In a recent announcement, New York City officials revealed that three cases of bird flu detected in pet cats are linked to a specific brand of raw pet food. Two of these cases were fatal. The NYC Health Department has urged pet owners not to feed their animals products from Savage Cat Food following the discovery of avian influenza in two cats and its suspicion in a third since January. Each case involved poultry packets from the implicated brand with lot number 11152026. Despite concerns, health authorities have emphasized that the risk to humans remains low as there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

Raw Pet Food Linked to Fatal Bird Flu Cases in NYC Cats

In a concerning development during the early months of this year, several felines in New York City fell ill due to bird flu, with connections traced back to a particular brand of raw pet food. In mid-March, one cat was hospitalized after consuming chicken-based packets from Savage Cat Food, suffering from fever, loss of appetite, and severe respiratory issues before succumbing to the illness. Test results confirming H5N1 were pending at the time. Another cat, diagnosed with bird flu in February, exhibited similar symptoms alongside liver disease and also passed away. Although it did not consume the implicated product directly, it had been exposed to another sick cat that had eaten the raw food. A third cat survived after experiencing a fever but could not be tested for bird flu due to the extended duration since infection.

The NYC Health Department warns pet owners against feeding raw foods or allowing cats to roam freely outdoors where they might encounter wild birds or other potentially infected animals. Officials stress that felines can contract bird flu by eating infected birds, drinking unpasteurized milk, or consuming raw pet food. Symptoms to watch for include fever, nasal discharge, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and behavioral changes.

Beyond New York, health authorities in New Jersey confirmed bird flu in multiple outdoor cats within Hunterdon County, contributing to over 100 domestic cat infections across the United States. To protect themselves, cat owners should avoid handling sick or deceased birds, maintain thorough hand hygiene after interacting with pets, livestock, or poultry, and change clothing and footwear after exposure to possibly infected animals.

From a journalistic perspective, this incident serves as a critical reminder of the interconnectedness between animal and human health. It underscores the importance of vigilance regarding what we feed our pets and how we manage their environment to prevent zoonotic diseases. This situation calls for increased awareness among pet owners about the potential risks associated with raw pet food and highlights the need for regulatory oversight in the pet food industry to ensure safety standards are met. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of public health communication in mitigating panic while providing essential information to safeguard both animal and human populations.