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Please be aware, we are not veterinarians, nutritionist or companion professionals. We are just sharing reliable resources and information that is available to the public online, that is created by someone else other than ourselves. We are just passing on the information. What we are sharing may become outdated with the learning curve that is happening with the virus. So please, use your own research as well. This is just a good starting point.

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Avian Bird Flu H5N1 (APAI) and Feeding Raw Cat Food

As many kitty parents are concerned about the Avian Bird Flu Virus H5N1 and feeding a raw cat food diet, we realize there are many questions but sense we are not experts in the medical field, we are not qualified to advise about such topics but, what we can do, is share information we have found during our research and statements our manufacturers have supplied.

 

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

DISCLAIMER…As we are not veterinarians, nutritionists or scientists therefore we are not qualified to provide advice on such topics. Always consult your family vet, holistic vet, nutritionist or other professional on such matters.This information is not to be considered professional advice or directions or to replace professional advice.

We realized there are alot of different online articles, social media comments and differences in opinions overall. We are just sharing from sources we trust personally ourselves. It is up to each individual to decide if these sources are ones they rely on.

MOST IMPORTANTLY…It is up to each kitty parent to do their due diligence and research to decide how to handle the issue and what they are comfortable in doing. Our only goal for this article is to share public information to possibly assist in the journey.

OUR TAKEAWAY from researching appears that using human grade ingredients, meeting FDA guidelines and testing is important regardless if your kitty or yourselves are eating the food, raw or cooked. Each of the raw diets offered in our store can be fed raw or cooked for those whom are concerned.

 

Statements shared by the manufacturers of products we carry

TCFELINE PREMIX STATEMENT REGARDING AVIAN BIRD FLU H5N1

The spray dried chicken liver used in TCfeline products is sourced in the US. The spray dried chicken liver we use and have in stock currently was produced in a USDA inspected facility before the avian flu virus started becoming more well known. The product is made by cooking the liver to 165 minimum which kills the virus and then spray dried with pressure which also creates heat. It is also a shelf stable product with a shelf life of over a year.

We are confident that our supply is free from avian influenza virus at this time and the supply chain in the US is not allowed to process poultry for consumption that is ill or shows any signs of infections. If we feel our supply at any point is compromised, we will temporarily discontinue the TCfeline chicken product until we deem it safe for incorporating it into our products.

 

EZCOMPLETE STATEMENT REGARDING AVIN FLU H5N1

The recent announcements of cat deaths in wild cat sanctuaries and several domestic, indoor-only cats due to avian flu understandably has caused a scare within the raw feeding community. There is much we don't yet know. What Food Fur Life does know is that the organs, egg and eggshell used to make our premix are not just human grade, but tested - each batch - for avian flu by a third party provider to our manufacturer.

If you are concerned about feeding homemade raw food, EZComplete premix is designed to balance cooked (boneless) meat as well as raw (boneless) meat. Cooking meat to 165F (79.9C) kills the avian flu virus according to the FDA. If you opt to cook the meat used to make food with EZComplete, please follow the instructions for how to properly make the food with cooked meats. This information is on the bags

 

EZCOMPLETE COMMENT ON FACEBOOK REGARDING AVIN FLU H5N1

Food Fur Life ADDRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT AVIAN FLU:

At Food Fur Life we want to reassure you regarding the safety of our products for making your homemade pet food.

1) We test for avian flu. The food ingredients in EZComplete premixes are human grade AND tested for avian flu. HPAI is a serotype of Avian Influenza A, and if contaminated, it will test positive for influenza A - which shouldn't be in the food we feed our pets, period. Of course, this is in addition to all of the other contaminant testing, and this means *each* ingredient as appropriate, *each* batch. The testing is done by one of the world's largest independent labs as a third-party provider to our human nutraceutical cGMP manufacturer with NSF certification.

