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Pet food recalled after reports of cat deaths and illness: How to protect your pets

Pet food recalled after reports of cat deaths and illness: How to protect your pets

TOI Lifestyle Desk / etimes.in / Updated: Mar 21, 2025, 11:32 IST

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Savage Pet of El Cajon, California, has recalled its raw chicken products due to possible bird flu risk, specifically linked to Type A H5N1 influenza virus. The recall affects Large and Small Chicken Boxes distributed to retailers in five states. Pet owners should monitor for symptoms such as fever, lethargy, and neurological signs in their cats.

Pet food recalled after reports of cat deaths and illness: How to protect your pets

Attention pet parents. It’s time to hit pause and immediately go through your pet’s food stack. A California pet food maker has recalled its raw chicken products after it was tied to illness and death in cats. Savage Pet, of El Cajon, California, has issued a recall of its chicken due to a possible bird flu risk, Type A H5N1 influenza virus. The products were linked to bird flu infections in two cats and suspected in a third in New York City, reports AP.
The recalled products are Savage Cat Food Large Chicken Boxes and Small Chicken Boxes, which were distributed to retailers in California, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington. They were distributed in Nov. 2024. The boxes are cardboard and contain individual plastic packages of products. The recalled products have lot code and best-by date 11152026 stamped on it.

According to the company’s announcement, people who fed their cats with the recalled products should watch for symptoms of bird flu, including fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurological signs like tremors, stiff body movements, seizure, lack of coordination, or blindness. If any of these signs appear in your pet after feeding this product, it is advised to contact the veterinarian immediately.

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Meanwhile, this week, New York City health officials have urged consumers to avoid Savage Pet products because of the cats�?illnesses. One cat fell ill and died this month after eating the Savage Pet products. Though the final test results are pending, the preliminary test for H5N1 was “nonnegative,�?which means that a certain amount of virus was detected, a department spokesperson said.

The US Department of Agriculture has recorded at least 115 bird flu infections in domestic cats since 2022, with cases surging in 2024. Cats are particularly vulnerable to the virus when exposed to contaminated food, milk, or wildlife.
With the bird flu scare going on how do you protect your pets? Here are some simple steps you can take to protect your cat from the bird flu.

A cat and two rats enjoy a playful afternoon trying on various hats from an overflowing hatbox.

Avoid feeding unpasteurized dairy products to your cat.
Avoid raw meat, as it raises the risk of virus contamination.
Keep your cats away from wild birds, livestock, and poultry.
Until the bird flu scare wades away, don’t let your pets wander outdoors. Cats are natural hunters, and one of the animals they love to hunt is birds.
To keep them and yourself safe, you must avoid touching sick or dead birds.
Thoroughly wash your hands after handling poultry or animals.

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TOI Lifestyle Desk

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