Los Angeles County health officials have issued an urgent warning against feeding raw pet food following another product recall and new cases of H5N1 bird flu in cats.
San Jacinto-based Monarch Raw Pet Food has recalled its raw poultry products after H5N1 bird flu was detected in samples. The products were sold at several California farmers markets.
One cat tested positive for the virus after consuming the recalled pet food, while four others from the same household are presumed infected. Two cats died, and three were quarantined, treated, and later returned home.
According to public health spokeswoman Becky Schlikerman Sernik, the infected cats showed symptoms including lethargy, coughing, sneezing, neurological issues, and eye problems.
This incident follows a December case where four house cats died after consuming recalled raw milk. Those cases remain under investigation. No human infections have been reported in connection with any of these cases.
The outbreak's impact extends beyond pets. In November, a Riverside County commercial egg-laying facility lost 350,000 birds to the virus. Since 2022, California has seen nearly 22 million birds either infected or culled due to the outbreak.
Health officials strongly advise pet owners to contact their veterinarian immediately if their pets consumed Monarch raw products or other raw meat/dairy products and show unusual symptoms such as:
- Lethargy
- Loss of motor control
- Drooling
Officials also recommend that humans avoid consuming raw milk or raw meat products to prevent potential exposure.
Despite the recall, Monarch's website currently shows no mention of the safety alert but continues to advertise its products as made from "human grade USDA free-range poultry" from the San Joaquin Valley.