SAN FRANCISCO—The first avian flu virus report of affected pet food since March 2025. According to the United States Agricultural Department, in 2025, nearly 70 cats have been affected with H5N1 because they drank contaminated raw milk or ate contaminated raw pet food containing H5N1.
People have been warned of H5N1 raw cat food contamination after a San Francisco pet cat consumed the contaminated cat food, causing the feline to get euthanized.
The United States Food and Drug Administration on September 4, 2025, RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats’ two lots tested positive for H5N1. In analyzing the pet food and the deceased cat, the San Francisco Health Department discovered H5N1 strain within the pet food and the cat. The United States’ Agricultural Department’s National Veterinary Services found it was H5N1 from the cat’s sample and pet food. Genetic sequencing detected H5N1 genetic lineage in November and December 2024, but is not around anymore.
The affected lots include CCS 25 077 with an expiration date of Friday, September 18, 2026 and CSSS 250 093 with an expiration date of Saturday, October 3, 2026. RAWR pet food sells frozen, thawing upon using. RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats sells in 2.5 pound resealable bags, containing 40 one-ounce food sliders. They are sold nationwide and online. There were not any recalls for them, but they are no longer in stores.
H5N1 is contagious towards birds and United States dairy cattle. H5N1 can affect birds, poultry and mammals, including cats and dogs. There have been H5N1 dog reports in other countries. Animals that are very young, very old or very weak are susceptible to H5N1. Only people who handles raw pet food are likely to get H5N1, getting infected and sick if it gets in their nose, eyes and mouth
