#WSDA keep cats indoors bird flu 2026 Articles

Washington State has 5 confirmed H5N1 cat cases as of early 2026. Four were linked to Wild Coast Raw pet food (King + Snohomish counties). The fifth: a Grant County outdoor cat died after wild bird contact (WSDA, Jan 27 2026) — the first Washington cat case NOT linked to food. WSDA State Vet Dr. Amber Itle, Seattle vets, and AVMA all issued updated guidance: keep cats indoors, stop feeding raw food, call vet before arriving if cat is symptomatic. 149 total U.S. domestic cat cases since 2022.