Pet owners cautioned after tests confirm Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in two cats living in different households.

Two more Oregon cats died this month after eating raw cat food that was contaminated with the deadly bird flu virus, prompting Washington state officials to issue a recall.

Dozens of domestic cats, including at least 24 this year, have been infected with H5N1, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Many of the animals became infected after consuming raw milk

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Washington State Department of Agriculture are alerting pet owners about the dangers of raw pet food.

This means four cats in Oregon have now been infected by avian influenza in the past two months, including two others in Washington County. The disease is more common among chickens and other poultry, but can spread to other animals through direct contact with infected birds or by consuming raw meat or milk.

Samples collected from the infected cats and open food confirmed the presence of HPAI in both the food and cats

Two cats living in separate households in Multnomah County, Oregon, fell ill after consuming the raw pet food. After consultation with their veterinarians, owners of the animals agreed to euthanize the pets because of the severity of their illnesses, officials said.

Five more possible cases of bird flu in cats all came from the same home in Portland, officials said. Two of those cats have died, while three are waiting on a second round of testing to confirm the diagnosis.