Two cats in Oregon died this month after eating raw cat food contaminated with the deadly bird flu virus. This led Washington state officials to issue a recall of the product.
The cats lived in separate homes in Multnomah County. Both had eaten the same raw cat food made by Wild Coast Raw in Olympia, Washington, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The cats became very sick and had to be euthanized within days of each other.
Their owners reported the illnesses, and state officials collected samples from opened and unopened containers for testing. Labs in Oregon, Washington, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the food was contaminated with the same bird flu strain that killed the cats.
Washington state announced a recall on Friday. Pet owners are advised to throw away or return any containers of Wild Coast’s boneless free-range chicken formula, lots 22660 and 22664, with a best-by date of December 2025.
These deaths mark the fifth known cat fatality linked to bird flu in Oregon. It is also the second recent case of raw cat food from a Northwest brand being linked to the virus. In December, another cat was euthanized after eating raw food from Portland-based Northwest Naturals.
Health officials warn pet owners not to feed cats raw food, whether frozen or freeze-dried. High heat, like that used to cook food, is necessary to kill the virus.
Cats, both wild and domestic, are especially vulnerable to the highly pathogenic avian influenza. Dogs can get the virus too, but they seem more resistant.
Bird flu has also sickened other animals, especially poultry and dairy cows. Migrating birds often spread the disease. Some people working in agriculture have become ill from exposure, including a poultry worker in Clackamas County, Oregon. In early January, an elderly man in Louisiana with other health issues died after catching the virus.
Related Topics
