The news of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also commonly known as Bird Flu, and its relationship to feeding raw food for cats has been alarming. For reference, I’m writing this article on February 20th, 2025, and this is what we know for sure about Avian influenza right now:
Table of Contents
- Avian influenza is an influenza virus that has been present and tracked for many years.
- Avian influenza has been found in almost every type of animal including dogs, cats, cows, rabbits, pigs, all types of birds including chickens, geese and song birds and many more animals.
- There have been over 60 confirmed human cases in the United States with one fatality.
- Dogs seem to have less severe disease, while cats are more severely affected with pneumonia and neurological symptoms. Most confirmed cases of infections in cats are fatal.
- Raw food has been implicated in the infections of cats in three different households. One investigation has cleared the raw food as a definitive cause of infection. Two other cases are still under investigation.
How can cats get infected with Bird flu?
- As of this writing, the most common mode of transmission is consumption of raw milk from infected dairy cattle.
- Cats may become infected by eating raw meat that was infected with avian influenza.
- Cats may also become infected when exposed to infected chickens, geese or song birds.
- There are no documented transmissions of highly pathogenic avian influenza between cats and humans.
How can I keep my cat safe from Avian Influenza?
- Avoid unpasteurized milk.
- If you are feeding a raw diet, ensure that the manufacturer of that food uses an adequate kill step like high pressure processing to inactivate any Avian influenza.
- Consider limiting, or eliminating, your cat’s exposure to birds and wildlife outside.
Conclusion
This is a hard situation for many cat lovers that are loved by a kitty that enjoys their outside lifestyle and are accustomed to eating raw. As a cat parent myself, at this time I am continuing to feed my kitties raw because I fully trust the kill process used for my kitties’ raw food. I am considering what safe(r) outdoor time can look like for them as it’s a vital part of their mental well-being. While there is no easy answer, every person must make the best decision for their kitty’s health and quality of life with the information we have.
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I’d love to know what questions avian influenza is bringing up for you and your household. Please share below!
We’re in this together,
Dr. Angie
