The multi-resident but unique Oregon household cats had gotten infected, one resident per distinct household home within Oregon’s Multnomah County tested positive in February 2025 after ingesting contaminated raw pet foods. Both were required to have their conditions treated instantly with their humane euthanizations.
Wild Coast Raw pet food
The origin of the H5N1 infection has been confirmed by testing to be specific to Wild Coast Raw’s Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula. The Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories‘ analyses confirmed the virus H5N1 in the opened and unopened package of the product and in the samples from the infected cats.
Description of the affected products
Public Health Advisory has been released by Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) for the following Wild Coast Raw products:
- Product name: Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula
- Package size: 16 oz and 24 oz frozen package
- Lot numbers: #22660 and #22664
- Best by date: December 2025
These lots were for sale to pet food companies in Washington State. Owners of such lots are asked to discontinue the use of their pets with them immediately and to dispose of them in a proper manner.
Company response and safety measures
Wild Coast Raw, which is based in Olympia, Washington, sources its chicken meat from California-based human-grade, USDA-inspected suppliers. The company is, through the contamination, collaborating with a specialized lab to enhance in-house virus control protocols.
Increased impact and previous incidents
It is not the first case. In December 2024, pet food company Northwest Naturals of Portland, Oregon, voluntarily recalled its 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food due to the presence of H5N1. The products in question were May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026, “Best if used by” date products. National distribution to various states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington, and in British Columbia, Canada. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported a few cases of domestic cats being infected with H5N1 when they consume contaminated raw pet food or raw unpasteurized milk. The animal signs range from fever and lethargy to respiratory distress and neurologic illness. No case was traced back to human-handled contaminated pet food, but if the virus does reach the eye, nose, or mouth, the virus is then vulnerable.
Recommendations for pet owners
Public health authorities highly advise pet owners to be cautious when selecting pet food products, especially raw chicken-containing food. One must be careful to ensure that pet food is obtained from credible manufacturers with robust safety protocols. In addition, practicing good hygiene, for example, washing hands thoroughly after handling pet food and making sure feeding plates are cleaned regularly, can assist in minimizing the risks.
For the existing customers who have purchased the contaminated Wild Coast Raw items, they ought to dispose of them immediately and request replacement or refund from where they purchased their items. People owning pets need to monitor them closely for illness and seek a veterinarian’s attention immediately in the event of appearing sick.
