New York City pet owners are being advised to avoid feeding their pets raw food or raw milk products, particularly those from Savage Cat Food. The New York City Health Department (NYC Health Department) has confirmed two cats with bird flu virus were infected after consuming Savage Cat Food products. The risk of bird flu to the public remains low, but pet owners are urged to be cautious.
The NYC Health Department is investigating a cluster of cases linked to Savage Cat Food’s poultry packets lot number 11152026. Two cats, A and B, have died from respiratory and liver disease after consuming contaminated food products. A third cat, C, has recovered but may still harbor the virus due to timing constraints for testing.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been monitoring reports of H5N1 in cats across several states. Pet owners are advised to avoid feeding their pets raw meat, dairy, or poultry products from infected sources. The risk of transmission is low, but caution is necessary.
The NYC Health Department is working with local, state, and federal agencies to investigate and contain the outbreak. Pet owners are urged to contact their veterinarians if they suspect their pet has been exposed to contaminated food products.
Source: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/press/pr2025/bird-flu-cats-savage-cat-raw-pet-food.page