Keeping Cats & Dogs Safe from Bird Flu

Treats Unleashed has recommended feeding cats and dogs raw and freeze-dried foods for over 20 years and we believe their benefits far exceed any limited risks, but we understand that the recent news of avian flu (or "bird flu") affecting cats has cat parents worried.

All of our manufacturers have impeccable records of food safety and take steps to test for and kill pathogens, including Salmonella, Monocytogenes, E. coli, Listeria and Clostridium, and we expect that these foods will soon be tested for bird flu as well. When hearing stories in the media about bird flu, please keep in mind:

The risk to cats and dogs is very low, but cats do seem to be more susceptible.

• On the rare occasions that cats or dogs do contract bird flu, it is usually caused by eating an infected wild bird or wild bird droppings or after being in contact with people that are around infected flocks and more recently bovine herds.

• There have been a few recent cases of cats contracting bird flu and raw poultry-based pet foods are being investigated for a link. Those manufacturers, not carried by Treats Unleashed, (Northwest Naturals, Wild Coast, Savage Cat) promptly recalled the affected products to ensure the safety of its customers. The initial case with Northwest Naturals has since been withdrawn after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) investigation.

• The production of all of the frozen raw dog and cat foods we offer includes one or more steps to kill pathogens including high-pressure processing (HPP). Both HPP and freeze-drying are effective methods for significantly reducing viral activity in pet foods.

For those pet parents still seeking options, there are high-quality alternatives to feeding raw poultry.

• Feed an alternate protein. Most of our raw and raw-alternative foods offer non-poultry proteins including pork, beef and fish. Ask a sales associate for recommendations.

• Feed a food produced at a higher temperature. Raw and freeze-dried foods are processed at low temperatures to maximize the integrity of the nutrients in their ingredients. Owners who wish to further reduce the possibility of bird flu exposure can feed foods processed at higher temperatures.

• Gently cooked and air-dried diets have many of the nutritional benefits and much of the high palatability of raw but are processed at higher temperatures.

Bird flu isn’t new. The virus has impacted the U.S. poultry industry for more than a hundred years, and the most recent epidemic began in 2022. We are working closely with our suppliers and distributors and will continue to monitor this current situation.

Brand Statements on Bird Flu:

• Primal Pet Foods
• Small Batch
• Steve’s Real Food
• Stella and Chewy's 

Sources: Adapted from MudBay’s Statement, “How We’re Keeping Cats & Dogs Safe from Bird Flu,” December 30, 2024, Dr. Katy Miller, DVM; Al Puntillo, Mud Bay Co-CEO; Bryan Kramer, Mud Bay Director of Category