(NAFB) A cat in Oregon’s Washington County was recently euthanized after coming down with avian influenza following exposure to wild birds. The owner says the kitten was outdoors full-time and lived next to a wildlife refuge, which gets exposed to wild waterfowl.
While new reports of cats contracting bird flu from raw pet food are concerning, State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz says the cases aren’t related.
He says pet owners should be cautious and not feed animals undercooked meat or raw milk. Scholz says this is a sad reminder of the ongoing danger to small pets.
He says full-grown cats and dogs typically have a strong enough immune system to fight the virus, but owners should keep them away from wild birds and raw meat.
