An Oregon man has been awarded $808,000 (£634,000) by a jury after his cat died from eating pet food contaminated with bird flu. Tim Hanson filed the lawsuit following the death of his four-year-old cat, Kira, in early 2025.
Hanson had been feeding Kira a raw chicken product manufactured by Wild Coast Pet Foods. The cat became severely ill shortly after consuming the food and later tested positive for bird flu. After several days of emergency treatment, veterinarians determined the illness was terminal and the cat was euthanised.
The lawsuit alleged that Wild Coast Pet Foods marketed its products as safe while failing to disclose the risk of bird flu from raw chicken. The poultry used originated from California and Washington, states with high rates of bird flu outbreaks. The jury awarded $8,000 for veterinary bills and $800,000 in punitive damages, after Hanson’s attorneys argued the company acted with “conscious indifference” to pet health.
Court testimony revealed that the company falsely assured customers on social media about screening for bird flu. In a December 2024 text message, the social media manager asked the founder Tyler Duncan to change “we will be testing” to “we are testing”. Duncan approved the change. Attorneys argued the tests were inadequate, and Duncan denied responsibility, claiming the food did not directly kill the animal.
Hanson, a 58-year-old Nike designer, testified that Kira began gasping for air a week after eating the food. He and his partner wore N95 masks while saying goodbye. “I just held her,” Hanson told The Oregonian. “I just told her I loved her so much.”
The case comes amid a broader H5N1 outbreak that has sickened at least 135 domestic cats across 22 US states since 2024. Under Oregon law, 70 per cent of the punitive damages will go to a state crime victims’ fund. Hanson said, “I wanted some accountability. It’s not about the cash.”
