New Raw Pet Food Recall Linked to Cat Illness and Fatalities

A pet food manufacturer based in California has issued a recall for its raw chicken products after they were connected to bird flu cases in two cats and suspected in a third cat in New York City.

This recall is part of a series of recent actions related to products that may be tainted with the virus, which has resulted in illnesses and fatalities among cats in multiple states. The virus has also affected poultry and dairy cattle across the United States and has caused illness in at least 70 humans.

Savage Pet, located in El Cajon, California, recalled one batch of both large and small chicken boxes this week as they might harbor the Type A H5N1 influenza virus. These boxes are made of cardboard and contain individual plastic packages of the products. The lot code and best-by date, 11152026, are marked on the products. The pet food was distributed in California, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington state.

Health officials in New York City have advised consumers to avoid Savage Pet products due to the reported illnesses in cats.

One cat exhibited symptoms and died this month after consuming Savage Pet products. Although final test results are still pending, preliminary tests for H5N1 returned as “nonnegative,” suggesting the presence of the virus, according to a department spokesperson.

A second cat was confirmed to have H5N1 and subsequently died; tests indicated it was infected by a strain related to that identified in the recalled Savage Pet food. However, this cat had not eaten the food directly but had been in contact with a third cat that became ill after consuming it. That third cat survived but was not subjected to testing.

Recent cases in New York are the latest instances of cats across various states suffering from and dying due to H5N1. Since 2022, the U.S. Agriculture Department has reported at least 115 H5N1 infections in domestic cats, most of which have been recorded since 2024. Cats can acquire the virus from wildlife or through contaminated food and milk.

Earlier this month, Wild Coast Raw from Olympia, Washington, recalled frozen boneless raw chicken cat food after it was connected to illnesses and deaths among cats in Oregon and Washington. Additionally, in December, Morasch Meats from Portland, Oregon, recalled its Northwest Naturals brand of raw and frozen turkey pet food after it tested positive for the virus and was associated with the death of a local cat.

Dr. Jarra Jagne, a veterinary expert at Cornell University, advised pet owners against giving their pets unpasteurized milk or raw pet food due to the risks of bird flu as well as other pathogens like salmonella, listeria, and E. coli.

“I wouldn’t recommend giving my pets raw anything,” she stated. “Cooking is the way to go.”

By Jonel Aleccia