According to the county, preliminary test results indicated the cat, which died in mid-January 2025, was positive for bird flu.

An house cat in East County that died last month represents the first case of bird flu found in a cat countywide, local health officials said.

A house cat is the first mammal in San Diego County to test positive for H5N1 bird flu. The county health department notified the public Wednesday about the case, which is still under investigation and involved a domestic shorthair breed who ate food containing raw chicken before succumbing to sudden illness mid-January.