Karmactive Staff
Recent deaths of indoor cats have triggered a recall of raw pet food products potentially contaminated with bird flu. Health officials are warning pet owners about the risks of feeding raw meat to their animals as the H5N1 virus continues to spread.
Wild Coast LLC has recalled multiple lots of its Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula raw pet food after testing confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in both the product and in cats who consumed it. The recall affects products with a best-by date of December 2025, identified by lot numbers #22660, #22653, #22641, #22639, #22672, and #22664.
The recall was initiated after two indoor cats in Oregon were euthanized following severe illness from the virus. Since then, two more cats in Washington state have tested positive after consuming the same brand of raw pet food. One of these cats was euthanized, while the other remains under veterinary care.
Christine “Kiki” Knopp, a cat breeder in Portland, lost two cats to the virus and had a third in intensive care. “I’ve since learned, I don’t think there’s really a safe way to trust if someone says they’re testing it,” Knopp said. She now advises against feeding cats any raw food. “It is not safe. Immediately: do not feed raw poultry or raw chicken, raw any table scraps, to cats currently – not even raw eggs.”
This marks the second pet food recall related to bird flu in recent months. In December, Northwest Naturals recalled batches of its Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after a cat in Oregon died from bird flu.
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Health officials note that pets infected with bird flu may show symptoms including fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, eye inflammation, respiratory issues, and neurological signs such as tremors or seizures. However, Knopp warned that her cats “never displayed the classic symptoms of respiratory infections.” Instead, they had fevers, rapid breathing, and eyelid swelling, with one eventually showing difficulty walking.
While the current risk to humans remains low, the FDA advises people who handled potentially contaminated products to watch for symptoms including eye redness, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, fever, and nausea. People should wash their hands after handling raw pet food and sanitize any surfaces that come into contact with it.
Veterinarian Steve Valeika recommends keeping cats indoors and preventing dogs from hunting or interacting with wild birds. “Especially right now, feeding raw food is just all risk,” Valeika said, noting that H5N1 joins other pathogens like salmonella and E. coli that have been associated with raw pet food.
The FDA and state agriculture departments continue to investigate how tainted poultry is entering the raw pet food supply. Wild Coast founder Tyler Duncan has advised concerned customers to either cook their chicken formula to 165 degrees or switch to non-poultry options.
Pet owners who have purchased the recalled products are urged to discard them immediately and contact their place of purchase for a refund.
