Tim Hanson’s cat, Kira, passed away after consuming raw chicken pet food contaminated with bird flu. After testing positive, Kira’s health rapidly declined and Hanson had to make the heartbreaking decision to put her down. Hanson filed a lawsuit against the pet food manufacturer, Wild Coast Pet Foods, seeking compensation for veterinary bills. The manufacturer recalled the formula due to potential contamination, transitioning to fully cooked poultry recipes to eliminate the risk. Domestic cats in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, with cases increasing this year, many linked to food exposure.
Bird flu in cats can be swift and lethal, with severe symptoms like seizures and blindness. Several pet food recalls involving raw poultry have occurred in the past few months. Cats can contract bird flu from raw food sourced from infected poultry, raising concern for transmission to humans. Cats infected with bird flu may not always display neurological symptoms, making diagnosis challenging.
Research is ongoing on why bird flu is more fatal in cats compared to other mammals. Cats’ ability to be infected by a broad range of flu viruses raises concerns about transmission to humans. While no evidence of cats passing bird flu to humans exists yet, the more it spreads in cats, the higher the risk of mutation. Owners like Hanson and Joseph Journell are seeking legal action after their cats fell ill from consuming raw pet food. The threat of bird flu in cats serves as a warning for pet owners to be cautious about their pets’ diet to prevent further deaths.
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