A California man is grieving the loss of two beloved cats after they drank raw milk that was later recalled over bird flu concerns.
Joseph Journell, 56, of San Bernardino, said he gave the milk to his pets because he believed it might help their health. Instead, he now believes that decision led to a tragedy he never imagined.
“It’s horrible when you realize that you’re the one that actually gave them the milk that killed them,” Journell said.
His 14-year-old tabby, Alexander, died on Thanksgiving Day. Two days later, his 4-year-old tuxedo cat, Tuxsie, also died. A third cat, Big Boy, became seriously ill and spent a week in the hospital before tests confirmed he had been infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus.
The cats had consumed unpasteurized milk from recalled lots sold by Raw Farm, a dairy company based in Fresno. California officials later pulled the company’s products from store shelves after bird flu virus was found in milk for sale.
Journell said his cats were indoor pets. They had no access to infected birds and did not eat raw pet food. That made the raw milk the main suspected source of exposure.
He had started drinking the milk himself after hearing claims that it could support immunity and healing. When Alexander began losing weight, Journell thought the milk might help him grow stronger.
“I was trying to make him healthier and make him live longer,” he said.
But the outcome was devastating.
Big Boy survived, but his recovery has been painful. After treatment with antiviral medication, he returned home blind and unable to use his back legs, though Journell said he is improving. A fourth cat, Cleo, did not drink the milk and stayed healthy.
Journell is now seeking compensation for more than $12,000 in veterinary costs. Raw Farm’s owner disputed whether the virus could have sickened the cats days after the milk was bottled and sold, but flu experts have warned that virus survival can vary in milk. Previous reports have also linked raw milk from infected cows to severe illness and death in cats.
Health officials have said nearly a dozen cats in California have died after consuming raw milk or raw pet food contaminated with bird flu.
The deaths come amid a large H5N1 outbreak in U.S. dairy herds, with California heavily affected. Federal and state health officials have warned people not to drink raw milk and have also urged pet owners not to feed animals unpasteurized milk or raw meat diets.
For Journell, the warnings now carry a personal weight. He says he has recovered physically after becoming ill himself, but the emotional pain of losing Alexander and Tuxsie remains.
He had wanted to protect his cats.
He had wanted to help them.
Instead, two of them died, one came home permanently changed, and the owner who loved them is left with guilt over a choice he thought was safe.
Their story is a painful reminder that products promoted as “natural” can still carry serious risks, especially for pets. For cats, exposure to bird flu through contaminated raw milk can become deadly fast.
Alexander and Tuxsie were not outdoor animals chasing birds or living on the streets.
They were loved indoor cats.
And their owner says the thing he gave them hoping to make them healthier became the thing that took them away.
