H5N1 keeps cats, raw pet food, and exposure history in focus

Companion animals, especially cats, remain part of the H5N1 risk picture as the U.S. outbreak continues to affect wild birds, poultry, and dairy cattle. Federal agencies and veterinary groups have emphasized that cats can become severely ill or die after exposure to infected birds, contaminated environments, raw milk, or raw meat diets, and the FDA has now tied multiple raw pet food incidents to H5N1 contamination. AVMA reporting has also underscored the scale of the issue: USDA had documented nearly 70 domestic cat infections in 2024 alone and about 200 U.S. cat cases since the virus reached the country in late 2021, with risk rising again alongside bird migration patterns. In January 2025, the FDA said cat and dog food manufacturers using uncooked or unpasteurized poultry- or cattle-derived ingredients must reassess their food safety plans for H5N1, and subsequent recalls and alerts involving raw cat foods underscored that the risk is no longer theoretical. AVMA podcast coverage also highlighted an important practical point for clinicians and clients: contaminated raw diets may remain risky for long periods when frozen or refrigerated, based on a recalled raw chicken product with a sell-by date extending to 2026. (fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the practical takeaway is to keep H5N1 on the differential for cats with acute respiratory, ocular, or neurologic disease, especially if there’s a history of raw food, raw milk, hunting, outdoor exposure, or household contact with dairy or poultry work. CDC guidance says veterinarians and staff should use precautions when handling suspected cases, and recent CDC and USDA reporting shows domestic cats have been repeatedly infected in the current outbreak. AVMA discussion of recent cases also reinforces that predation remains a real route of exposure because infected wild birds and small mammals, including house mice, continue to circulate around cats. Dogs appear less severely affected than cats, but they can still be infected, so exposure history matters for both species. (cdc.gov)

What to watch: Expect continued surveillance, more scrutiny of raw pet food supply chains, and updated clinical guidance as agencies track additional mammalian cases and food-associated events. (aphis.usda.gov)