A raw and frozen cat food product has been voluntarily recalled in Oregon after it was linked to a domestic cat’s death from bird flu, state officials confirmed.
The recall applies to Northwest Naturals’ Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen cat food with sell-by dates between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. The product, sold nationwide, tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu.
The company advised customers to dispose of the product immediately. “Consumption of raw or uncooked pet food contaminated with HPAI can cause illness in animals,” Northwest Naturals said on its website. “One case of illness in a domestic cat has been reported in connection with this issue.”
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) confirmed a genetic match between the virus found in the recalled cat food and the cat that died.
“This cat was strictly indoors and had no other known exposure to the virus,” said Dr. Ryan Scholz, ODA’s state veterinarian. “Genome sequencing confirmed the virus in the cat and food were identical.”
Health officials have not reported any human cases of HPAI in Oregon related to this incident, and the current risk to the public remains low. However, they continue to advise people to avoid raw or undercooked meat, raw dairy products, and contact with sick or dead animals. Pet owners are urged to prevent their animals from coming into contact with wild birds.
Bird flu cases are rising across the U.S. The first severe human case was reported in Louisiana earlier this month, prompting concerns about public health. California has declared a state of emergency due to outbreaks affecting livestock and the food supply.
In Washington, 20 exotic cats—including a Bengal tiger, cougars, a lynx, and bobcats—recently died at a sanctuary after contracting the virus. Meanwhile, officials in Los Angeles are investigating three suspected household cases and have confirmed bird flu in two cats that died after consuming raw milk from a Fresno dairy linked to a product recall.
Scientists are growing increasingly concerned about the role cats may play in the spread of H5N1. A recent study published in Emerging Microbes & Infections found that cats possess cellular receptors similar to those in pigs, allowing them to serve as “mixing vessels” for bird and mammal flu viruses.
The researchers also found that cats recently infected with H5N1 showed mutations suggesting the virus may be adapting to new hosts.
“Continued exposure and viral adaptation in cats raise serious concerns about transmission and public health,” the study’s authors from the University of Pittsburgh wrote. “Because cats frequently interact with both humans and animals, they could act as a bridge for cross-species transmission.”
Public health experts are now calling for more monitoring of domestic cats, with Maryland’s school of public health stating in April that cats could provide a path for avian flu to spill over into humans.
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