2) In addition to the specific testing, the chicken liver, egg yolk and eggshell used in EZComplete are each U.S.-sourced and human grade from commercial scale farms. This means they are subject to the highest safety standards of the USDA, which is confident the protocols in place prevent meat or poultry with H5N1 from entering the commercial retail marketplace. Further, the eggs used for the yolk and eggshell are pasteurized, which means they are safe to eat as pasteurization does kill the virus that causes the highly pathogenic avian flu.

3) EZComplete is designed to balance either raw OR cooked meats. If you are concerned with the commercial meat supplies available to you or you prefer to use meats of smaller, local farms that are not required to observe the same safety protocols as larger commercial farms, you can, of course, cook the meat to make balanced homemade food as per AAFCO nutrient guidelines. Instructions on how to properly make food with EZComplete using cooked meat are on the packages and on the website, in the "How To" sections for Cats or Dogs.

"How To" for cats: https://www.foodfurlife.com/how-to-prepare-and-feed...

"How To" for dogs: https://www.foodfurlife.com/how-to-prepare-ezcomplete-fur...

 

OMAS PRIDE STATEMENT REGARDING AVIN FLU H5N1

At Oma’s Pride, your pet’s health and safety are our top priorities. With recent reports of avian influenza (H5N1) rising on the West Coast, we want to assure you that we are actively monitoring the situation and are committed to maintaining the highest safety standards to protect your pets.

First and foremost, we are pleased to report that we have had zero issues with avian influenza in our supply chain. However, we believe it is essential to be proactive and transparent, and we want to share the steps we’re taking to ensure continued safety and peace of mind for you and your pets.

About Avian Influenza
Avian influenza, commonly known as "bird flu," is a viral sickness that primarily infects birds. There are multiple strains of the flu (like H5N1); it can spread to other animals, like cats and dogs or humans, if poultry is not processed or handled correctly. Without stringent precautions, avian influenza can persist in raw poultry. The virus spreads through contact with infected wild birds or other contaminated environments.

Safety Standards & Risk Mitigation
Oma’s Pride operates out of our own USDA and FDA-certified facility in Connecticut. For decades, we’ve been manufacturing the highest quality food products following the strictest safety standards using the most advanced kill step on the market.

Our rigorous USDA protocols ensure infected poultry does not enter the food supply chain:
Testing: Our poultry suppliers participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, which means that flocks can only be harvested after testing negative for avian influenza. December 2024
Quarantine & Reporting: If a flock tests positive for avian influenza, they are removed from the supply chain.
High-Quality Sourcing: All our ingredients are sourced from USDA-certified facilities, which are required to meet stringent food safety and quality standards.
Food Safety Protocols: We follow strict HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) protocols. This includes routine quality checks, cleaning with FDA-approved food-grade natural cleaners, high-temperature pressure washing, and an on-site USDA inspector to provide us with oversight and guidance.

Oma’s Pride’s Heightened Safety Approach
At Oma’s Pride, we are taking every precautionary measure to safeguard against avian influenza. Transparency, proactive measures, state-of-the-art safety practices, and education are at the heart of our approach, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

We’ve developed an internal task force dedicated to monitoring the situation as new information arises. We’ve been in contact with our suppliers, testing centers, the University of Connecticut, the Department of Agriculture, and our bacteriophage company to ensure we have the most up-to-date guidance.

Our Core Values
We believe the key to our pets living long, healthy, and happy lives starts in their bowl. Biologically appropriate and consistent with the digestive makeup of their ancestors, raw diets preserve crucial enzymes and nutrients for optimal health.

With Oma’s Pride, you can rest assured that every product is crafted using the best safety protocols and the highest quality sourcing possible.

