Uncooked Cat Meals Linked to Chook Flu — A Vet Shares The best way to Shield Your Pets From the Virus

A uncooked cat meals merchandise from Northwest Naturals was recalled because of an avian influenza (chook 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 stated 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 actual matches to one another.”

The recalled merchandise was the 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe with greatest 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 stated that samples of the merchandise detected the virus, which might be particularly lethal to felines. 

“A home cat that consumed this product has been confirmed H5 chook flu optimistic,” the Los Angeles County assertion reads. “4 different home cats from the identical family are presumed to have additionally been optimistic for H5 chook flu after consuming the product.” 

This is the whole lot to learn about your pets and the chook flu.

Are cats at larger danger for chook flu?

Though each cats and canines can contract the virus, cats have the next mortality fee (round 67%) when contaminated, in response to the College of Maryland’s College of Public Well being. 

Nevertheless, 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 chook flu?

Chook 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 lively within the saliva, mucous and feces.

“If it is recent and moist, moisture may enhance the viability of organisms,” Athema Etzioni, veterinary medical 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 outside may contract the virus from consuming or touching a chook that’s contaminated with chook flu. Feeding your pet a uncooked meals weight-reduction plan additionally will increase the chance of them contracting the virus. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless extra doubtless for cats to catch the virus than canines, in response to the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation. 

“The best 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 must be cooked to 165 levels F to cook dinner out any potential chook flu contamination.

The best way to defend your pet from chook flu?

Specialists say the most effective methods to guard your cat from chook 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 on your pets. 

Learn extra: The best way to Keep Secure Now That Extra Uncooked Milk Has Been Recalled On account of Chook Flu

There may be at present no vaccine to guard cats in opposition to chook flu.

What does chook flu seem like in pets?

In keeping with the AVMA, each cats and canines might current the identical signs in the event that they turn out to be contaminated with the virus. The signs embrace, however will not be restricted to, lethargy, lack of urge for food, infected eyes and discharge from the eyes. 

“If it goes neurologic, they might additionally start to circle, which is one thing that birds can do as effectively,” Etzioni says. Different neurologic indicators might embrace seizures and incoordination. 

When you suspect your pet has contracted chook flu, contact your veterinarian instantly. And, should you plan to convey your pet into the vet, Etzioni says it’s crucial that you simply inform your veterinarian there’s concern of chook flu so the employees can take the mandatory precautions as a way to maintain them and different pets who go to the follow secure. 

The CDC says the chance of your pet supplying you with chook flu could be very low, however it isn’t 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 Chook Flu Loss of life Has Occurred in the US