An Oregon house cat died after eating pet food testing positive for avian influenza, Oregon authorities said, prompting a recall of raw frozen pet food which was sold across the U.S. and into British Columbia. Northwest Naturals, a pet food company based in Portland, Oregon, said on Dec 24, 2024 that it had voluntarily recalled a batch of its two-pound plastic bags of Feline Turkey Recipe, a raw frozen pet food, after it tested positive for the virus.
"We are confident this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food," Oregon Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz said. "This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other."
No human cases of bird flu have been related, but those who were in contact with the cat are being monitored for symptoms, reported Oregon authorities.
More recently, another raw pet food brand contaminated with bird flu has infected more cats. The brand this time, Monarch Raw Pet Food, sold at farmers markets in California.
Cats, whether small and domesticated or large and wild (tigers and cougars), seem to be susceptible to the bird flu virus. A sanctuary in Washington state, U.S. reported losing 20 big cats late last year.
Whether cats can become infected and develop only mild, or no symptoms is unknown at present. Catching the illness early in cats is difficult as they will often hide symptoms until they are very ill.
Signs can include coughing or sneezing, as well as:
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Runny nose
- Conjunctivitis
How can owners keep their cats safe?
Assuming they are not fed raw food, "it's pretty easy to drop the risk down in the average cat," says Dr. J. Scott Weese, OVC professor and director of the Center for Public Health and Zoonoses at the University of Guelph.
"Indoor cats are at virtually no risk," he added. "If the cat is indoor/outdoor, the more time you can keep them inside, the lower the risk." Wild birds can also carry the virus, therefore limit opportunities for interaction.
Important Information:
If you work with birds or other animals which may have or been exposed to this disease, please be sure to wash your hands, arms, and face well, and change clothes before going into your home, to help protect your pets and your family. Biosecurity must reach into the home to protect our pets and ourselves.
Source: ProMED
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