🐦🐱 Washington State H5N1 Cat Cases 2026: Grant County Death, Seattle Area Raw Food Risk and What WSDA Is Telling Pet Owners
Washington State has documented five confirmed H5N1 cases in domestic cats as of early 2026 — making it one of the most affected states in the country. Four of the five Washington cases were linked to contaminated raw pet food. The fifth and most recent case, confirmed January 27, 2026 by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), involved an outdoor cat in Grant County that died after contact with an infected wild bird — the first confirmed Washington cat case linked to wildlife rather than food. WSDA State Veterinarian Dr. Amber Itle, Seattle-area vets, and the AVMA have all issued updated guidance for Washington cat owners in 2026.
📊 Washington State H5N1 Cats: Key Facts (2026)
Total WA confirmed cat cases: 5 as of early 2026 (4 raw pet food; 1 wild bird contact)
Most recent case: January 27, 2026 — outdoor cat, Grant County, died; linked to infected wild bird (WSDA press release Jan 27 2026)
Raw food cases: King County + Snohomish County indoor cats (Wild Coast Raw, lots 22660/22664, best-by Dec 2025; both cats required euthanasia or treatment; household members monitored 10 days per CIDRAP)
WSDA official recommendation: Keep cats indoors; do not feed raw food or raw milk; limit outdoor unsupervised time; call vet before bringing potentially infected cat to clinic
Risk to humans: No documented cat-to-human transmission; risk increases for those handling contaminated raw food or caring for infected animals without PPE
Statewide context: 149 total U.S. domestic cats confirmed H5N1 since 2022; Washington now one of leading states by case count
📍 The Five Washington State Cat Cases: What Happened
🔴 Case Group 1: Wild Coast Raw Pet Food (Feb 2025) — King + Snohomish Counties
Two indoor cats in King County and Snohomish County tested positive for H5N1 in February 2025. CIDRAP: “Two domestic, indoor cats in King and Snohomish counties in Washington state have tested positive for H5N1 avian flu after eating potentially contaminated raw pet food.” The owners fed their cats Wild Coast Raw Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula (lots 22660 and 22664, best-by Dec 2025) — the same brand implicated in Oregon feline deaths. The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory presumptively confirmed positive results February 24; USDA NVSL confirmed February 25. One cat was euthanized due to severity of illness; the other received treatment. WSDA field vet Dr. Zac Turner: “If your cat is showing symptoms, consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.” WSDA explicitly advised against raw pet food and raw milk for all Washington cats following these cases.
🔴 Case Group 2: Additional Raw Food-Linked Cases (2024–2025)
WSDA press release (January 27, 2026) confirmed: “Since the start of the current avian influenza outbreak in 2022, 149 domestic cats in the United States have tested positive for bird flu. Four of these cases have occurred in Washington and were associated with raw pet food.” These four cases all preceded the January 2026 Grant County case.
🔴 Case Group 3: Grant County Outdoor Cat (January 27, 2026)
WSDA (official news release, Jan 27 2026): “A domestic cat has died of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in Grant County, Washington, becoming the first confirmed domestic feline case in the state linked to exposure from an infected wild bird.” WSDA: “the cat was an outdoor pet who likely contracted the virus after contact with an infected wild bird.” WSDA confirmed: “This case is not related to contaminated commercial pet food.” The Grant County Health District and WSDA provided guidance, testing, and preventive treatment to the animal owner. WSDA State Vet Dr. Amber Itle: “Many migratory birds overwinter in fields, backyards and around water sources across Washington State. As birds concentrate, so does the avian influenza virus, increasing the risk of environmental contamination and spillover into domestic poultry, wild predatory species, and even our beloved outdoor domestic cats.”
🚨 Washington statewide reality: H5N1 in Washington is no longer purely a raw food risk. The January 2026 Grant County case confirms that outdoor cats in Washington face direct wildlife transmission risk from infected migratory birds. H5N1 is endemic in Washington wild bird populations. ANY outdoor Washington cat that hunts or has access to areas where wild birds congregate is at risk.
