The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to pet owners about an expanded recall of cat food that may be contaminated with bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1.
The latest recall affects specific lots of Savage Cat Food’s large and small chicken boxes, sold at retailers in California, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
According to the FDA’s alert, the company was first made aware of a cat in Colorado contracting H5N1 in February. The cat became ill but recovered. The affected product was immediately removed from stores while testing was conducted. On March 13, Savage Pet learned of another case in New York, where a kitten contracted avian flu.
Earlier this month, the FDA also issued a similar recall for certain lots of Wild Coast LLC’s raw, frozen “Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula,” which was sold in Washington and Oregon.
The FDA’s latest advisory urges pet owners to watch for symptoms of bird flu in cats that may have eaten the recalled food. These symptoms include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, red or inflamed eyes, nasal and eye discharge, breathing difficulties, and neurological issues such as tremors, seizures, lack of coordination, or blindness. If a cat shows any of these signs after consuming the recalled food, owners are advised to contact their veterinarian immediately.
This recall follows a warning from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) regarding the risks of avian flu in cats. The AVMA explained that cats are particularly vulnerable to severe illness from bird flu, which can be fatal. While the risk of cat-to-human transmission is extremely low, prolonged, unprotected exposure to infected animals may increase the chance of infection.
The FDA has confirmed that no human cases of bird flu have been reported among people handling raw pet food products. However, individuals can still become infected if the virus comes into contact with their eyes, nose, or mouth.
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