Study Finds Deadly Pathogens in Raw Cat Food Products

Close-quarters living poses significant risk of transmission between pets and their families, said the study.

Many raw cat food products sold in the United States contain infectious pathogens, some of which are resistant to antibiotics, according to a study. Ground Picture/Shutterstock

Many raw cat food products sold in the United States contain infectious pathogens, some of which are resistant to antibiotics, and can even be deadly for pets and their owners, according to a Sept. 24 peer-reviewed study published in the Communications Biology journal.

The study examined 112 commercial cat food products bought from major grocery chains and online vendors. Out of these, 85 were raw while 27 were conventionally cooked.