H5N1 puts new pressure on companion animal practice

Companion animals are becoming a more visible part of the H5N1 story, with cats drawing the most concern because they can develop severe, often neurologic disease after exposure to infected birds, poultry, raw milk, or raw pet food. Federal and veterinary guidance now consistently points to foodborne exposure as a key risk for indoor cats, and regulators have responded by tightening expectations for pet food manufacturers that use uncooked or unpasteurized ingredients from poultry or cattle. The FDA has said those manufacturers must reanalyze food safety plans to address H5N1, while the CDC and veterinary experts continue to urge avoidance of raw milk and raw meat diets for pets. AVMA reporting also underscores how active the feline caseload has become: USDA had documented nearly 70 domestic cat infections in 2024 alone and about 200 U.S. cat cases since the virus appeared in the country at the end of 2021, with risk rising again alongside bird migration patterns. (fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, H5N1 is no longer just a poultry, wildlife, or dairy-cattle issue. Cats may present with respiratory signs, but neurologic signs including ataxia, tremors, seizures, nystagmus, and blindness have also been reported, and CDC guidance says illness can progress rapidly. Exposure history now matters as much as presenting complaint: veterinarians should ask about raw diets, unpasteurized dairy, access to wild birds, and contact with livestock or contaminated environments, then coordinate with state animal health and public health officials when H5N1 is suspected. AVMA experts also note that predation remains an important route because wild birds and even mammals such as house mice can carry infection into cats’ environment. (cdc.gov)

What to watch: Expect continued scrutiny of raw pet food and raw milk exposures, more targeted testing guidance, and likely further recalls or regulatory updates as surveillance in cats expands. One practical concern highlighted by AVMA is viral persistence in frozen or refrigerated raw diets: in one contaminated raw chicken product linked to feline deaths in California, the sell-by date extended to September 2026, a reminder that contaminated products may remain a risk long after production. (fda.gov)