A raw diet for cats carries real safety risks, and official agencies in Canada and the US now advise against it: the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says not to feed cats raw meat from poultry, wild or game birds, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says not to feed pets raw pet food or unpasteurized milk. The worry is both the long-known bacteria, like Salmonella and Listeria, and, more recently, H5N1 avian influenza.
Most people who feed raw do it out of love. They want something natural for a little carnivore, and that instinct makes sense.
So this isn't a scolding. It's what the official sources actually say: the evidence on bacteria, the bird flu cases tied to raw products, the signs that mean your cat needs a vet, and how to cut the risk if you still feed raw. Talk to your vet before changing your cat's diet.
What are the risks of a raw diet for cats?
The main risks of a raw diet for cats are infections carried in the food, to the cat and to whoever handles it. Official sources raise two concerns:
| Risk | What the evidence says | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| Salmonella and Listeria | In FDA testing, raw pet food was more likely to be contaminated than other pet food types | Cats and the people handling the food |
| H5N1 avian influenza | The CDC links some cat infections to commercially produced raw pet food and raw milk | Cats, sometimes fatally; rarely people |
The CDC's advice is direct: do not feed pets raw pet food or unpasteurized (raw) milk.
Salmonella and Listeria in raw pet food
Raw pet food tested positive for these bacteria far more often than other pet food. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) screened more than 1,000 pet food samples between October 2010 and July 2012. In the second year, 15 of 196 raw dog and cat food samples tested positive for Salmonella and 32 for Listeria monocytogenes, while other types had few or no positives.
The FDA concluded this was a potential health risk both for pets eating raw food and for the owners handling it. People usually get infected by moving bacteria from the food to their mouths, often while they're preparing it. If anyone in your home has a weakened immune system, ask your own doctor about the risk.
Raw cat food and bird flu
H5N1 has made raw feeding a much bigger worry for cat owners. In a CDC report published in May 2026, 19 cats in Los Angeles County got sick after eating commercially bought raw milk, raw meat or raw pet food between November 2024 and January 2025. Nine tested positive for H5N1, and 14 died or were euthanized.
One detail stands out. The first cat in that investigation lived indoors and had eaten a commercial raw poultry blend. The CDC notes that indoor-only cats can be infected through raw food or contaminated items, so keeping your cat inside doesn't remove the risk if the food is the source.
Here in Canada, the CFIA lists cats among the mammals in which H5N1 has been detected sporadically, and advises against feeding dogs or cats raw meat from poultry, wild or game birds. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has noted that cats may be at increased risk because they eat raw milk, infected birds and infected mice.
Signs that mean your cat needs a vet
Call your vet if your cat shows signs of illness, and tell them what your cat eats, raw food or raw milk included. The CDC lists these signs of bird flu in pets:
- Fever, tiredness or low appetite
- Red or inflamed eyes, or eye and nose discharge
- Trouble breathing
- Neurological signs such as tremors, seizures, poor coordination or blindness
If your cat has seizures, trouble breathing or sudden blindness, go to a vet or emergency clinic now, and call ahead to say your cat eats raw food.
Hang on to the food packaging and lot number. Your vet or public health may need it, and it helps if there's a recall.
If you still choose to feed raw
The safest choice, according to the CDC, FDA and CFIA, is not to feed raw. If you decide to anyway, the FDA's handling advice lowers the risk to your household, though it doesn't make the food safe for your cat:
- Keep raw food frozen until you use it, and thaw it in the fridge or microwave, never on the counter or in the sink.
- Don't rinse raw meat, and keep it away from human food.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling it.
- Clean surfaces, bowls and utensils with hot soapy water, then disinfect.
- Refrigerate or throw out leftovers promptly.
- Try not to let your cat lick your face, and wash your hands after contact.
Never give a cat raw or unpasteurized milk, and keep an eye on recall notices for any brand you use. For more on where agencies stand on H5N1, our clinic team guide on avian influenza in cats has the detail vets work from.
Talking to your vet about your cat's diet
Your vet can help you find a complete, balanced diet that gives your cat what you were hoping raw would. Maybe that's fewer additives, more moisture, or simply a food your picky cat will actually eat.
Bring the brand and product name, how much you feed and any supplements. Need a vet? The free PetGrid find a vet map shows clinics near you, and you can log your cat's food and weight in their health records.
Questions people ask
Is raw food safe for cats?
Official agencies advise against it. The CDC says not to feed pets raw pet food or raw milk, the CFIA says not to feed cats raw poultry or wild bird meat, and FDA testing found raw pet food more likely to carry Salmonella and Listeria.
Can cats get bird flu from raw food?
Yes, some cat infections with H5N1 have been linked to commercially produced raw pet food and raw milk. A 2026 CDC report described 19 sick cats in Los Angeles County after eating raw products, nine of which tested positive.
Does freezing raw cat food kill bird flu or bacteria?
Don't count on it. The FDA advises keeping raw food frozen until use and thawing it in the fridge, but it doesn't say freezing makes raw food safe, and its handling advice assumes the bacteria may still be there.
Can my indoor cat get bird flu?
It's possible, though rare. The CDC says indoor-only cats can be infected through contact with infected animals, contaminated items or raw food.
Can I catch something from my cat's raw food?
Yes, people can get Salmonella or Listeria by handling contaminated raw pet food. The FDA recommends hand washing, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and keeping raw pet food away from human food.
The short version
A raw diet for cats exposes your cat and your household to Salmonella, Listeria and now H5N1 bird flu, and official agencies in Canada and the US advise against it. If your cat eats raw and gets sick, see a vet quickly and tell them what your cat eats.
Keep a note of your cat's food, weight and any reactions in the free PetGrid app, so your vet has the details when it counts.
Keep your pet's records, vaccines and visits in one safe place. The PetGrid app is free for pet owners, with or without a clinic.
Get the free PetGrid appSources
Every fact about another product or organisation comes from these pages, read on the date shown.
- CFIA, Animals susceptible to H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza ()
- CDC, Bird flu in pets and other animals ()
- CDC MMWR, H5N1 in cats and a veterinary professional, Los Angeles County (May 2026) ()
- US FDA, Get the facts! Raw pet food diets can be dangerous to you and your pet ()
- CVMA, Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) and cats ()