Thank you for your continued support of Oma’s Pride. Together, we’re ensuring the health and happiness of our furry family members. Warmest Wishes, The Oma’s Pride Family

 

Resources and Articles on the H5N1 AVIAN FLU (APAI)

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/fda-outlines-ways-to-reduce-risk-of-hpai-in-cats/

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/fdas-avian-flu-update-not-provided-to-pet-foods-largest-stakeholder/

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/raw-pet-food-is-distributed-nationwide-avian-flu-cases-are-not/

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/fda-investigation-found-no-avian-flu-in-northwest-naturals-pet-food/

https://www.petfoodindustry.com/safety-quality/pet-food-safety/news/15737615/raw-pet-food-linked-to-h5n1-infection-cat-euthanizations?utm_source=Omeda&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=NL-Petfood+Industry+News&utm_campaign=NL-Petfood+Industry+News_20250218_0200&oly_enc_id=4357B6981923A5N

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/another-raw-pet-food-tests-not-negative-for-avian-flu/

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roSJ-MRYeew

Dr. Judy Morgan Youtube video is interesting. She shares the statistics that AVIM states in 2024 there were 73.8 million cats in the USA. That the cats eating raw is approx 2-3% in the USA Pet Food Market. If 2% of USA Cats are eating raw pet food, that would be approx 1,476,000. If the cases of HPAI currently under investigation test to cofirm the pet food was the source (estimating 5 potential cases) the risk of raw food exposing cats is an estimated .0003%.

Dr. Morgan expressed feeding feed grade pet food is more of a risk, per an FDA warning letter regarding a specific pet food manufacturer (non raw) that the agency observed rainwater entering the facility through the roof while they were manufacturing multiple lots of dog food. Bird feces on the roof of the facility could contaminate the Pet Food with the Avain Flu. Dr. Morgan goes on to expose several other pet food manufacturers (non raw) failing to take proper steps to prevent containmination of the flu as well. This is an informative video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyIG64rOxPU

Here is another Video by Dr. Morgan that is helpful

 

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Dr.%20Karen%20becker%20flu%20h5N1
A facebook post from from Saving Pets One Pet @ A time mentioning multiple Holistic Vets well known to the online industry

 

We hope this helps in your trek in researching the Avain H5N1 flue and feeding Raw Cat Food. There is no clear cut answers and its up to what each individual Kitty Parent is comfortable in doing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 Pandemic
(Coronavirus) and Your Pet

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has changed our lives in many ways and has created a lot of concern, fear and uncertainty. But there is silver lining from this negative situation. It’s bringing everyone together even though we must all stay apart. We are seeing compassion and care being shown to one another, from family and friends but also strangers.

One of the concerns and fears we are hearing about is our furry campions, cat, dogs, rabbits, horses, ferrets and all the other living creatures great and small that we are so fortunate to share our life with. We are going to try and do our part and share information to hopefully help inform and relieve that issue.

CLICK ON THE TOPIC OF INTEREST FOR MORE INFORMATION.

 

NEW UPDATE AS OF 4/28/2020...............................................................

 

1. Cats and the COVID-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus)
Feline respiratory health remains static to date during pandemic

 

2. New study shows cats can get the virus but experts say don’t worry

 

3. What NOT to clean your pet or home with during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus)

 

4. COVID-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus) Top 6 questions for Cats and Dogs by Dr. Karen Becker

 

5. Caring for your pets during COVID-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus) by VCA

 

 

OLDER ARTICLES...............................................................

 

1. Federal Government Deem Pet Food Industry Essential on March 19, 2020

 

2. Veterinarian Hospitals, Clinics, Pet ERs and Animal Pharmacies are also considered Essential

Their services will be available through this crisis but please call before visiting a service provider. Most have procedures in place to protect you and their staff from the COVID-19 virus. Here are some examples many are practicing. Any visit that is not critical, like a yearly exam, will most likely be postponed. If you have an appointment, most will ask you to check in via phone when you arrive and wait in your call till they are ready for you. If just picking up meds, you pay via phone with a credit card and once you arrive, they bring it out to you at your car. If you are sick, they will ask for another to bring your pet in. 

 

3. Have a plan in place in case you become hospitalized with COVID-19

We are highly suggesting to come up with a contingency plan on who and how all your furry, feathered, scaled and other companions will be taken care of if by chance you become serious ill with the COVID-19 and unable to take care of them or if you are hospitalized because of it. We hope this is not the case for anyone but it's better to be prepared.