Oregon Cat’s Death Sparks Bird Flu Concerns and Pet Food Recall
A recent incident in Oregon has highlighted the potential risks associated with bird flu and pet food, leading to a nationwide recall of a specific raw frozen pet food product. The unfortunate death of a house cat after consuming contaminated pet food has raised alarms among pet owners and authorities alike.
Northwest Naturals, a pet food manufacturer based in Portland, initiated a recall of its Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food. This decision comes after the product tested positive for bird flu. Distributed widely across states including Arizona, California, and Minnesota, as well as in British Columbia, Canada, the affected batch was packaged in two-pound plastic bags marked with “best if used by” dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026.
Dr. Ryan Scholz, the State Veterinarian at the Oregon Department of Agriculture, confirmed that the cat contracted the H5N1 virus from the recalled food. “This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other,” Dr. Scholz stated in a news release.
Authorities urge consumers to dispose of the recalled product immediately and seek refunds from retailers. Although no human cases have emerged from this specific incident, those in contact with the infected cat are under observation for potential flu symptoms.
The bird flu virus, which has affected over 60 individuals across eight states, generally results in mild illnesses. However, a severe case has been reported in Louisiana, where one person was hospitalized, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Oregon has seen its own share of bird flu concerns. The CDC confirmed a human case linked to a poultry outbreak, with the individual fully recovering after a mild illness. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently reported the first detection of bird flu in U.S. swine, discovered in a pig at a backyard farm in Oregon.
—
Read More Arizona News
