in dairy cattle and other mammals this year.

As of Early DecemberH5N1 outbreaks among dairy cows have occurred in 16 states this year. More than 60 human cases of H5N1 have been reported in the United States Notarized In 2024, most of them are associated with contact with infected cattle or poultry. Cats were also caught in the crossfire. There have been several bird flu outbreaks among domestic cats and large wild cats in zoos and animal sanctuaries this year, in US and elsewhere.

Cases of H5N1 infection in domestic cats are due to cats drinking contaminated unpasteurized or raw milk, whether during… Living on dairy farms Or from drinking Commercially sold products. Much research has indicated that raw milk can be a Viable transportation route Bird flu can also be transmitted to humans. He was there Other recent cases H5N1 infection in cats is due to improperly pasteurized raw food, although this is the first case of its kind to be discovered in the United States.

The bright side is that no other cases of H5N1 have been linked to Oregon cats or pet foods (one human case of H5N1 has been reported in the state this year, although it was not linked to dairy cows or milk). On December 11, the Oregon Department of Agriculture announced that it would test milk from all commercial dairies in the state as a precaution against the spread of bird flu; The decision came in the wake of hundreds of confirmed cases of bird flu in 16 states, including from dairy cattle herds in Idaho, Nevada and California.

While human cases of H5N1 this year have been largely mild so far (though). no everyoneSome research has indicated that the H5N1 virus is particularly dangerous for cats. The longer these viruses are allowed to spread among cows, cats, humans and other mammals, the greater the risk that a pandemic-ready nightmare strain will eventually emerge — one that could spread rapidly among humans and cause widespread illness and death.

Oregon health officials point out that the H5N1 virus is not the only potential danger that may come from eating raw pet foods. These products also have a higher risk of containing other bad germs such as Salmonella, Listeriaand Escherichia coli Bacteria.