Raw Milk Killed Two Cats and Blinded a Third
Joseph Journell, 56, of San Bernardino, California, believed raw milk had "superior immunity and healing properties." He gave it to his 14-year-old tabby cat, Alexander, hoping it would help the aging animal gain weight.
Alexander died on Thanksgiving Day 2024.
Two days later, his 4-year-old tuxedo cat, Tuxsie, died too.
A third cat, Big Boy, age 4, was hospitalized for a week. He tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza. He survived, but came home blind and paralyzed in his back legs. He is still recovering.
A fourth cat, Cleo, did not drink the milk. She remained healthy.
The milk came from Raw Farm LLC of Fresno, California. It was later recalled after testing positive for H5N1.
PBS NewsHour: Two Cats Died After Drinking Raw Milk Recalled for Bird Flu
The Raw Milk Problem
Pasteurization kills H5N1. This has been demonstrated repeatedly. The FDA, CDC, and every credible food safety organization recommends against consuming unpasteurized milk. Raw milk advocates reject this guidance, claiming pasteurization destroys beneficial enzymes and nutrients.
What pasteurization also destroys: the virus that killed Alexander and Tuxsie, blinded Big Boy, and is currently circulating in U.S. dairy cattle at unprecedented levels.
Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee has faced previous recalls and regulatory actions. Journell, represented by food safety attorney Ilana Korchia, demanded over $12,000 in compensation for veterinary bills. McAfee's response has not been publicly reported.
CBS Los Angeles: San Bernardino Man Says His Cats Died from Bird Flu-Contaminated Raw Milk
Cats as Sentinels
Cats are extremely susceptible to H5N1. The virus causes rapid neurological decline — seizures, blindness, loss of coordination — followed by respiratory failure. The mortality rate in cats is estimated at up to 70 percent.
Big Boy's case illustrates what survival looks like. He is alive. He is blind. He cannot use his back legs. This is the "good" outcome.
In Los Angeles County, at least 10 cat H5N1 infections were traced to raw milk and raw pet food products between December 2024 and September 2025. The contaminated products included Monarch Raw Pet Food and Northwest Naturals Feline Turkey Recipe.
The Human Risk
Cats that contract H5N1 shed the virus in respiratory secretions and feces. A cat living in a home, using a litter box, being handled daily, creates direct exposure pathways for every human in the household. H5N1 has a roughly 50 percent fatality rate in confirmed human cases.
Journell fed his cats raw milk because he believed it would heal them. Two are dead. One is disabled. And every person who handled those cats during their illness was potentially exposed to the deadliest influenza virus circulating on the planet.
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