NYS Agriculture Department sends out alert on raw cat food
ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — The New York State Department of Agriculture is alerting consumers on a particular brand of raw cat food due to the threat of bird flu.
Commissioner Richard Ball alerted consumers on Friday, March 28 who use Savage Cat Raw Chicken Cat Food — a company out of California — due to the possible presence of the H5N1 virus, also known as Avian Influenza or Bird Flu. Illnesses in cats who have eaten this food have been reported in other states, including New York City.
Pet owners who may have Savage Cat Food Large Chicken Boxes, sold in 84-ounce cardboard boxes containing individual plastic packets, with a lot code/best by date of 11152026 andSavage Cat Food Small Chicken Boxes, sold in 21-ounce cardboard boxes containing individual plastic packets, with a lot code/best by date of 11152026, should not feed this product to their cat or other animal. The product should also not be sold or donated.
— New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball, in a statement on the alert.
The product in question was distributed in November 2024 at various retailers across the state. Consumers can find the lot code and best-by dates on the bottom of the cardboard box and on each packet within. The Department of Agriculture is also notifying retailers to make sure the product is pulled from store shelves.
If you have fed your cat this product, watch for signs of avian influenza, including:
fever,
lethargy,
low appetite,
reddened or inflamed eyes,
discharge from the eyes and nose,
difficulty breathing, and
neurological signs, such as tremors, stiff body movement, seizures, lack of coordination, or blindness.
If your cat is exhibiting any of these symptoms, you are urged to contact your veterinarian.
No H5N1 infections have been reported in humans in New York State. The New York State Department of Health is continuing to remind consumers that the risk to the public is low.
For more information on the alert, you are asked to contact Savage Pet at their e-mail address — info@savagecatfood.com — or by phone at 619-270-0295.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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