PORTLAND, Oregon (Michigan News Source) – In a concerning turn of events, cat food contaminated with bird flu has triggered recalls in Michigan and 11 other states. The virus, identified as H5N1, was confirmed in a batch of Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food, after the death of a cat in Oregon.

Northwest Naturals issued a voluntary recall on Tuesday saying that they were recalling one batch of their brand 2 lb. Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it was tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus. The bags have a best-by date between May 21, 2026 and June 23, 2026.

Bird flu alert: contaminated pet food poses risk to cats.

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Dr. Ryan Scholz of the Oregon Department of Agriculture explained in a press release, “We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food. This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat (sic) were exact matches to each other.” He adds that so far, no human cases of HPAI have been linked to this incident.

The cat food was sold in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington in the United States – and British Columbia in Canada.

Symptoms of bird flu in cats may include sudden lethargy, difficulty breathing, or lack of appetite. If your pet shows these signs after consuming potentially contaminated food, immediate veterinary care is crucial.

Protecting you and your pets: safe practices to prevent illness.

The press release goes on to encourage people and pets to: avoid consuming raw dairy; limit contact with sick or dead animals; wash your hands after handling raw animal products or contact with sick/dead animals; report sick or dead birds to to your state department of agriculture; keep pets or poultry away from wild waterfowl.

The press release continues, “This case reminds us that feeding raw meat products to pets or consuming them yourself can lead to severe illness. Raw meat may contain harmful pathogens, including Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and H5N1.”

Bird Flu’s broader impact in Michigan.

Michigan’s troubles with avian influenza don’t stop at pet food. Just weeks ago, a commercial poultry farm in Ottawa County reported a significant outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). It marked the first detection in a Michigan poultry flock since May, sparking immediate quarantines and depopulation efforts to curb the spread.

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Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, warned, “Since this disease is capable of affecting animals and the people who care for them, it is important for farm workers to continue using personal protective equipment to protect themselves and their loved ones. Preventing spread from animals to humans is vital if we want to limit the impact of this virus.”

Avian flu’s toll on wildlife and domestic flocks.

Wild bird populations remain a reservoir for the virus, which spreads rapidly through droppings, shared water sources, and contaminated equipment. Michigan’s State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland emphasized, “It is critical to prevent the introduction of disease by taking measures such as keeping domestic animals away from wild birds and cleaning and disinfecting equipment between uses.”

While human infections remain rare, the virus’s adaptability raises concern. Precautions, including proper hand hygiene and secure enclosures for pets and poultry, are essential to mitigating the risk.

Cat sanctuary loses 20 big cats.

The Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton, Washington has also experienced a devastating loss due to avian influenza, with 20 big cats succumbing to the virus. A felid is a mammal of the cat family, wild cats like tigers, cougars, etc. Co-founder Mark Matthews expressed profound grief over the rapid progression of the disease, which often leads to death within days from conditions like pneumonia.

Jolie Connolly-Poe with the sanctuary told KOMO News in Washington State, “(I’m) feeling devastated. Kind of in shock. It just feels terrible that you take such good care of them, and then something unforeseen takes its toll real fast. Just taking good care of those recovering.”

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has reported a rise in avian influenza cases across the state, highlighting the vulnerability of felines to the virus. The center is implementing stringent biosecurity measures to prevent further spread, while state officials urge heightened vigilance to protect both wildlife and domestic animals from this escalating threat

Bird flu: low risk to humans but vigilance is needed.

With California declaring a state of emergency and the CDC confirming the first severe human case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States, Michigan residents might wonder how this impacts their state. According to the CDC, Michigan has reported two of the 61 human cases nationwide. Both cases, recorded in May 2024, involved dairy farm workers from separate farms and were linked to their contact with infected herds.

The CDC has added in a statement, “No person-to-person spread of H5 bird flu has been detected” and reiterated that their overall assessment of the immediate risk to the public’s health from H5N1 bird flu remains “low.”

What’s next?

As the situation unfolds, Michigan officials and those across the country urge vigilance and ask those who notice unusual bird deaths or suspect avian influenza in their pets or flocks, to report the information immediately to the appropriate state agencies.

This crossover from poultry to pet food serves as a grim reminder of bird flu’s reach. For now, both cats and their human companions remain at the mercy of timely recalls and biosecurity measures to weather the storm.