"Cats (domestic and large felids) in particular can experience severe illness or death from infection with H5N1. Dogs can also contract H5N1, although they usually exhibit mild clinical signs and low mortality compared to cats," the FDA said in a news release.

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.

Bird flu (H5N1) has jumped from poultry to pets, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirming that 13 domestic cats across eight households in the U.S. have fallen ill or died, CBS News reports.