If your cat eats raw poultry, raw meat, freeze-dried raw food, or raw milk, this is a good week to put a simple question on your local vet’s list: Is this still the safest way to feed my pet?

That question has become more important as veterinarians and public health agencies continue to track H5N1 bird flu in cats. Bird flu is still mainly a disease of wild birds and poultry, and most pet owners do not need to panic. But cats appear to be especially vulnerable when they are exposed to infected birds, raw milk, or raw animal products.

A 2026 CDC report described 19 domestic cats in Los Angeles County that became ill after eating commercially purchased raw milk, raw meat, or raw pet food. Nine tested positive for H5N1, and 14 died or were euthanized. The same investigation found evidence that one veterinary professional may have been infected after exposure to an infected cat. That does not mean your house cat is likely to give you bird flu. It does mean raw feeding has moved from a nutrition preference into a real safety conversation.

Raw food risks are no longer just about stomach bugs

Veterinarians have long warned that raw diets can expose pets and people to organisms such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and Listeria. The AVMA discourages feeding raw or undercooked animal-source proteins to dogs and cats because those foods can make pets sick and can also put people in the household at risk.

H5N1 adds another layer. The FDA has told certain cat and dog food manufacturers using uncooked or unpasteurized poultry or cattle ingredients to reanalyze their food safety plans and consider H5N1 as a foreseeable hazard. In plain English: federal regulators now recognize bird flu as a risk that some raw pet food makers need to plan for, not a remote “what if.”

That matters most for cats, especially cats that eat raw poultry, raw milk, raw eggs, raw meat-based diets, or freeze-dried raw products. It also matters for cats that go outdoors, hunt birds or rodents, live near poultry or dairy operations, or share a home with someone who works around livestock.

What to do if your pet is on a raw diet

Start with your veterinarian, not the internet. Bring the food bag, label, ingredient list, and any supplements you use. If you rotate brands or add raw treats, say so. Your vet cannot help you assess risk if they only hear “chicken” when the full picture is raw chicken, freeze-dried liver treats, raw goat milk, and backyard eggs.

Ask three practical questions:

  1. Is this diet complete and balanced for my pet’s age and health?
  2. Is there a safer cooked, canned, or dry option that still fits my pet’s needs?
  3. If I want to home-cook, can you help me do it safely or refer me to a veterinary nutritionist?

For many pets, the answer may be a gradual transition to a cooked commercial food that is complete and balanced. For picky cats, your vet may suggest a slower plan so your cat can adjust to the change.

If a product says it has been processed to reduce pathogens, do not assume that means “risk-free.” Ask your vet what the claim actually means and whether it changes their recommendation for your household, especially if anyone at home is very young, older, pregnant, or immunocompromised.

Know the signs that need a call ahead

If your cat has eaten raw animal products or may have been exposed to wild birds, poultry, dairy cattle, or contaminated clothing or shoes, call your vet promptly if you notice sudden illness. Warning signs can include fever, low appetite, tiredness, red or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes or nose, trouble breathing, tremors, seizures, wobbliness, circling, or blindness.

Call before you walk into the clinic. That gives the veterinary team time to guide you, protect other patients, and decide whether special handling or testing advice is needed. This is one place where a trusted local practice really matters: they know your area, your pet’s history, and the practical risks around your household — backyard chickens, barn cats, hunting, raw feeding, or nearby farms.

The Main Street Paws takeaway

Feeding your pet should not feel like a courtroom debate. It should be a steady conversation with someone who knows medicine, knows your animal, and is not trying to sell you a trend.

Independent local vets are well suited for that kind of conversation. They can help you weigh your pet’s health, your household risk, your budget, and your values — then choose a feeding plan you can actually follow. If raw food is part of your routine, do not wait for a recall or a sick pet to ask. Bring it up at the next visit, or call now if your cat has symptoms. A safer plan can still be a personal plan.