Los Angeles County public health officials have issued a new warning to pet owners to stop feeding raw pet food to dogs and cats following H5N1. bird flu The virus was found in product samples.
“The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is advising residents not to feed their pets Monarch Raw Pet Food sold at many California farmers markets,” the agency said. There is a virus. Four other cats in the same household “were found to be positive for H5 bird flu after consuming the product.”
The health department is urging residents who feed Monarch raw food products or any other raw meat or dairy items to their pets and notice that their animals are exhibiting any unusual behaviors to immediately contact their veterinarian. Contact us.
“Residents should avoid consuming all raw milk and raw meat products and should not feed them to their pets,” the agency stressed in its statement Tuesday.
Cats infected with H5N1 bird flu can develop severe disease, which can include symptoms ranging from neurological changes and respiratory problems to liver disease, which can rapidly progress to death.
The health agency said no human cases of bird flu resulting from contact with these cats have yet been reported.
The Los Angeles health agency did not mention any formal recalls of Monarch products Tuesday, and the company did not provide any information about the recall or bird flu cases on its website.
The warning comes after a previous recall of raw pet food due to bird flu.
Oregon house cat death and a Recently recalled pet food Questions have already been raised about the ongoing outbreak of bird flu and how people can protect their pets.
Northwest Naturals, a pet food company in Portland, Oregon, announced Tuesday a voluntary recall of a batch of its 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it tested positive for the virus. The product was sold in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, as well as British Columbia, Canada.
northwest natural
The recalled foods have “best if used by” dates of May 21, 2026 and June 23, 2026. Consumers should throw it away and contact the place of purchase for a refund.
Bird flu has been spreading among wild birds, chickens, turkeys and many other animals for years. It was first confirmed in US dairy cattle in March.
The virus is causing sporadic, mostly mild illnesses in people in the US, and almost all of those infected work on dairy or poultry farms. When the virus is found, every bird on the farm is killed to limit the spread of the disease.
Top veterinarian warns against feeding raw food to pets
Oregon health officials traced the cat's illness to frozen Northwest Naturals cat food that contained raw turkey. The virus recovered from the recalled pet food matched the infected cat.
Some pet owners feed their animals raw meat, but this can be dangerous, even fatal, for the animals, said Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Cooking meat or pasteurizing raw milk destroys bird flu viruses and other disease-causing germs.
“Raw milk, raw meat products can and are carriers of this virus,” he said.
Although cases of infection are rare, cats seem to be particularly susceptible to the bird flu virus, or type A H5N1. Even before the cattle outbreak, there were cases of kittens being bitten by wild birds or chickens. Dozens of cats have fallen victim to this virus since March. These include barn and feral cats, indoor cats, and big cats in zoos and in the wild.
Dogs appear to be less vulnerable than cats, Bailey said, but they should only eat well-cooked food.
Cats should not drink unpasteurized dairy products or eat raw meat, Bailey said, and pet owners should keep cats away from wild birds, livestock and poultry.
“Don't let them roam free out in the open, because you don't know what they're doing. Cats are natural hunters, and one of the animals they like to hunt are birds,” she said.
Are cat owners worried about bird flu? Here's what to know.
Experts say people should avoid touching sick or dead birds and wash their hands thoroughly after touching poultry or animals.
Cats sick with bird flu may experience loss of appetite, lethargy, and fever.
If your cat is usually playful and loves to look out the window, but instead he's sleeping or hiding from you all the time, pay attention, Bailey said. “There's something wrong,” he said.
Their eyes may become red or swollen and there may be discharge from the eyes and nose. They may have difficulty breathing or have tremors or seizures.
If your cat is sick, call your veterinary clinic and keep the cat away from anyone with a weakened immune system.
Can pets spread bird flu to owners?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is It is unlikely that a pet owner will get sick from bird flu. By direct contact with an infected pet, but it is possible.
The health agency noted that in 2016, the spread of bird flu from cat to human Was reported in New York City. The infected person, a veterinarian, had mild flu symptoms after being in contact with sick cats for a long time without using personal protective equipment.
Contributed to this report.