Warning - Cat food recall linked to 209 deaths - details here

[Chihuahuacat]

Hi all,

I just wanted to share this Facebook group:

www.facebook.com/groups/806871953557080/?ref=share

I had my darling cat pass away a few weeks ago completely out of the blue due to low blood count.

The vet mentioned there had been an upsurge in cases and this group suggests it is linked to grain free / hypoallergenic food.

Please please share so now one else has to go through this x

@KatyMac I wondered that. I did read somewhere on the Facebook group about someone asking the manufacturer to cover the costs but I can't see that happening?

I alternate between applaws and the Sainsbury’s grain free . I can feed her wet food until I get replacement dry - what other brands of grain free dry food are recommended?

I’m so very sorry OP.

I’m chucking away all my Applaws (wet and dry) as a precaution. Awful

@Charlieandlola

I alternate between applaws and the Sainsbury’s grain free . I can feed her wet food until I get replacement dry - what other brands of grain free dry food are recommended?

I've got mine on feringa and purizon both available from zooplus and both grain free

@1jan2021

I’m so very sorry OP.

I’m chucking away all my Applaws (wet and dry) as a precaution. Awful

Wet is completely fine, it's not made in the UK. Completely different process of manufacture too

Has it been tampered with or accidentally poisoned or something - I cant get my head around it

There's a list here of the recalled products:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57486596

@InglouriousBasterd

God that page is so sad. What an absolute nightmare. Mine is on purina thankfully. Poor, poor cats and their owners

Looking at that page there seems to be be way more cats affected than the amount reported

I suppose there will be lots more like myself where the diagnosis was slightly different due to Pancytopenia being so rare

what other brands of grain free dry food are recommended?

Thrive is good quality.

This is the saddest news, I’m so sorry for anyone affected

This has really upset me, my 11 week old kitten is fortunately on IAMS, but my boy aged 13 who passed away last August and my girl aged 16 who passed away last spring were on AVA Sensitive Skin and Stomach.

Neither of them had a diagnosis of anything specific, and although they weren’t young I am wondering if the food could have had anything to do with it.

I’m so thankful this is getting traction in the national press. It feels like a huge scandal waiting to happen given the number of cats affected.

I’m taking my boy cat who hasn’t had the affected food since 22 May in for testing tomorrow. He seems ok but I’m not still not clear if this is fast acting or more long term.

I will report back.

@KatyMac

Has it been tampered with or accidentally poisoned or something - I cant get my head around it

Yes it is really strange. Something toxic in the plant machinery ? A medication fed to the animals killed for meat ? The food a red herring?

Following an email from Sainsbury's, where we shop online, DH returned our Sainsbury's Hypoallergenic dry food, which was on the recall list. Luckily both girls appear fine. My minor problem now is that one of them is refusing to eat the food DH got as a replacement. Does anyone have any idea which brands may be the most similar? I can call into a medium sized Tesco or Pets at home this evening.

It's quite an odd 'diagnosis' if you know what I mean

A blood disease? Caused by food?

Perplan won't cover precautionary blood tests and the vets says if the cat isn't visibly ill not to worry

But I worry

Which are also spreading the word on the recall and dangers of these foods.
Poor cats

I don't know if the facebook thread is representative, but if it is one of the most depressing things is that it looks to be disproportionately hitting kittens and young cats.

My sympathies to anyone who has lost a cat or has a cat under treatment with this disease.

I came to post this, so I'm really glad to see it's already being discussed here. We know a family who lost their cat to this too. Thankfully we don't use any of the suspect foods, but a real worry for anyone who does, or who's cats might be begging food elsewhere

I got a bag of the affect Applaws delivered this morning from Zooplus. I've emailed them for a replacement. I see now they have taken all Applaws dry food down off their website

[quote mygee]@KatyMac I wondered that. I did read somewhere on the Facebook group about someone asking the manufacturer to cover the costs but I can't see that happening? [/quote]
In some cases Pets at Home (as supplier of the food) have covered the costs...well done to them

I have spoken to the vet nurse and the vet who dealt with Col is off but will discuss the possibilty of it affecting him tomorrow.

Ive said I'm happy for his records to be sent to the RVC to add to any investigation

Literally switched to Applaws dry food a couple of weeks ago, as I had run out of James Wellbeloved grain free which we usually order from Fetch. Cats seemed to like it, so thought I'd switch....and then saw this today.... unbelievable.

Decanted the bag into a tin, so no idea if it was part of batch mentioned and pet shop took all off their shelves and don't know either.

Vets just said to look out for signs of anaemia, but that doing blood tests could give false reassurance.

Have switched back to James Wellbeloved for now (which I'm hoping is definitely ok?!)

So sorry to anyone who has lost their cat, or who is now in the watching and worrying group.

My cat went on to the Ava weight management, he started urinating blood and the vet couldn't find a cause. I had a hunch and switched him back to wet food and it cleared up immediately. Is there somewhere we can log affected cats? I have the vet
Reports and food packaging

If you have a confirmed case of Pancytopenia the RVC have asked vets to fill out a survey:

www.rvc.ac.uk/news-and-events/rvc-news/feline-pancytopenia-update

My dcat died of this is Feb last year. She ate felix all her life.

I received an email off zooplus this afternoon after contacting them tuesday.theyve refunded my money and I've disposed of the affected bag.