A California pet food company has recalled its raw chicken products after they were connected to bird flu infections in two cats and possibly a third in New York City.
Savage Pet, based in El Cajon, California, recalled one lot of large and small chicken boxes this week. The products may be contaminated with the Type A H5N1 influenza virus. The recalled items have the lot code and best-by date 11152026 printed on them. These products were distributed in California, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington state.
New York City health officials warned pet owners to avoid Savage Pet products following reports of sick cats. One cat fell ill and died after eating the recalled food. Preliminary tests showed a “nonnegative” result for H5N1, meaning the virus was detected, though final results are still pending.
A second cat, which did not eat the pet food but was exposed to another sick cat, was diagnosed with H5N1 and died. The third cat, which ate the food from the recalled lot, became ill but survived and was not tested.
These New York cases add to a growing number of bird flu infections in cats across the U.S. Since 2022, at least 115 domestic cat infections have been reported to the U.S. Agriculture Department, with most occurring since 2024. Cats can catch the virus from wildlife, contaminated milk, or food.
Earlier this month, Wild Coast Raw in Washington recalled frozen raw chicken cat food linked to cat illnesses and deaths in Oregon and Washington. In December, Morasch Meats of Portland recalled its raw turkey pet food after it tested positive for H5N1 and was linked to a cat’s death.
Dr. Jarra Jagne, a veterinary expert at Cornell University, advised pet owners to avoid feeding unpasteurized milk or raw pet food due to risks from bird flu and other harmful germs like salmonella and E. coli.
“I wouldn’t give my animals raw anything,” she said. “It’s all about cooking.”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department contributed to this report.
