The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to pet owners after confirming that certain lots of raw cat food tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza virus, following the death of a cat in San Francisco that consumed the contaminated product.
The affected product, RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats, was linked to the illness and subsequent euthanization of a cat in July 2025. Federal testing revealed that the same strain of H5N1 detected in the deceased cat was present in the pet food, marking the first reported case of feline H5N1 infection from raw pet food since March.
Two specific lots have been identified as contaminated: Lot CCS 25 077 with a sell-by date of September 18, 2026, and Lot CCS 250 093 with a sell-by date of October 3, 2026. The products are distributed nationwide in frozen 2.5-pound resealable bags containing 40 individual one-ounce food sliders.
According to the USDA, nearly 70 cats across the United States have tested positive for H5N1 in 2025, with many infections linked to consumption of raw pet food or unpasteurized milk products. The virus strain identified in this case belongs to the B3.13 genotype, which has been circulating in dairy cattle and commercial poultry farms across multiple states.
Whole genome sequencing performed by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed that the H5N1 samples from both the cat and the contaminated food originated from a common contamination source. The specific virus lineage was detected between November and December 2024 but is no longer actively circulating.
The California-based manufacturer, RAWR, reportedly removed the affected lots from circulation several weeks before the FDA announcement. The company produces human-grade chicken products but emphasizes that even human-grade ingredients require proper cooking to eliminate potential pathogens like H5N1.
H5N1 avian influenza poses significant risks to cats and other mammals, with fatality rates in felines reaching up to 70 percent. Cats that are very young, elderly, or immunocompromised face particularly high risks of severe illness. While dogs can potentially contract H5N1, no symptomatic cases have been reported in dogs in the United States this year.
Veterinary experts stress that this incident highlights ongoing concerns about raw pet food diets. The FDA has consistently warned against feeding raw milk or raw dairy products to pets due to pathogen risks, and this latest finding extends similar concerns to raw meat products.
The contamination represents part of a broader H5N1 outbreak that has affected dairy cattle, wild birds, and poultry across the United States. While the virus continues to circulate in various animal populations, no human infections have been linked to exposure to contaminated pet food, according to the FDA.
Pet owners who have purchased the affected RAWR products are advised to dispose of them safely and monitor their cats for signs of illness, including respiratory symptoms, neurological changes, or sudden behavioral shifts. Any cats showing concerning symptoms should receive immediate veterinary attention.
This incident underscores the growing debate within the pet care industry about raw feeding practices, as the market for raw pet food continues to expand despite ongoing safety concerns raised by veterinary professionals and federal health authorities.