H5N1 reaches companion animal care with new risks for cats

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H5N1 avian influenza is no longer just a poultry or dairy-cattle issue for small-animal practice. Federal and local health agencies are increasingly warning that companion animals, especially cats, can become infected after eating contaminated raw pet food or raw milk, contacting infected birds, or living in households with livestock-related exposure. CDC guidance now makes clear that veterinarians should consider H5N1 testing in animals with compatible signs and exposure history, and should use PPE when evaluating suspected cases. AVMA reporting has emphasized just how dynamic the epidemiology has become, with roughly 200 U.S. cat cases identified since late 2021 and nearly 70 documented this year alone. (cdc.gov)

That shift reflects how the outbreak has evolved since H5N1 spread into U.S. dairy cattle in 2024. A CDC MMWR on infected indoor cats in Michigan tied feline illness to dairy-worker household exposure and advised veterinarians to ask about occupational risk in the home, not just direct animal exposure. In parallel, regulators and diagnosticians have built a stronger case that foodborne exposure matters for pets, particularly cats, which appear especially susceptible to severe disease. AVMA’s Veterinary Vertex discussion also noted that risk to cats continues to track with avian migration patterns and ongoing circulation in wild birds and small mammals such as house mice, reinforcing predation as a continuing exposure route even for companion animals. (cdc.gov)

The regulatory response has followed that evidence. FDA said manufacturers covered by the Preventive Controls for Animal Food rule that use uncooked or unpasteurized poultry- or cattle-derived ingredients must reanalyze their food safety plans to include H5N1 as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard. That’s a notable development for the pet food industry because it moves H5N1 from an emerging concern into formal hazard analysis for some products. (fda.gov)

Recent product investigations helped drive that change. FDA reported that whole genome sequencing suggested the H5N1 found in a deceased cat and in certain lots of RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats came from a common contamination source. In a separate recall, Savage Pet said a Colorado cat became infected after exposure linked to its raw chicken cat food, with sealed packets testing “non-negative” by PCR before confirmatory work. State and local officials have also described additional feline cases associated with raw diets, including Los Angeles County’s warning after confirmed infections in indoor cats and testing that found live, infective H5N1 virus in Monarch Raw Pet Food samples. AVMA coverage added an important practical point: contaminated raw diets stored frozen or refrigerated may remain hazardous for extended periods, citing California cat deaths tied to a raw chicken diet with a sell-by date in September 2026. (fda.gov)

Expert and industry commentary has increasingly centered on exposure history and biosafety in practice. CDC says veterinarians, staff, and other caretakers should wear PPE when handling animals that might be infected or exposed, and notes that decisions about home versus clinic isolation should be made case by case with public health input as needed. Los Angeles County public health officials went further, recommending that veterinarians strongly advise pet parents not to feed raw pet food, raw meat, raw poultry, or raw milk because of H5N1 risk. (cdc.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, this is a surveillance and workflow story as much as a clinical one. Cats presenting with fever, lethargy, anorexia, dyspnea, seizures, blindness, ataxia, or other acute neurologic signs may warrant H5N1 consideration if there’s any plausible exposure pathway. That means taking a more detailed history that includes diet, outdoor access, wild bird contact, livestock exposure, rodent or prey contact, and whether anyone in the household works on a dairy or poultry operation. It also means thinking early about PPE, specimen handling, isolation, staff exposure logs, and coordination with state animal health and public health officials. The broader counseling point is also getting clearer: raw feeding remains popular, but current evidence shows it can be a meaningful H5N1 exposure route for cats. (cdc.gov)

The concern extends beyond the individual patient. CDC’s current risk assessment still says the risk to the general U.S. public is low, but it also notes uncertainty because animal testing varies by species and geography. That uncertainty is especially relevant in companion animals, where surveillance remains patchy and many infected cats may never be tested. For clinics, the operational takeaway is straightforward: H5N1 may still be uncommon in pets, but missing it can have implications for staff safety, household counseling, reportable disease workflows, and client guidance on raw feeding. (cdc.gov)

What to watch: The next phase is likely to include more recalls or advisories involving raw animal-origin pet foods, more published case reports in cats, and sharper guidance for clinics on testing, isolation, and occupational exposure as One Health agencies refine their response. Seasonal increases tied to bird migration and continued concern about long-shelf-life frozen raw products may keep companion-animal exposure in focus. (fda.gov)