Cat food presenting risk of bird flu is recalled, pet owners put on alert

Cat owners across five states have been alerted to a potential health threat after Savage Pet, based in El Cajon, California, issued a recall of their chicken cat food products. The recall includes 66 large chicken boxes (84 oz.) and 74 small chicken boxes (21 oz.) with the lot code/”best by” date of 11.15.2026, as these products have the potential to contain H5N1, also known as bird flu, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

The affected Savage Cat food products were distributed to retailers in California, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The FDA warns cat owners who fed their felines the recalled products to watch for symptoms of bird flu, such as fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurological signs like tremors, stiff body movements, seizures, lack of coordination, or blindness.

If any of these symptoms are observed in cats after consuming the product, pet owners are advised to immediately contact their veterinarian. Additionally, individuals who handle the recalled products should watch for symptoms of bird flu in themselves, such as eye redness or irritation, cough, sore throat, sneezing, runny/stuffy nose, muscle/body aches, headaches, fatigue, fever, trouble breathing, seizures, rash, diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting.

While no human infections have been identified among people handling raw pet food products, the FDA notes that humans can become infected if the live virus enters their eyes, nose, or mouth. Therefore, regular handwashing and cleaning of contact surfaces are highly recommended for those who have come in contact with the recalled products.

In a recent development, the New York City Health Department reported cases of two cats contracting bird flu and a third cat suspected of having it. The cats were connected to the Savage Cat Food poultry packets with lot number 11152026. The first cat, cat A, died after consuming the chicken packets, while a second cat, cat B, also succumbed to H5N1 despite not directly consuming the product. The third cat, cat C, survived after falling ill with fever following consumption of the recalled cat food.

This incident highlights the potential for cat-to-cat transmission of the virus and underscores the importance of monitoring pets for any signs of illness after consuming the affected products. As further testing is ongoing to determine the extent of the outbreak, cat owners are urged to exercise caution and seek medical attention if any symptoms of bird flu are observed in their pets or themselves.