Two Multnomah County Cats killed after being infected with bird flu

Milwaukie, Ore. (Katu) – Two Multnomah County House cats have been killed after being infected by a strong case of avian influenza.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture confirmed that both cats ate the same type of pet food, called “Wild Coast Raw”, of the company “Wild Coast Pet Foods.”

Christine Knopp, a Milwaukie woman, says one of her cats died of Aviær influenza. She holds the stuffed animal version of her cat named Hattie and cries.

“It’s been really hard. I love my cats so much,” Knopped.

In just a few days, her cat went from having a fever not to be able to walk.

“She stumbled, and she didn’t even run the fever anymore,” Knopp said.

Not only does she say that her cat, Hattie, tested positively for avian flu, but she says her other cat may have. The cat remains in the hospital.

While officials have not confirmed these cases yet, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has confirmed two new cases of avian influenza leading to two cats being killed.

“They both consumed the same fire and formulation of raw pet food, and we were able to collect samples from pet food from one of the owners who still had the food. They had fed the cat when it fell ill. And we are able to test them. These tests were also positive for the virus, “said Ryan Scholz, the state veterinary with the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Wild Coast Pet Foods releases a statement that reads partly: “To prioritize security and minimize potential damage if you have our free range of chicken formula with lot numbers #22660 or #22664 and a“ Best Buy ”date of 12/2025 recommends recommend We either cook the product to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, or you can discard it for a full refund. “

For you at home, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has some tips. You can change your clothes and shoes after interacting with animals that may be sick. And if your pet seems sick – don’t hesitate to take them to the vet.

The obvious part of the bird flu is the birds themselves.

In response to our questions about how birds inside the farms are killed when there is a case of avian influenza, the Oregon Department of Agriculture confirmed that since 2023 two commercial farms have killed their flocks by the approved method of shutting down the birds. Ventilation and then by adding heat and/or carbon dioxide to the charger.

“It’s like leaving a dog in a hot car on a hot day. They just die slow, terrible deaths,” said Belinda Davis, a spokesman for Animal Outlook, a nonprofit -animal lawyer organization.

Davis pulls out her experience of looking at public records in North Carolina in 2016 where she says birds took nearly an hour and a half to die.

We are working to confirm whether this information applies to the exercise of offering flocks in Oregon.