Bird Flu Found in Pet Food, Leads to Cat Death, Nationwide Recall

A house cat in Oregon has died after contracting bird flu from contaminated pet food, prompting a nationwide recall of a specific batch of raw frozen pet food, The Associated Press reports.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) confirmed that the cat’s illness and death were directly linked to the consumption of the contaminated product.

Northwest Naturals, a Portland-based pet food company, issued a voluntary recall of one batch of its two-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after testing revealed the presence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The recalled product was distributed to retailers in several states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, as well as in British Columbia, Canada.

The recalled product is packaged in two-pound plastic bags with “best if used by” dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. Consumers who have purchased the affected product are advised to immediately discard it and contact their point of purchase for a refund.

While no human cases of bird flu have been linked directly to the contaminated pet food, those who had contact with the infected cat are being monitored for flu symptoms, according to ODA.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed more than 60 human cases of bird flu in eight states, with most resulting in mild illness. However, a recent case in Louisiana resulted in hospitalization, marking the first severe human illness attributed to the virus in the US. The CDC has also confirmed one human case of bird flu in Oregon, which was linked to a previous outbreak at a commercial poultry operation, with the individual fully recovering after experiencing mild symptoms.

The incident follows recent concerns about bird flu in other animals. In late October, the US Department of Agriculture announced that a pig on a backyard farm in Oregon tested positive for bird flu, marking the first detection of the virus in US swine.

Health officials are urging pet owners to be aware of the symptoms of bird flu and to take appropriate precautions. They are also encouraging consumers to adhere to the recall notice issued by Northwest Naturals to mitigate the risk of further exposure to the contaminated pet food.