As dozens of cats have contracted the bird flu virus through infected poultry and cattle, veterinarians weigh in on the safety risks of raw cat and dog food.

The cases have spurred new pet food safety rules and poultry surveillance efforts. Federal officials who spent the last year grappling with a surge of bird flu infections in cows and people are now confronting a spate of new cases in cats,

The FDA has investigated bird flu outbreaks linked to raw pet food, which have sickened or killed over a dozen cats in several U.S. states. Reports include 13 domestic cats, one exotic cat, and animals at two big cat sanctuaries.

Cats and birds aren't exactly similar but they're both proving to be susceptible to avian influenza A (H5N1) -- bird flu in other words. Since the bird flu