A public health warning is an important message for people with cats. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has advised people not to purchase Monarch Raw Pet Food, often sold at farmer’s markets across California, after a cat tested positive for bird flu from their products.
The news is a concerning development in the growing number of bird flu cases that have been spreading across the United States. According to the press release sent out by the organization, the H5N1 bird flu was detected in Monarch Raw Pet Food cat food recently, prompting the organization to share their warning.
Related: Cats in the U.S. Are Contracting Bird Flu: What Pet Parents Need to Know
“A house cat that consumed this product has been confirmed H5 bird flu positive,” the press release states. “Four other house cats from the same household are presumed to have also been positive for H5 bird flu after consuming the product.”
The organization also advised that any other animals that consumed Monarch raw pet food products “or other raw meat or dairy products” and is showing symptoms of H5N1 should contact their veterinarian “immediately,” the press release states. A full listing of where Monarch Raw Pet Food is sold can be found on their website.
This is the second time a warning about raw pet food has been issued because of bird flu in the last two weeks. On December 26, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) warned consumers against Northwest Naturals brand 2 lb. Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food. The food also tested positive for H5N1 bird flu.
Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) and the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ODVL) at Oregon State University conducted the tests after a house cat in Washington County contracted the illness and died. “Tests confirmed a genetic match between the virus in the raw and frozen pet food and the infected cat,” a press release from ODA states. The company voluntarily recalled their products after the bird flu was found.
The Today Show reports that dozens of cats have died since the bird flu outbreak started in March 2024. Cats seem to be more susceptible to die of bird flu than other animals. They seem to contract the illness from a variety of sources; either from unpasteurized dairy products, raw meat, exposure to infected birds, or exposure to people who work with infected birds. The illness can even be passed through the clothing that these poultry workers wear.
As for now, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that the public health risk is low. There have been no known human-to-human cases of bird flu transmission. Although a few humans have contracted the illness through working with infected animals.
The ODA is now urging cat owners to avoid feeding their cats raw or undercooked meat products, avoid consuming raw dairy, limit any contact with sick animals, wash your hands after handling raw animal products or any contact with sick animals, report any dead or ill birds to your local government organizations, and keep any pets or poultry away from wild waterfowl.
According to TODAY, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has stressed that humans should also not consume raw milk or meat for these reasons.
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