OLYMPIA, WASH. — The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) issued a public health alert warning consumers about the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in certain lots of raw cat food manufactured by Wild Coast Raw. The health alert comes after two cats living in different households in Multnomah County, Ore., contracted HPAI that was traced back to raw cat food. The two cats were euthanized as a result of the illness.

After veterinarians reported the cats’ illness to ODA, samples were collected from the affected cats and opened containers of the raw pet food. Unopened containers of the pet food were also sent to WSDA for additional testing. Tests conducted by the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ODVL) at Oregon State University and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) at the US Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of HPAI in both cats and the food samples.

The product and lot numbers containing HPAI include Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula from lots #22660 and #22664 with a best buy date of 12/2025.

Pets with avian influenza infections may have a fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurological signs like tremors, seizure, incoordination, or blindness. WSDA and ODA are instructing pet parents who have fed this product to their pets and whose pets have any symptoms, to contact their veterinarian immediately.

Felines, including both domestic and wild cats have been found to be particularly sensitive to H5N1 avian influenza. Canines can also contract H5N1, though they appear less susceptible to the virus than cats. 

There have been no documented human cases of HPAI following exposure to an infected cat.

Read more about recent pet food and treat recalls.