Multiple cats from separate homes die from bird flu after eating raw pet food, officials say

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - Oregon health officials say they are continuing to alert pet owners of cats getting sick with bird flu after eating raw pet food.

Last week, the Oregon Department of Agriculture said some house cats in the area had to be euthanized after getting avian influenza.

Investigators said they confirmed the cats were from separate homes and ate a contaminated batch of Olympia-based Wild Coast Raw food.

The batches of concerned raw pet food are the Free Range Chicken Formula with lot numbers 22660 and 22664. They are dated best use by December 2025.

In January, an outdoor cat in Washington County also tested positive for bird flu. The cat had been exposed to wild birds.

Meanwhile, Christine Knopp of Oatfield said two of her 11 cats have died, one with pending bird flu test results.

Her 11-year-old Sphynx, Gandalf the Pink, was the first to show bird flu symptoms of high fever, lack of appetite, and unstable walking.

She died on Tuesday.

“Until Monday, she just couldn’t even walk into her litter box anymore and by Tuesday morning I had my home euthanasia person watching me cry holding her,” Knopp said.

Another one of Knopp’s cats, Hattie, died on Valentine’s Day. She tested positive for the virus.

As Knopp awaits the remainder of the virus test results, she hopes to raise awareness among local pet owners.

“I’m channeling between real bad and numbness. If I can, I want to warn other people about the signs and symptoms because of how fast this progresses,” Knopp said.

The ODA has issued the following tips for pet owners:

• Do not feed your pet undercooked or raw meat, including uncooked or freeze-dried meat-based diets, treats, or animal products.
• Do not feed your pet raw (unpasteurized) milk or colostrum.
• Prevent pets from eating birds or other wild animals.
• Wash your hands after touching raw meat and interacting with poultry, livestock, or animals outside your household.
• Consider changing clothing and shoes after interacting with animals or birds with unknown health status and before interacting with your own pets.
• Contact your veterinarian if your pet appears sick. Tell your veterinarian if your pet has been exposed to raw meat, raw milk, or wild waterfowl.
• If you suspect your pet has H5N1, please immediately contact your veterinarian and inform them about any risk factors. Veterinarians must immediately report any suspected cases of influenza in animals to the Oregon Department of Agriculture at (503) 986-4711.

Knopp has set up an online fundraiser to help her cover veterinary expenses for the cats.

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