H5N1 reaches companion animal care with new risks for cats
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Companion animals, especially cats, are now a more visible part of the U.S. H5N1 story as veterinary and public health agencies warn about exposures tied not just to wild birds, but also to raw pet food, raw milk, and household contact with infected livestock. CDC guidance says cats with compatible respiratory or neurologic signs and relevant exposure history should be considered for testing, while veterinarians and staff should use PPE when handling suspected cases. FDA has also told cat and dog food manufacturers using uncooked or unpasteurized poultry- or cattle-derived ingredients to reanalyze their food safety plans for H5N1 risk, reflecting the growing evidence that contaminated raw diets can infect pets. AVMA reporting has underscored how quickly the epidemiology is shifting, noting roughly 200 U.S. cat cases since late 2021, including nearly 70 documented this year alone, with risk rising again alongside bird migration patterns. (cdc.gov)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the practical message is that H5N1 belongs on the differential list for cats with acute respiratory or neurologic disease, particularly when there’s a history of raw poultry diets, raw milk exposure, outdoor bird contact, or a pet parent who works with dairy cattle or poultry. Recent FDA and state investigations have linked feline H5N1 cases to contaminated raw products, including Savage Cat Food and RAWR Raw Cat Food, while Los Angeles County public health officials have urged veterinarians to advise pet parents against feeding raw pet food, raw meat, raw poultry, and raw milk because of H5N1 risk. AVMA coverage also highlighted that contaminated frozen or refrigerated raw diets may remain risky for long periods, citing California cat deaths tied to a raw chicken product with a sell-by date extending into 2026. (fda.gov)
What to watch: Expect continued scrutiny of raw pet food safety, more One Health investigations involving cats in exposed households, and potentially broader surveillance guidance as companion-animal cases accumulate, especially as seasonal bird movement and ongoing popularity of raw feeding keep exposure pathways open. (fda.gov)