A Shocking Case: A Cat Dies from Bird Flu via Commercial Cat Food

It’s hard to believe, but a house cat has tragically passed away after contracting bird flu from eating commercial cat food. This means that infected chickens somehow made it into the cat food supply, which is an incredibly rare occurrence.

Are Your Pets at Risk?

While this situation is highly uncommon, it’s still important to be aware. The likelihood of your pets facing this risk is low, but there are other, more common diseases that pose a much greater threat to our dogs and cats.

How to Protect Your Pets

In my opinion, it’s even more important to focus on preventing the more common diseases that affect your pets. One key step is supporting your pet’s immune system. Ensuring they receive the right nutrients—such as antioxidants, essential fatty acids (EFAs), colostrum, medicinal mushrooms, bioflavonoids, and cannabinoids—can help strengthen their immune defenses and fight off infectious diseases.

Supporting Your Pet’s Health

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Pet Food Recall Issued After Oregon Cat Dies from Eating Contaminated Product

As a veterinarian deeply committed to the safety and well-being of our pets, I wanted to bring to your attention a concerning situation that has resulted in the recall of a pet food product. Recently, a Portland-based pet food company, Northwest Naturals, issued a nationwide voluntary recall after a house cat in Oregon tragically died after consuming one of its products. The cause of the death was linked to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, more commonly known as bird flu (H5N1).

Details of the Recall

Northwest Naturals, owned by Morasch Meats, recalled one batch of its 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it tested positive for H5N1. This product was sold across the United States, including states such as Washington, Arizona, Rhode Island, Georgia, and Maryland. It was also distributed in Canada, specifically in British Columbia.

According to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the death of the Oregon house cat prompted extensive testing, which confirmed a genetic match between the infected animal and the virus found in the raw pet food. This test result led to the voluntary recall, which was announced publicly in a statement on Facebook.

Impact on the Cat and the Community

The cat that passed away was strictly an indoor pet and had no known exposure to the virus in its environment. Oregon Department of Agriculture’s state veterinarian, Ryan Scholz, confirmed that the cat contracted H5N1 from the raw frozen pet food. “The genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and the infected cat were exact matches to each other," Scholz explained.

The recall applies to products with “best if used by” dates between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. If you have purchased any of these recalled products, Northwest Naturals strongly advises that you dispose of the food immediately and contact the store where it was purchased for a full refund.

Precautionary Measures for Humans

While rare, humans can become infected with bird flu if they are exposed to infected animals. The Oregon Health Authority, along with local public health officials, is closely monitoring individuals who lived with the infected cat for symptoms of bird flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported cases of severe illness in humans, such as a recent hospitalization in Louisiana, where a person who was exposed to sick and dead birds was diagnosed with H5N1.

Mild symptoms in humans can include fever, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, and muscle aches. More severe symptoms may involve high fever, difficulty breathing, or altered consciousness. The CDC has reported 65 cases of bird flu in the U.S. since April 2024.

My Advice to Pet Owners

As a pet owner myself, I want to ensure you’re informed and prepared. If you’re currently feeding your pet commercial food, I recommend being cautious about feeding raw commercial products until further testing is conducted and more is known about the situation. If you prepare your pet’s meals at home, I would suggest cooking chicken to eliminate the risk of potential contamination.

If your pet has any common health issues, such as allergies, arthritis, or is in need of immune support to help prevent infectious diseases, I encourage you to consider the supplements I recommend. They can help support your pet’s health and immunity during these uncertain times.

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P.S. If you’re feeding commercial food, particularly raw products, I would be extra cautious for now. Ideally, you should be preparing some of your pet’s food at home. If you’re using chicken, make sure it’s thoroughly cooked to eliminate any risks.

P.P.S. Our supplements are great for pets with specific health needs, from allergies to arthritis, or if you want to boost your pet’s immune system to prevent infectious diseases.