🥩🚨 Raw Cat Food and H5N1 in 2026: What American Cat Owners Need to Know About the Risk, the Recalls, and the FDA
Raw pet food has become one of the fastest-growing categories in the American pet food market — and in 2024 and 2025, it became the most documented transmission route for H5N1 avian influenza in strictly indoor U.S. cats. An indoor-only cat in Oregon died after eating contaminated Northwest Naturals raw turkey food. A cluster of Colorado cats were infected via Savage Cat Food. Los Angeles County issued a public advisory against feeding raw pet food to cats. And on January 17, 2025, the FDA issued a formal directive to all raw pet food manufacturers recognizing H5N1 as a “known or reasonably foreseeable hazard.” This guide covers what the science says, what actually happened, and what you need to know if your cat eats raw.
⚠️ The Bottom Line Up Front
Is raw cat food banned? No federal ban on raw cat food exists in the U.S. as of March 2026. The FDA has not issued a mandatory recall or prohibition. However, the agency formally recognizes H5N1 as a known hazard in raw pet food, and multiple voluntary brand-level recalls and advisories have been issued.
Is raw food dangerous for cats right now? Yes, with meaningful risk. Multiple cats have died from H5N1 contracted through contaminated commercial raw poultry-based pet food. The AVMA, FDA, and USDA all advise against feeding raw or undercooked poultry-based diets to cats during the current outbreak.
Who is telling cat owners this? The CDC, AVMA, FDA, USDA, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FeVMA). These are not fringe positions — they represent the current consensus of U.S. veterinary and public health authorities.
📅 The Timeline: What Actually Happened with Raw Food and H5N1
H5N1 confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle for the first time (March 2024)
The outbreak began in dairy herds across the Midwest and West. Cats began dying on affected farms. CDC confirmed H5N1 in cats that died after consuming raw colostrum and milk from infected cows, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases April 2024.
Northwest Naturals recall — indoor Oregon cat dies
An indoor-only cat in Washington County, Oregon, died after eating Northwest Naturals brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food. Oregon Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz confirmed: “The virus recovered from the raw pet food and the infected cat were exact matches to each other.” Northwest Naturals issued a voluntary recall covering products sold in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI, WA and British Columbia.
FDA formal directive to raw pet food manufacturers
On January 17, 2025, the FDA issued a directive to all raw pet food manufacturers requiring them to now treat H5N1 as a “known or reasonably foreseeable hazard” in their food safety plans. This is a formal regulatory step that obligates manufacturers to address H5N1 contamination risk in their production processes.
Savage Cat Food linked to Colorado cluster
A cat in Colorado contracted H5N1 and was linked to Savage Cat Food raw pet food. All three cases of H5N1 in the relevant cluster were correlated to Savage Cat Food products. NYC Health Department warned New Yorkers against feeding Savage Cat Food products after H5N1 infections in two to three cats were linked to the brand. The brand issued a voluntary recall for poultry packets lot number 11152026.
LA County advisory and Monarch Raw Pet Food warning
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued an advisory warning residents not to feed their pets raw food. Samples of Monarch Raw Pet Food, sold at California farmer’s markets, also tested positive for H5N1. LA County linked a multi-cat household case — the first suspected H5N1 case in San Diego County — to contaminated raw food.
NYC warns of Savage Cat Food; FeVMA issues statement
The NYC Health Department warned against feeding Savage Cat Food products after two to three confirmed cat H5N1 cases were linked to the brand. The Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FeVMA) issued a statement: “Cats are very susceptible to severe illness, possibly resulting in death, from the H5N1 virus” and specifically called out raw meat-based diets as a transmission risk.
H5N1 continues circulating; no federal ban enacted
As of March 2026, no federal ban on raw pet food has been passed by Congress or issued by the FDA. The FDA Recalls & Withdrawals page remains the best resource for active recalls. AVMA and USDA continue to advise against raw poultry-based cat food during the ongoing outbreak.
