An animal sanctuary in Washington is under quarantine after 20 big cats died amid a bird flu outbreak, the Wild Felid Advocacy Center announced. Read online:

Twenty big cats, including a half-Bengal tiger and four cougars, died between late November and mid-December at a sanctuary in Washington State after becoming infected with bird flu, according to the facility’s director.

Bird flu has been on the rise in Washington state and one sanctuary was hit hard: 20 big cats – more than half of the facility’s population – died over the course of weeks.

Nearly two dozen big cats died after bird flu swept through the sanctuary where they lived. The Wild Felid Advocacy Center near Shelton, Washington said the first animals died last month but the cause was just recently confirmed, KIRO reported. In all 20 cats died, more than half of the sanctuary’s big cats.

The death of an Oregon house cat from bird flu and a pet food recall are raising questions about how people can protect their pets

Northwest Naturals is recalling a line of its pet food after authorities Oregon linked the death of a cat to a batch contaminated with bird flu.

Pet owners are reminded that prevention is the best strategy for protecting their animal companions from the disease.

A national recall was issued after an Oregon cat died from eating raw pet food contaminated with the bird flu.

While properly cooked poultry and pasteurized milk won’t spread bird flu, raw food can spread it to pets. A recent wave of bird flu has spread across poultry and cattle populations in the United States.