Headline: Urgent: Los Angeles Residents Warned: Raw Cat Food Linked to Bird Flu
Subhead: Monarch Raw Pet Food tainted with avian influenza H5; kittens and cats at risk
Article:
Residents of Los Angeles County have been warned not to feed their cats with Monarch Raw Pet Food after the product was found to be contaminated with avian influenza H5, also known as bird flu. The dire warning comes from the Los Angeles (LA) County Department of Public Health, following a confirmed case of a pet cat that consumed the raw food and tested positive for the virus.
Monarch Raw Pet Food is sold in various farmer’s markets across California, with locations listed on the company’s website. The infection in the pet cat was confirmed last month, on December 31, 2024, according to LA County’s statement. The H5 strain refers to a specific protein found on the surface of certain bird flu viruses.
The H5N1 strain has been circulating among wild birds and poultry in the US since 2021 and was detected in cattle for the first time in 2024. Last year, H5N1 infected at least 66 people in the US, mostly individuals exposed to infected cattle or poultry.
LA County’s statement did not specify whether the infected cat was suffering from H5N1, but it’s the most likely cause. Four other cats from the same household that consumed Monarch Raw Pet Food are suspected to have the virus as well.
Monarch Raw Pet Food sells a variety of products, including ground turkey, chicken feet, dried turkey liver, and dried beef heart. The statement did not specify which product(s) were involved in the contamination or if any product recalls have taken place. The company’s website makes no mention of the recent bird flu incident.
"LA County Public Health advises pet owners who feed their animals with Monarch Raw Pet Food or other raw pet food products to monitor their pets for any symptoms and contact their veterinarian immediately if they notice anything unusual," the department urged.
Infection with H5N1 in cats can be severe, ranging from loss of appetite and lethargy to liver damage, respiratory problems, and potentially fatal neurological symptoms. Veterinarians handling infected cats should take personal protective measures, as the virus can spread through bodily fluids such as saliva, feces, and nasal discharge.
This isn’t the first incident of bird flu affecting cats in LA. In early December, LA County Public Health confirmed four cases of fatal bird flu in cats that consumed products from Raw Farm, LLC. The company’s products, including "raw goat milk toppings" and "kefir for pets," were recently recalled due to H5N1 contamination. Authorities are investigating if other pets have fallen ill due to these products.
"While the risk of H5N1 in Los Angeles County remains low, the confirmed cases of sick and dying pet cats serve as a stark reminder that consuming raw dairy and meat products can cause serious illnesses in cats," said Barbara Ferrer, Director of LA County Public Health, in a statement released mid-December.
To prevent the spread of disease, including bird flu, pet owners and their animals should avoid raw dairy and undercooked meat, limit contact with sick or dead animals, report sick or dead birds, and prevent their pets or poultry from interacting with wild animals or birds, Ferrer added.
In a separate incident, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) recently warned pet owners that Northwest Naturals brand pet food products have also tested positive for H5N1. The company voluntarily recalled its "2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food" due to contamination. According to ODA’s statement, a pet cat in Washington County died after contracting H5N1 from consuming the affected food.
So far, no human cases of H5N1 infection from cats have been reported, as noted in LA County Public Health’s statement.
Photo: Warnings have been issued to Los Angeles County residents not to feed their cats with Monarch Raw Pet Food after it was found to be contaminated with avian influenza H5. (Photo: freepik)
