A recent outbreak in Washington state has infected two domestic cats with bird flu after eating raw pet food, the state Department of Agriculture confirmed on Tuesday. The cats, who lived in King and Snohomish counties, had consumed Wild Coast Raw pet food that was recalled earlier this month due to potential contamination.
One cat was euthanized due to severe illness, while the second is being treated by a veterinarian. This case is linked to at least five cat deaths in Oregon attributed to the same contaminated food.
The virus, highly pathogenic avian influenza, spreads mainly through migrating birds and affects cats more severely than humans. Symptoms include low energy, fever, hypothermia, pneumonia, and upper respiratory infection. If you have pets that ate the recalled food, it is recommended to take them to a veterinarian immediately for testing and treatment.
The Department of Agriculture urges people to avoid feeding raw pet food or milk to their animals to prevent further spread of the disease. Veterinarians are also advised to wear masks and wash hands when handling sick animals.
Source: https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/two-washington-cats-infected-with-bird-flu