Health officials in Los Angeles have confirmed that the bird flu virus has been detected in another brand of raw pet food, raising fresh concerns about the safety of raw diets for pets. One indoor cat tested positive for bird flu, and four others in the same household may also have been exposed.
The affected product is from Monarch Raw Pet Food, a brand sold at farmers markets across California. This follows a similar case in Oregon last week, where a cat died after consuming contaminated raw turkey-based food made by Northwest Naturals. That company has since recalled certain batches of the product.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health advised pet owners not to consume or feed their animals any raw milk or raw meat products. These items, they warned, can contain dangerous bacteria and viruses.
“Bird flu has long posed a risk to cats, but cases in the U.S. were rare until 2022,” said Dr. Jane Sykes, a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of California, Davis. “By late 2024, more than 25 cases had been reported, mainly in cats living on dairy farms in Texas and Colorado. However, some indoor cats with no clear exposure have also tested positive — likely due to raw food or unpasteurized milk.”
The case in Oregon marks the first confirmed death of an indoor cat from bird flu linked directly to raw pet food, she added.
Feeding raw diets remains uncommon, with only 2% of pet owners doing so, according to a 2024 survey by the American Pet Products Association. Experts warn that raw products, unlike traditional pet foods, are not heat-treated, allowing viruses like bird flu and bacteria like salmonella to survive.
“Cooking and pasteurization kill these pathogens,” said Dr. Stephen Cole, a microbiologist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “That’s why commercial pet food is generally safer.”
Freeze-dried treats are not a safe alternative, according to Dr. J. Scott Weese of the University of Guelph in Ontario. “Freezing and freeze-drying preserve viruses, not destroy them,” he said. “Researchers use these methods to store viruses for study.”
NBC News contacted several freeze-dried pet food manufacturers, including Instinct, Stella & Chewy’s, and Vital Essentials, but did not receive a response.
Cats appear especially vulnerable to the bird flu virus, whether domestic or wild. A wildlife sanctuary in Washington state recently reported the deaths of 20 big cats, including tigers and cougars.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating related infections in cats across California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. “These cases appear to be linked to contaminated food products,” said FDA spokesperson Janell Goodwin.
So far, no human illnesses have been reported. However, the FDA urges caution. “If you’re unsure where a product comes from, it’s safest to cook or pasteurize it,” Goodwin said.