🏥 What Seattle-Area Vets Are Saying
Following the King County and Snohomish County raw food cases, KING5 News reported Seattle-area vet guidance. Nancy Vollmar, Veterinarian at North End Pet Hospital, Tacoma: “They are recommending to not feed raw diets, especially raw chicken diets.” Vollmar: “I would try to keep your outside cats indoors and away from waterfowl and wild birds.” The AVMA’s comprehensive H5N1 cat guidance (avma.org) adds: veterinarians evaluating potentially infected cats should implement full PPE (N95, goggles/face shield, gown, gloves, hair/head cover, rubber boots or shoe covers) and call the clinic before the cat arrives to prepare isolation protocols. Rapid in-clinic H5N1 tests should NOT be used — their accuracy has not been established in cats. Samples must be submitted to NAHLN laboratories.
📋 WSDA Official 2026 Recommendations for Washington Cat Owners
🚨 Washington State Department of Agriculture Official Guidance (Jan 27, 2026)
- Keep cats indoors when possible, especially during periods of increased wildlife disease activity and during migratory bird seasons (spring/fall)
- Do not feed raw milk or raw dairy products to cats at any time
- Do not feed raw pet food diets, especially poultry-based raw food (raw chicken, duck, turkey)
- Limit unsupervised outdoor time to prevent cats from hunting wild birds or other animals
- Practice good hygiene: Wash hands after handling pets, their food, or their waste
- Monitor for symptoms: Lethargy, loss of appetite, fever/hypothermia, neurological signs (lack of coordination, tremors, seizures), respiratory signs (difficulty breathing, discharge)
- Call your vet before going in: Do not bring a potentially infected cat to a clinic without calling first. AVMA and WSDA both emphasize advance notice so the vet team can prepare PPE and isolation
- Report sick/dead animals: Report sick/dead domestic animals to WSDA (online or 1-800-606-3056); sick/dead wild birds to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
| Risk Factor | Washington Status | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Raw poultry-based pet food | 4 confirmed WA cat deaths/illnesses; Wild Coast Raw lot recall | Switch to commercially cooked food |
| Wild bird contact (outdoor cats) | Confirmed Jan 2026 (Grant County death) | Keep cats indoors, especially during migratory seasons |
| Raw/unpasteurized dairy | Documented route in other states; not yet confirmed in WA | Do not feed raw milk or colostrum |
| Dairy farm worker household fomites | Documented in Michigan/Colorado; possible in WA dairy counties | Change clothes/shoes at door if farm worker in household |
| Cat-to-human transmission | No documented cases as of March 2026 | Wash hands; use PPE when handling sick cat |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ I live in Seattle — is my indoor cat at risk?
If your Seattle-area indoor cat eats only commercially cooked food (no raw food, no raw dairy) and no household member has regular dairy or poultry farm exposure, the risk is substantially reduced. The four Washington raw food cases all involved cats fed Wild Coast Raw. The Grant County wild bird case involved an outdoor cat. Indoor-only Seattle cats on cooked commercial food with no farm household exposure are at lower risk — but H5N1 is circulating in wild birds throughout King County. WSDA recommends keeping cats indoors as a baseline precaution during the ongoing outbreak.
❓ Wild Coast Raw pet food was recalled — what should I do if I fed it to my cat?
Wild Coast LLC Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula lots 22660 and 22664 (best-by Dec 2025) were confirmed as the source of H5N1 in the Oregon cases that linked to Washington. WSDA issued guidance urging Washington cat owners who fed this product to their cats to check lot numbers immediately and contact their vet if any signs of illness appear. Signs: lethargy, loss of appetite, fever/hypothermia, neurological signs, respiratory signs. Call your vet before going in so they can prepare PPE and isolation protocols. No human infections have been documented from handling contaminated raw food, but wash hands thoroughly after any contact with recalled product.
❓ My vet in Seattle said they can't test for H5N1 in-clinic. Why?
AVMA explicitly states: “Refrain from using rapid in-clinic H5N1 tests, as their accuracy has not been established in cats.” H5N1 testing in cats must be performed by laboratories within the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) that offer HPAI PCR testing for cats. The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) is Washington’s primary NAHLN lab. Your vet submits samples (oropharyngeal swabs, nasal swabs, or whole blood) to WADDL for PCR confirmation, with USDA NVSL providing final confirmation. Your vet must also promptly report suspected cases to the Washington State Animal Health Official.
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