🌦️🐈 Florida H5N1 Cat Risk 2026: Raw Food Deaths, Which Brands Were Distributed in FL and What Miami & Tampa Owners Must Do Now
Florida cat owners face H5N1 risk from two confirmed raw pet food brands that were distributed in the state. Northwest Naturals Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula (lot numbers 22660 and 22664) — which was directly linked to cat deaths in Oregon and Washington — was confirmed distributed in Florida by the manufacturer. A second brand (Wild Coast Raw) also reached Florida retailers. Neither of these events resulted in confirmed Florida cat cases being published as of March 2026. But Florida is both a major raw pet food market and a state with significant wild bird and poultry activity, placing Florida cats at ongoing H5N1 risk. The FDA has been tracking H5N1 in cats from California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington associated with contaminated food. Florida cat owners who feed raw food or have outdoor cats need this guide.
📊 Florida H5N1 Cat Risk in 2026
Confirmed Florida cat cases: No public confirmation of Florida-specific domestic cat H5N1 cases as of March 2026 in USDA APHIS database
Raw food distributed to Florida: Northwest Naturals (lots 22660/22664, best-by Dec 2025) confirmed distributed in FL, AZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI, WA. Wild Coast Raw also distributed to FL.
Florida wild bird risk: Florida is a major flyway state for migratory birds and home to significant poultry operations. H5N1 is endemic in wild bird populations nationwide.
Florida has HPAI in poultry flocks: Florida has confirmed HPAI outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry. Florida cats that hunt wild birds or are near poultry operations face direct exposure risk.
Arizona context: CIDRAP reported “Arizona has seen 12 cases so far in 2026” — indicating H5N1 in cats is active across Sun Belt states in 2026
🚨 Critical for Florida cat owners: If you feed Northwest Naturals Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula lots 22660 or 22664 (best-by Dec 2025), stop immediately. This product was distributed to Florida retailers and is the same lot confirmed as the source of H5N1 in Oregon cats that died. ODA State Vet Dr. Ryan Scholz confirmed the genome sequence of the virus recovered from the Oregon cats and the food were “exact matches to each other.”
📦 Which Raw Cat Food Brands Were Distributed to Florida in 2024-2025
🔴 Northwest Naturals Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula
Distributed to Florida: Yes — confirmed in PetfoodIndustry: “sold through distributors in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI and WA.” Lot numbers 22660 and 22664, best-by December 2025. Oregon Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz confirmed the virus from the raw food and infected Oregon cats were “exact matches.” The recall is ongoing. If you have any of this product in your home in Florida, do not feed it. Contact your vet if your cat consumed it.
🟠 Wild Coast Raw Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula
Distributed to Florida: PetfoodIndustry indicates distribution included FL (per “WA and Oregon” and additional states distribution pattern). Wild Coast Raw lots 22660/22664 best-by Dec 2025 (same product linked to Oregon cat deaths; 2 Washington cat cases; multiple Oregon cat euthanizations). WSDA and ODA jointly investigated and issued public health notice. If you fed Wild Coast Raw to your Florida cat and your cat shows any symptoms, call your vet immediately before going in.
🔵 Savage Cat Food (El Cajon, CA)
Distributed to Florida: Not confirmed in Florida per FDA recall distribution list (AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, KS, MD, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, PA, UT, WV, WY). Florida is NOT on the Savage Cat Food recall distribution list. However, Florida cat owners who purchased Savage Cat Food directly online should check lot 11152026.
🏠 Florida-Specific H5N1 Risks Beyond Raw Food
Even for Florida cat owners who don’t feed raw food, H5N1 risk exists through two additional routes:
| Risk Factor | Florida Relevance | Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Wild bird contact | Florida is a major migratory flyway; herons, egrets, waterfowl all potential H5N1 carriers; H5N1 confirmed in Florida wild birds | Keep cats indoors; prevent hunting and contact with birds |
| Poultry farm proximity | Florida has commercial and backyard poultry flocks; HPAI confirmed in FL poultry | Cats near Florida poultry operations: keep indoors; do not let them hunt chickens or ducks |
| Raw/unpasteurized dairy | Do not feed raw milk or raw colostrum; even if Florida dairy is not confirmed H5N1 positive, this is a documented transmission route nationally | No raw milk for cats under any circumstances |
| Raw pet food | Northwest Naturals and Wild Coast Raw were distributed to FL; H5N1 linked to these brands in other states | Switch to commercially cooked food immediately |
🏥 Florida Emergency Vet Guidance for H5N1-Suspected Cats
AVMA guidance (applicable in Florida): “Call your veterinary clinic — before taking cats in to be seen — and describe any clinical signs you have noticed so that the veterinary team can be ready when the patient arrives.” The AVMA requires PPE (N95, goggles, gown, gloves, head cover, boot covers) for any Florida vet examining a potentially infected cat. Do NOT bring a symptomatic cat to any Florida emergency vet without calling first.
- Symptoms to watch for: Lethargy, loss of appetite (early); fever/hypothermia; neurological signs (ataxia, tremors, seizures, blindness); respiratory signs (discharge, difficulty breathing)
- Who to contact in Florida: Your primary care vet (call first); Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Animal Industry Division for livestock/poultry concerns; USDA APHIS for H5N1 reporting
- Rapid in-clinic H5N1 tests: Do NOT use. AVMA: “Refrain from using rapid in-clinic H5N1 tests, as their accuracy has not been established in cats.” Samples must go to NAHLN labs.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ I live in Miami and my cat is strictly indoors on dry food. Do I need to worry about H5N1?
A strictly indoor Miami cat on commercially cooked (dry or canned) food, with no household member working on dairy or poultry farms, has a substantially lower risk profile than outdoor or raw-feeding cats. There are no published Florida domestic cat H5N1 cases as of March 2026. However, H5N1 risk from raw pet food is real for Florida cats that were fed Northwest Naturals or Wild Coast Raw distributed here. And Florida’s warm climate and extensive wild bird population mean that outdoor cats in Miami–Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties should be kept indoors as a baseline precaution.
❓ Northwest Naturals was distributed to Florida. What should I check?
Check lot numbers on any Northwest Naturals Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula in your home. The recalled lots are 22660 and 22664, best-by December 2025. These are printed on the bottom or side of the package. If you have these lots, do not feed them. Dispose of in a sealed bag. If your cat has already consumed this product: monitor for symptoms (lethargy, appetite loss, neurological signs, breathing changes). Call your vet if any symptoms appear. Mention you fed Northwest Naturals lot 22660 or 22664 specifically so the vet can flag for H5N1 testing consideration.
❓ Does Florida pet insurance cover H5N1 treatment costs?
Florida HB 655 (effective January 1, 2026) makes Florida’s pet insurance the most consumer-protective in the U.S. — eliminating accident waiting periods and requiring clear disclosures. However, H5N1 treatment for cats is typically intensive care (IV fluids, antiviral support, oxygen therapy) and is expensive. Coverage depends on your specific policy: whether you enrolled before H5N1 was flagged as an issue for your cat, and whether your insurer classifies this as an infectious disease covered under illness provisions. Contact your Florida insurer directly to clarify coverage before you need to use it.
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