On December 24th, 2024, Northwest Naturals (a raw pet food company) issued a voluntary recall for some of its cat food products. The food tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus. If you have the recalled food, stop feeding it to your cat right away just to be safe.
Which Products Were Recalled?
Northwest Naturals recalled 2-pound plastic bags of the Feline Turkey Recipe. The only affected packages are the ones with “best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1.
The company recalled these specific packages in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Agriculture since that's the state they were manufactured in. This food was sold to distributors in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and British Columbia.
There's currently one case of illness related to this recall. No other products by this company are currently affected.
How Does Avian Influenza Affect Cats?
Cats who consume food with this virus can become very ill. Cats may experience fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. In extreme cases, this virus could lead to respiratory issues, neurological concerns, or liver disease. Luckily, the risk of cats spreading this virus to humans is extremely low.
Since the effects can be so harmful for cats, closely monitor your cat if they ate the affected food. If you notice any unusual symptoms, visit your vet right away. Small symptoms can become extreme with the HPAI virus, so it's better to be safe than sorry with your feline's health.
What to Do with the Recalled Food
Anyone who purchased the recalled cat food should stop serving it and dispose of it immediately. Then, they can contact the place of purchase to receive a full refund.
If you have any questions about the recall, email Northwest Naturals at info@nw-naturals.net or call them at 866-637-1872 from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM PST (Monday through Friday).
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