California Man Says Two of His Cats Died After Drinking Raw Milk

A Tragic Outcome

A California man whose two cats died after drinking raw milk recalled for bird flu risk says he meant to keep his beloved pets healthy, but his efforts tragically backfired.

Joseph Journell, 56, of San Bernardino, lost his 14-year-old tabby, Alexander, and Tuxsie, a 4-year-old tuxedo cat, in late November. A third cat, 4-year-old Big Boy, was hospitalized for a week before tests showed the animal was infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus.

The Incident

The cats drank unpasteurized milk from lots recalled by Raw Farm, of Fresno, whose dairy products were pulled from California store shelves in December after health officials found the virus in milk for sale, he said. The animals’ deaths were confirmed by state and county health officials. The cats were kept indoors, with no access to potentially infected birds, and ate conventional, not raw, pet food, the owner said.

Journell’s Motivations

Journell said he had been drinking Raw Farm milk himself for several months because he heard it had “better immunity and healing properties” than pasteurized milk. He thought it might be able to help Alexander, who had been losing weight.

“I was trying to make him healthier and make him live longer,” Journell said.

The Aftermath

Instead, Alexander died on Thanksgiving Day. Tuxsie followed two days later. Big Boy was hospitalized and treated with antiviral medications, Journell said. The veterinary team collected urine samples from the cat, which were confirmed positive for H5N1 at labs run by the U.S. Agriculture Department and Cornell University, records show.

Big Boy returned home blind and without the use of his back legs, though he is recovering, Journell said. A fourth cat, Cleo, didn’t drink the milk and remained healthy.

Legal Action

Journell has demanded that Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee compensate him for the more than $12,000 he spent treating the cats, according to Seattle food safety lawyer Ilana Korchia, who is representing him.

In an interview, McAfee disputed that the virus was capable of sickening the animals days after it was bottled and sold, citing preliminary research.

Expert Insights

But Richard Webby, an influenza expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, said flu virus survival likely varies widely in different lots of milk. Experts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously confirmed that cats that drank raw milk from infected cows developed neurological disease and died.

“I think the poor cats are the best indicator!” Webby wrote in an email.

A Wider Concern

Nearly a dozen cats in California have died since early December after consuming raw milk or raw pet food contaminated with bird flu, health officials have said. The infections have followed a massive outbreak of the bird flu virus in dairy cows, which has affected over 900 U.S. dairy herds in 16 states. About 80% of those herds are in California.

Conclusion

The incident highlights the risks associated with consuming raw milk and raw pet food. While some may argue that these products offer health benefits, the potential for contamination with bird flu and other germs makes them a serious threat to public health.

FAQs

Q: What happened to the cats that drank the raw milk?
A: Two of the cats, Alexander and Tuxsie, died after drinking the raw milk. A third cat, Big Boy, was hospitalized and is recovering.

Q: Who is responsible for the cats’ deaths?
A: The owner of Raw Farm, Mark McAfee, disputes that the virus was capable of sickening the animals days after it was bottled and sold. However, experts believe that the flu virus survival likely varies widely in different lots of milk.

Q: What are the risks associated with consuming raw milk and raw pet food?
A: Raw milk and raw pet food can be contaminated with bird flu and other germs, which can cause serious illness and even death in animals and humans.

Q: What should pet owners do to keep their animals safe?
A: Pet owners should avoid feeding unpasteurized milk and raw meat diets to their animals. Instead, they should opt for conventional, cooked or pasteurized pet food to ensure their animals’ health and safety.