The Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton, Washington, is under quarantine after losing 20 resident big cats over the last month to bird flu.
The virus has claimed more than half its animals, including four cougars and a half-Bengal tiger, since late November. The 17 remaining animals are under close observation.
The first cat, a cougar, died on Nov. 23 after showing signs of the illness. The virus then quickly sickened many other animals across the sanctuary. While some of the cats shared a wall between their habitats, they did not have direct contact.
The 20 animals that died include: five African servals, four bobcats, four cougars, two Canada Lynxes, one Amur-Bengal tiger mix and other species of big cats.
The virus “spreads primarily through respiratory secretions and bird-to-bird contact and can also be contracted by carnivorous mammals that ingest birds or other products,” the center said in its statement.
In response, the sanctuary has removed over 8,000 pounds of food for storage and have begun deep cleaning.
One brand of domestic cat food, Northwest Naturals, said it was advising people to throw out two-pound bags of its Feline Turkey Recipe that have a best-by date between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026, after the bags tested positive for virulent bird flu.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency earlier this month for California, due to the spread among dairy cattle, with outbreaks among wild and domestic birds occuring across multiple states.