🧪 Why Raw Poultry Food Is a Direct H5N1 Transmission Route
To understand the risk, it helps to understand the supply chain. H5N1 is currently endemic in commercial U.S. poultry, with outbreaks confirmed in all 50 states. When poultry infected with H5N1 is processed into raw pet food without adequate heat treatment, the virus can survive in the product.
Heat Kills H5N1, Raw Doesn’t
H5N1 is killed by adequate cooking (internal temperature above 165°F for poultry, per USDA). Raw, freeze-dried, and “cold-pressed” processing do not reach temperatures sufficient to inactivate the virus. Freeze-drying specifically preserves microorganisms rather than destroying them.
H5N1 Is Widespread in U.S. Poultry
HPAI H5N1 has affected commercial and backyard poultry operations in all 50 U.S. states. While producers test and cull infected flocks, the USDA acknowledges that contamination risk in the raw poultry supply chain cannot be fully eliminated during an active outbreak of this scale.
FDA January 2025 Directive
The FDA formally notified all raw pet food manufacturers that they must now incorporate H5N1 as a “known or reasonably foreseeable hazard” in their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety plans. This was the first such regulatory acknowledgment of H5N1 as a pet food safety hazard.
Exact Genetic Match: Food to Cat
In the Oregon Northwest Naturals case, USDA and Oregon State University labs confirmed a genetic match between the H5N1 virus isolated from the dead cat and the virus found in the raw food it consumed. This is the highest level of scientific confirmation available for food-borne transmission.
📋 U.S. Raw Pet Food Brands Linked to H5N1 Feline Cases
→ Scroll to see full table
| Brand | Product Linked | Outcome | Status (Mar 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Naturals (Morasch Meats, Portland OR) | 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen; best-by 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1 | 1 confirmed cat death in Oregon (indoor-only); genomic match between food and cat confirmed | Recall closed Feb 2025 (FDA audit complete); FDA did not find source of contamination |
| Savage Cat Food (California) | Raw poultry packets lot 11152026 | Cluster of H5N1 cases in Colorado; NYC Health Dept warning; voluntary recall of affected lot | Voluntary recall of affected lot; brand continues operating |
| Monarch Raw Pet Food (California) | Raw products sold at farmer’s markets in CA | Product samples tested positive for H5N1; LA County linked to multi-cat household case | LA County health advisory issued; check ladph.gov for current status |
🤔 Is a Federal Raw Food Ban Coming?
This is the question that has driven significant discussion in the raw feeding community since late 2024. The short answer as of March 2026 is: no federal ban has been enacted or formally proposed. But the regulatory landscape has shifted significantly.
✗ What has NOT happened
- No Congressional legislation banning raw pet food
- No FDA mandatory recall of all raw pet food categories
- No USDA prohibition on poultry use in raw pet food
- No federal testing requirement mandated for raw pet food manufacturers
- No federal definition of raw pet food as a prohibited product
✓ What HAS happened
- FDA directive: H5N1 is now a “known hazard” manufacturers must address in food safety plans
- Three voluntary brand-level recalls linked to confirmed feline H5N1 deaths
- AVMA, FeVMA, USDA, and CDC all advise against raw poultry diets for cats during outbreak
- State-level advisories from Oregon, LA County, and NYC health authorities
- Northwest Naturals updated its food safety plan to require enhanced supplier guarantees
📊 The Specific Risks by Food Category
| Food Type | H5N1 Risk | AVMA/FDA Position | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw poultry (chicken, turkey, duck) | 🔴 Highest confirmed risk | AVMA and USDA explicitly advise against; direct link to confirmed feline deaths | Switch to commercially cooked food |
| Freeze-dried poultry-based food | 🔴 High — does not kill virus | Freeze-drying preserves pathogens; AVMA and veterinarians advise avoiding | Commercially cooked, heat-processed alternatives |
| Raw duck-based food | 🔴 High — waterfowl highest H5N1 reservoir | Duck is the primary wild reservoir for H5N1; particularly high risk | Avoid entirely during current outbreak |
| Raw red meat (beef, pork, lamb) | 🟠 Lower but not zero | Lower documented risk from mammal-source proteins; cook before feeding to reduce all pathogen risk | Cooked options available |
| Unpasteurized raw milk/colostrum | 🔴 Confirmed feline deaths | Direct link to H5N1 deaths in cats; H5N1 confirmed in U.S. dairy herds across 19 states | Pasteurized dairy only |
| Commercially cooked wet/dry food (major brands) | 🟢 Low risk | Heat processing inactivates H5N1; no confirmed cases linked to cooked commercial pet food | Current recommended option by AVMA |
💬 What Veterinarians Are Actually Saying
The veterinary community in the United States has not been uniformly prescriptive, but the major bodies have issued clear positions. Here is what the relevant authorities have stated:
American Veterinary Medical Association
“Thoroughly cook meat before feeding, and avoid feeding raw meat-based treats or diets.” — AVMA H5N1 Cats guidance page. This is the AVMA’s explicit, public-facing recommendation to all U.S. cat owners as of 2026.
