This batch of raw pet food is getting cats sick with bird flu. Here’s what to know
Raw pet food for cats has been identified as a source of bird flu infection in Oregon house cats.
The cats became ill starting in early February after consuming raw pet food manufactured by Wild Coast LLC, according to warnings from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA).
The WSDA issued a public health alert warning Friday specifically about Wild Coast Raw Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula with lot numbers 22660 and 22664 and the best by date December 2025.
The ill cats were infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI or H5N1. Given the severity of the illness, the owners of the affected Oregon cats had their cats euthanized after consulting with their veterinarians, the alert says. All of them reportedly consumed the same brand of raw pet food before becoming ill.
The latest alert comes amid a wave of bird flu infections that are affecting the nation’s food supply. Dozens of felines have recently died after consuming H5N1-infected raw pet food and raw milk in multiple states, the Los Angeles Times reported.
ODA identified the Wild Coast Raw product as a source after collecting samples from affected cats before and after their death as well as open containers of the raw pet food. Tests of the samples confirmed the presence of HPAI.
Those tests were 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, according to the alert.
Pets with bird flu infections may experience fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing and neurological signs such as tremors, seizure, incoordination or blindness.
The WSDA recommends cat owners contact their veterinarian immediately if their cat has consumed the affected Wild Coast Raw product
Officials have not linked the handling of raw pet food products to human bird flu infections, the alert says. However, people can become infected if the virus enters through their eyes, nose or mouth.
Current human health risks are low, but the alert says people exposed to bird flu should monitor themselves for symptoms such as eye redness or irritation, cough, sore throat, sneezing, runny/stuffy nose, muscle/body aches, headaches, fatigue, fever, trouble breathing, diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting.
WSDA advises pet owners contact their healthcare providers if they show any of these symptoms.
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) reshared the WSDA health alert in their own news release Friday. Information about bird flu can be found on the PHSS website.
More information about food recalls and health alerts can be found on the WSDA website.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 5:14 PM.
