Animal Health Alert: H5 Bird Flu confirmed in three additional domestic cats in Los Angeles
County and in one commercially available raw pet food product.
1.13.2025
Key Points:
• Five indoor-only cats in one household experienced acute onset of illness after
consuming two brands of commercially available raw pet food. Four of the cats had
severe clinical signs and two of them died. One cat had mild clinical signs. One of the
severely affected cats was tested and later confirmed to be infected with H5N1 (aka H5
bird flu). Both raw pet food diets were tested, and one of the two raw pet foods,
Monarch Raw Pet Food, was confirmed to contain live, infective, H5N1 virus.
• In a second single-cat household, the indoor-only cat had acute onset of illness after
consuming three different brands of commercially available raw pet food. This cat was
tested and confirmed to be infected with H5 bird flu. The investigation is ongoing and
testing of the raw pet food by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently
underway.
• Influenza A is rarely detected in cats. These are the first cats in LA County to be
confirmed positive for H5 bird flu after consuming raw pet food products.
• Five other cats from two different households in LA County have also been confirmed
with H5 bird flu after drinking raw milk for human consumption that was part of a recall
due to H5 bird flu contamination. All five of these cats died from H5 bird flu.
• H5 bird flu is a One Health issue that significantly affects human health, animal health
and the environment. Veterinarians should strongly advise pet owners to not consume
nor feed raw dairy, raw meat, raw poultry, and raw pet food diets to pets.
• REPORT suspected cases of H5 bird flu in cats and other animals. See the Guidance for
Veterinary Practices with Suspect H5 Bird Flu Cases in Pets. Influenza A testing is
available through commercial diagnostic laboratories. Testing through Public Health
may be available for certain cases. Take a complete dietary history (including any raw
dairy, raw poultry and/or meat including raw pet food diets, and wild bird exposure).
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