Florida Cat H5N1: Raw Food Alerts, Symptoms & What to Do

The old Florida raw-food warning mixed up two different products

The previous article said Northwest Naturals Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula lots 22660 and 22664 were distributed to Florida and linked to cat deaths. That combines details from two separate H5N1 investigations.

What is the most current H5N1 raw-cat-food alert?

FDA's current high-value H5N1 cat-food notice concerns RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats. FDA reports that lot CCS 25 093 was consumed by a San Francisco cat that developed H5N1 and was euthanized. Confirmatory testing and whole-genome sequencing were performed on the cat and product. FDA also tested retail samples from lot CCS 25 077 and found H5N1 in the product.

FDA says sequencing placed the cat and food samples in the same genomic cluster, supporting a common source of contamination. The agency lists the product as sold through retail stores nationwide and online.

Do not confuse the August 2026 Northwest Naturals recall with H5N1

Northwest Naturals does have a new FDA-posted recall dated August 28, 2026, but it is a different food-safety event. The company recalled specified Chicken Recipe lots because FDA testing found Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes, not H5N1.

This distinction matters for SEO and safety. A search result that says “Northwest Naturals recall 2026” may refer to the newer bacterial-contamination recall, while the H5N1 event involving Feline Turkey Recipe dates back to December 2024.

Has Florida confirmed H5N1 in domestic cats?

USDA APHIS continues to maintain the national mammal-detection dataset and says its data may be incomplete as new detections are added. In the current federal and Florida sources reviewed for this September 10, 2026 update, we did not identify a published Florida domestic-cat H5N1 detection.

That should not be interpreted as “zero risk.” Florida wildlife sources document HPAI in wild birds, and federally documented cat infections in other states show that raw animal products and infected-animal exposure can infect cats.

Florida's current poultry and livestock status was misstated

The old article said Florida had confirmed HPAI outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry. Current Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services guidance says the opposite: FDACS states that Florida has had no detections of HPAI in domestic fowl to date. A June 2, 2026 FDACS emergency-rule announcement also said there had been no HPAI detections in any livestock in Florida.

Florida still takes HPAI seriously. The state conducts surveillance of domestic fowl and imposed 2026 movement/testing restrictions for imported dairy cattle in response to HPAI detections elsewhere in the United States.

Wild birds remain the clearest Florida-specific exposure

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission materials say HPAI has been detected in wild birds in Florida. FWC advises keeping pets away from sick or dead wild birds and maintains a mortality-reporting system to help monitor wildlife disease.

For an outdoor or community cat, practical prevention means reducing hunting opportunities and preventing access to sick/dead birds or carcasses. For an indoor cat, the lowest-risk setup is simpler: keep the cat indoors and do not bring raw animal products into the diet.

What exposures increase H5N1 risk for cats?

CDC identifies several recurring risk factors in U.S. cat cases and veterinary investigations:

• Commercially produced raw pet food containing infectious virus;
• raw or undercooked meat;
• unpasteurized/raw milk or dairy products;
• contact with wild birds, poultry or other infected animals;
• contact with contaminated objects such as clothing, shoes or equipment.

CDC does not recommend feeding raw pet food or raw treats to dogs and cats. FDA likewise advises owners to carefully consider H5N1 risk before feeding uncooked meat or uncooked pet-food products.

What symptoms should Florida cat owners watch for?

H5N1 infection in cats can progress rapidly and can be severe. CDC lists decreased energy and appetite, neurologic abnormalities and respiratory signs among the important presentations.

These signs are not specific to H5N1. Rabies, trauma, toxins, feline respiratory infections and many other emergencies can look similar. Exposure history is therefore crucial.

What should you do if your cat may have been exposed?

1. Stop the suspected exposure. Do not feed the implicated raw product again and prevent other animals from accessing it.
2. Check the current FDA notice. Match the exact brand, product, lot code and date — not just the brand name.
3. Call your veterinarian promptly if illness develops. Tell the clinic about raw-food, raw-milk, wild-bird or poultry exposure before the cat is handled.
4. Limit close contact with a sick exposed cat. Avoid face licking, kissing and unnecessary handling until the veterinarian/public-health team advises you.
5. Keep other pets separated where practical. Follow veterinary instructions on isolation if H5N1 is suspected.
6. Do not attempt home testing. Confirmation requires appropriate veterinary/public-health sampling and laboratory testing.

Can cats transmit H5N1 to people?

The overall public risk remains low, but the 2026 evidence is more nuanced than older guidance. In May 2026, CDC published an MMWR report describing serologic evidence of H5N1 infection in an asymptomatic veterinary professional who had occupational exposure to an H5N1-infected domestic cat in Los Angeles County. The report describes this as evidence of zoonotic transmission and reinforces the need for infection-control precautions around suspected or confirmed cats.

This does not mean household cat-to-human spread is common. It means “no cat-to-human transmission has ever been documented” is no longer a safe blanket statement.

What should veterinary clinics do with a suspected cat?

CDC recommends infection-control precautions for veterinary staff working with suspected or confirmed H5N1 cats, including appropriate personal protective equipment and isolation decisions based on the case and facility. University of Florida shelter-medicine guidance likewise emphasizes full-coverage PPE, limited handling, isolation and laboratory confirmation for high-risk cats with compatible neurologic or respiratory signs.

Owners do not need to decide the testing protocol themselves. Their job is to give the veterinarian an accurate exposure history and avoid creating unnecessary exposure in a waiting room.

Miami vs Tampa: there is no evidence-based “danger-zone” ranking

The previous article used Miami and Tampa as if they represented distinct H5N1 danger zones. Current official sources do not provide a validated city ranking for pet cats. A strictly indoor Miami cat eating cooked commercial food can have a lower exposure profile than an outdoor cat elsewhere in Florida that hunts waterfowl or eats raw poultry.

Use statewide prevention principles and current local wildlife/agriculture information rather than city labels.

A practical Florida prevention checklist

• Do not feed raw milk or unpasteurized dairy.
• Avoid raw or undercooked meat and commercially produced raw pet food.
• Keep owned cats indoors when possible.
• Prevent contact with sick/dead wild birds and other wildlife.
• Wash hands and disinfect food-contact surfaces after handling raw animal products.
• Check FDA notices by exact lot number when a raw-food alert appears.
• Tell your vet about raw-food or bird exposure before a symptomatic cat arrives.

Frequently asked questions

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