The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Washington State Department of Agriculture are alerting pet owners about the dangers of raw pet food.

Two house cats in Oregon were euthanized after testing positive for bird flu linked to their consumption of pet food made from raw chicken, state agriculture officials said on Friday.

This means four cats in Oregon have now been infected by avian influenza in the past two months, including two others in Washington County. The disease is more common among chickens and other poultry, but can spread to other animals through direct contact with infected birds or by consuming raw meat or milk.

Two cats living in separate households in Multnomah County, Oregon, fell ill after consuming the raw pet food. After consultation with their veterinarians, owners of the animals agreed to euthanize the pets because of the severity of their illnesses, officials said.

Raw pet food for cats has been identified as a source of bird flu infection in Oregon house cats. The cats became ill starting in early February after consuming raw pet food manufactured by Wild Coast LLC, according to warnings from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA).

WSDA and the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) are warning pet owners about the risks of raw pet food after indoor cats in Oregon became ill from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or H5N1) beginning in early February 2025.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) are alerting pet owners about the dangers of raw pet food.