Feline Veterinary Medical Association
FeVMA President Dr. Ashlie Saffire: “Cook meat thoroughly before feeding it to cats and avoid giving them raw meat-based treats or food.” FeVMA also recommends keeping cats indoors and away from wild birds and livestock as independent precautions.
Food and Drug Administration
The FDA stated: “Cats are particularly vulnerable to this virus, which can cause subtle initial symptoms but progress rapidly, often resulting in death within 24 hours.” The January 2025 directive explicitly requires raw pet food manufacturers to treat H5N1 as a known hazard in food safety planning.
Oregon Department of Agriculture
State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz confirmed genomic proof linking the raw food to the cat’s death. ODA stated: “This case reminds us that feeding raw meat products to pets or consuming them yourself can lead to severe illness. Raw meat may contain harmful pathogens, including Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and H5N1.”
❓ Questions Raw Feeders Are Asking Right Now
❓ My brand tests for H5N1. Am I safe?
Brand-level testing offers some reassurance but is not a guarantee. The H5N1 situation in the U.S. poultry supply is dynamic. Testing at a single point in the supply chain does not cover all possible contamination windows. The FDA’s January 2025 directive obligates manufacturers to have systematic safety plans, not just one-time testing. Asking your brand directly for their current H5N1 HACCP protocols is reasonable — and if they cannot provide specifics, that is itself informative.
❓ Can I feed raw non-poultry protein during this outbreak?
The AVMA and USDA advisories are primarily directed at raw poultry-based food, which represents the clearest documented risk pathway. Raw red meat (beef, lamb, rabbit) has not been directly linked to confirmed H5N1 feline cases in the U.S. However, most veterinary authorities recommend switching to commercially cooked food entirely during the current outbreak, citing the difficulty of controlling contamination risk at home.
❓ What about freeze-dried raw food?
Freeze-drying does not kill viruses or bacteria. Multiple veterinarians and Wisconsin’s Countryside Animal Clinic have explicitly noted that freeze-dried food should be treated with the same caution as fresh raw food for H5N1 risk purposes. The AVMA’s guidance encompasses freeze-dried formats under “raw meat-based treats or diets.”
❓ Is this the FDA taking sides against the raw food industry?
The January 2025 directive is a science-based response to confirmed cases of H5N1 transmission through raw pet food, documented by genomic sequencing. It is consistent with how the FDA has handled other known pathogen hazards (Salmonella, Listeria) in pet food. The directive does not ban raw food; it requires manufacturers to have safety plans that address the H5N1 hazard. This is a regulatory obligation, not a product prohibition.
❓ When will it be safe to resume raw feeding?
There is no authoritative timeline. The current H5N1 outbreak in U.S. poultry is ongoing and has not been brought to containment. The AVMA notes that recommendations may change as the situation evolves. Monitoring avma.org and cdc.gov/bird-flu regularly is the best way to stay current. Most veterinarians advise waiting until H5N1 is no longer endemic in the U.S. commercial poultry supply before resuming raw poultry-based diets.
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