A uncooked cat meals merchandise from Northwest Naturals was recalled on account of an avian influenza (fowl flu or H5N1) contamination, and one cat has since died, inflicting pet house owners to be on excessive alert concerning the virus.
“We’re assured that this cat contracted H5N1 by consuming the Northwest Naturals uncooked and frozen pet meals,” Oregon Division of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz mentioned in a press launch. “This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not uncovered to the virus in its surroundings, and outcomes from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the uncooked pet meals and contaminated cat have been precise matches to one another.”
The recalled merchandise was the 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe with finest by dates of 05/21/26 and 06/23/2026.
In late December, Los Angeles County launched a press release urging pet house owners to keep away from merchandise from one other pet meals firm, Monarch Uncooked Pet Meals, after officers mentioned that samples of the merchandise detected the virus, which may be particularly lethal to felines.
“A home cat that consumed this product has been confirmed H5 fowl flu constructive,” the Los Angeles County assertion reads. “4 different home cats from the identical family are presumed to have additionally been constructive for H5 fowl flu after consuming the product.”
This is all the things to learn about your pets and the fowl flu.
Are cats at larger threat for fowl flu?
Though each cats and canine can contract the virus, cats have a better mortality fee (round 67%) when contaminated, based on the College of Maryland’s Faculty of Public Well being.
Nonetheless, regardless of that alarming statistic, it’s nonetheless uncommon for cats to contract the virus, and there are preventative measures cat house owners can take to maintain their pets secure.
How do pets get contaminated with fowl flu?
Fowl flu is transmitted from an contaminated animal’s saliva, mucous and feces. However time is a crucial issue when discussing how lengthy the virus stays energetic within the saliva, mucous and feces.
“If it is recent and moist, moisture can even improve the viability of organisms,” Athema Etzioni, veterinary scientific pathologist at Tuskegee College Faculty of Veterinary Medication, says. “So so long as there’s moisture concerned, then there’s going to nonetheless be residing micro organism. But when that organism dries out on no matter floor, then it is restricted to how a lot [of the virus] can nonetheless be transmitted.”
Pets that go open air can even contract the virus from consuming or touching a fowl that’s contaminated with fowl flu. Feeding your pet a uncooked meals weight loss plan additionally will increase the chance of them contracting the virus. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless extra possible for cats to catch the virus than canine, based on the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation.
“The perfect factor is to get [food] to no matter that cooked temperature is and cook dinner it lengthy sufficient to kill the organism,” Etzioni says. For instance, poultry ought to be cooked to 165 levels F to cook dinner out any attainable fowl flu contamination.
“I am not a giant fan of uncooked diets usually,” Etzioni says.
Tips on how to defend your pet from fowl flu?
Consultants say top-of-the-line methods to guard your cat from fowl flu is to maintain them indoors. This mitigates the dangers by lessening their publicity to wild birds or different animals which will have contracted the virus. Many, together with Etzioni, additionally don’t suggest uncooked meals diets in your pets.
Learn extra: Tips on how to Keep Protected Now That Extra Uncooked Milk Has Been Recalled On account of Fowl Flu
There may be presently no vaccine to guard cats in opposition to fowl flu.
What does fowl flu appear to be in pets?
In keeping with the AVMA, each cats and canine might current the identical signs in the event that they turn out to be contaminated with the virus. The signs embrace, however are usually not restricted to, lethargy, lack of urge for food, infected eyes and discharge from the eyes.
“If it goes neurologic, they could additionally start to circle, which is one thing that birds can do as effectively,” Etzioni says. Different neurologic indicators might embrace seizures and incoordination.
In case you suspect your pet has contracted fowl flu, contact your veterinarian instantly. And, for those who plan to deliver your pet into the vet, Etzioni says it’s crucial that you simply inform your veterinarian there may be concern of fowl flu so the workers can take the required precautions as a way to hold them and different pets who go to the apply secure.
The CDC says the chance of your pet supplying you with fowl flu may be very low, however it’s not totally not possible. So in case your pet does turn out to be contaminated, monitor your self for signs as effectively and call your physician in the event that they turn out to be extreme.
Learn extra: The First Human Fowl Flu Loss of life Has Occurred in america
