Raw Cat Food Recalled After Cats Fall Sick With Bird Flu

Wild Coast Pet Foods has recalled raw poultry products potentially contaminated with bird flu after cats in Oregon and Washington fell sick with H5N1. Cats from four households were infected, with two having to be euthanized. The US FDA issued a voluntary recall of Wild Coast's frozen Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula on March 1, warning people to watch for specific symptoms in their animals.

The US has seen nearly 100 cases of cats becoming sick or dying from bird flu since 2022, with at least a dozen deaths linked to raw milk from infected cows. The possibility of cats transmitting the virus to humans is being investigated. Meat from poultry farms with bird flu outbreaks is prohibited from being used in any food products, though contamination sources for companion animal food are still unclear.

It is important for people to be aware of the risks associated with contaminated raw food for pets and to closely monitor their animals for any symptoms of bird flu. Investigations are ongoing to determine how contaminated meat made its way into companion animal food products. Ethical and safe sourcing practices for pet food are crucial to prevent such incidents in the future.