Cat Food Recalls Continue As Another Popular Brand Tests Positive for Bird Flu
Another Pet Food Recalled Due to Bird Flu Contamination
Recently, there have been reports of several pet food brands being recalled due to bird flu contamination. The Today Show has even reported that dozens of cats have died as a result. As pet owners, it’s natural to feel concerned about the safety of our pets. So, what should you do in this situation?
What You Should Do
First and foremost, don’t panic. The most important thing is to take practical steps to protect your pet. Avoid feeding your pets raw milk and raw poultry for the time being, as these are potential sources of contamination.
Instead, opt for healthy food choices, such as high-quality canned food. You can also prepare some pet food at home, as cooking will kill the virus. Additionally, consider adding nutrients to your pet’s diet to support their immune system and help them fight off any pathogens that may be present.
Support Your Pet’s Immune System
To help protect your pet’s health, I recommend supporting their immune system with quality supplements. One such supplement is Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Feline Health Formula, which contains immune-supportive ingredients designed to help your cat’s body ward off illness.
Meet Our New Cat: Cassian
On a brighter note, I’d like to introduce you to our new cat, Cassian—he is such a love! We’re thrilled to have him in our family.
Stay safe and continue to care for your pet’s health with the right diet and supplements.
Cat Food Recalls Continue As Another Popular Brand Tests Positive for Bird Flu
Recently, there’s been an alarming public health warning regarding a popular brand of cat food. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has advised cat owners to avoid purchasing Monarch Raw Pet Food, which is often sold at farmers’ markets across California, after a house cat tested positive for bird flu from consuming their products.
The Growing Bird Flu Concern in Raw Pet Food
This incident is just the latest in a growing number of bird flu cases that have been spreading across the United States. According to a press release issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the H5N1 bird flu was detected in Monarch Raw Pet Food recently, leading to the public health warning.
“A house cat that consumed this product has been confirmed H5 bird flu positive," the release states. “Four other house cats from the same household are presumed to have also been positive for H5 bird flu after consuming the product."
What to Do if You’ve Purchased Monarch Raw Pet Food
The health department has also issued a strong recommendation for any pet owners who have purchased Monarch Raw Pet Food, or other raw meat or dairy products, to contact their veterinarian immediately if their animals show symptoms of H5N1. You can find a full list of locations where Monarch Raw Pet Food is sold on their website.
This is the second time in just two weeks that a warning about raw pet food has been issued due to bird flu. On December 26, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) warned consumers against Northwest Naturals’ 2 lb. Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food after it also tested positive for H5N1.
How Bird Flu Affects Cats
Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ODVL) conducted tests after a house cat in Washington County contracted the virus and died. The test results confirmed that there was a genetic match between the virus in the contaminated raw pet food and the infected cat.
According to reports from The Today Show, dozens of cats have died since the bird flu outbreak began in March 2024. Cats seem to be particularly vulnerable to bird flu, and they may contract the illness from several sources, such as unpasteurized dairy products, raw meat, exposure to infected birds, or even contact with people who work with infected poultry.
Protect Your Cat: Best Practices to Follow
For now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that the public health risk remains low, with no known human-to-human transmission of the bird flu. However, a few human cases have been reported, typically involving individuals who worked closely with infected animals.
Given the potential risks, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has urged all cat owners to take certain precautions:
- Avoid feeding your cat raw or undercooked meat products.
- Refrain from consuming raw dairy products.
- Limit contact with sick animals.
- Wash your hands after handling raw animal products or sick animals.
- Report any dead or ill birds to local authorities.
- Keep pets and poultry away from wild waterfowl.
A Personal Note
Although the risk of your cat contracting bird flu remains extremely low, it’s essential to stay informed and cautious. For the time being, I have chosen to avoid feeding raw food to our new cat.
P.S. The chance of your cat EVER getting the bird flu is minuscule, BUT it’s important to be aware of this issue.
P.P.S. Isn’t our new cat cute? 🙂
P.P.P.S. About our cat supplement: It contains additional immune-supportive ingredients that may help lower the incidence of disease.
I’d like to see a link to the supplements for cats. I’m certain I’ve seen it once, or I imagined it.
Hi Denise, here is the link for Ultimate Feline:
https://thecatsupplement.com