Hi, I am Amy Sawy, a veterinary professional working in the field for nearly 15 years. Nestle, which owns Nestle Purina Petcare, the maker of cat food brand Fancy Feast, said in its 2021 annual report that pet food was a driver of its market share gains across the world. Weve seen a number of customers starting to buy tuna fish, he said. Many pet owners have learned the hard way that their pets will tolerate only a specific brand or type of food. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune). Im in Weis right now, and I just got some cat food; they have a little more than ShopRite (right now).. First, read this post, Wet food or dry food: which is better for your cat?, to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each type of cat-food formulation, before you pass judgment. This dilemma manifested in empty shelves of cat food in grocery stores. Whiskas Dry and wet cat food Whiskas is currently manufactured and sold by Mars, Inc., the largest pet food company in North America. Although not much of a shortage compared to wet food. Plastic can change the taste of the water it contains, which some cats dont seem to like. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes to our way of life, but kitty owners are facing a new challenge a cat food shortage. Divide your cats dinner into four equal-sized chunks. Cat owners get alarmed by this and could not help but wonder, why is there a cat food shortage?. The company has attributed the shortage to an increase in demand for their products, as well as a decrease in production due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The chicken meal, which is produced by the slaughter of chickens, is a high-quality protein that is used to make pet food. The shortage began in late 2017, when a fire at a major pet food factory in China disrupted the supply of wet food. Fertilizers used to grow cattle feed is more expensive. Offer multiple drinking stations, especially in multi-cat households, so a cat can feel comfortable quenching her thirst without getting ambushed. The canned cat food shortage is a supply chain issue. Veterinarian and behaviorist Paola Cuevas of excitedcats.comrecommends this process: The idea, said Dr. Cuevas, is to give the cat, and his digestive system, an opportunity to gradually adapt to the new food.. My one customer knew that his food was having a problem and he bought up my entire stock, and then we werent able to reorder it after that, Morgan said. Shortages in raw ingredients, packaging materials, and problems with shipping across the US means that pet food companies are struggling to keep up with the increased demand from 2020. If you're having difficulty picking the best chow for your pooch, we feel you. A dog enjoys a walk along the lakefront at Museum Campus in front of a foggy Chicago skyline on April 3, 2022. The packaging material shortage, including aluminum, has also made the canned cat food shortage worse. But cats can do very well on dry food, especially if you take great pains to make sure your cat is getting enough moisture in other forms. There is currently a shortage of cat food in the United States. This is due to a number of factors, including a decrease in the supply of certain ingredients and an increase in demand. This has been a problem for many cat owners, who have had to go to great lengths to find the food their pets need. Therefore, there are several ways to ensure that your cat will still acquire the nutrients it needs to maintain its health amid the cat food shortage. The APPA shared data showing that, in 2020, the pet industry market grew to $100 billion for the first time. Both of those companies are experiencing COVID-related shutdowns and production problems, as well as Nestle Purina experienced shutdown due to the recent snowstorm; that was kind of like the final blow, Anthony said. Several factors are to blame, including the pandemic-related delays in manufacturing and poor weather, as well as an increase in pet ownership and attention. ", Get the best advice, tips and top tech for your beloved Pets. Every single node in the supply chain has been disrupted over the last two years, said Dana Brooks, president and CEO of the Pet Food Institute, a pet food lobbying group. Most wet cat food is packaged in cans. You cant help but wonder, why is Fancy Feast out of stock everywhere?. As the PFI explains, "PFI isactively communicatingwith the federal government about these disruptions and advocating for solutions to address and improve the US supply chain. This is preventing all these cat food manufacturers from making cat food. We have knowledgeable staff to answer your questions and we will try our best to meet your needs. Can You Save Your Cat? Trainer reveals three things your dog needs from you to be happy and healthy - and theyre so easy. Mallard Markets is having similar issues with manufacturer availability but its very specific to just the Nestle line. The labor shortage situation in the U.S. has meant that companies are struggling to run the plants at full capacity. Furthermore, a lack of packaging materials has complicated the process of developing canned cat food. Cat Food Recall 2022 Full List All 2022 cat food recalls are listed in the table below. Purina Pro Plan is EXPENSIVE and LIMITED to be able to find. But it makes sense that more people are purchasing less-expensive brands of cat food than they were before when all of their other household expenses have risen so dramatically, or that people who usually buy aluminum-canned food now have no choice but to buy their less-preferred brand that happens to come in steel. Discontinued News All rights reserved. Introduction. It was tough., Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Multiple brands typically make special diets for specific conditions, and one might be available in your geographical area if the other is not. In some cases, vets have needed to work with pet owners to shift their pets diet to another product. Right now it seems to be at a pretty bad situation.. How Many Claws Do Cats Have? The last couple of years has been stressful for all of us, and for reasons that always seem to be changing. Due to the unavailability of cans, these manufacturers have to Sell liquid wet cat food in plastic bags, which customers would like to avoid. Increase the new food to 25% of the meal. News reports of Nestl Purina and Freshpet pet food shortages in Pennsylvania began surfacing in early February, but the problem crosses state lines, according to recent investigations. An increase in the number of cats owned, coupled with a lack of ingredients and even packaging, have caused a perfect storm to disrupt cat food supplies. Manufacturers are having a hard time getting some of the raw materials. I often feel the way you do when Im shopping for my own groceries. This is due to the majority decline in meat production. [2] Detrixhe, John. There has been a huge cat food shortage for the last two years. You may also want to keep an eye out for their Pro Plan lamb and oat one. Last July 2021 and April 2022, there had been factory accidents that caused a huge decrease in the number of aluminum productions that could be exported. The shortage, however, may end in 2023. This problem is not limited to just one particular area but has expanded all over the country. Often the meat in pet food comes from human food off-cuts, and as meat supplies have dwindled due to shortages caused by the pandemic these by-products have become harder to find. November 16, 2022 by Alexa The world is in the midst of a cat food shortage, and there is no end in sight. A cat that only ate dry food as a kitten may have a hard time switching to canned food and vice versa, she said. This has led to a shortage of dry cat food on store shelves. Diapers shortage 2023: What is the future outlook of diapers? 6 Reasons Cat Snores, How to Keep Cats Off Furniture? So the problem is even bigger in the cat food market. It will happen. Market Realist is a registered trademark. Copyright 2023 Market Realist. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'discontinuednews_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-discontinuednews_com-medrectangle-3-0');All the people who have pets might be aware of the pet food shortage that is going on in the market. It appears that the canned cat food shortage is impacting a few brands and not the entire industry. There have also been hoarding behaviors. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they are required to eat only meat. As a result, all meat suppliers prioritize the human-based food industry before the animal-based food industry. Were probably back to 90, 95% in most categories, he said. Heres how it works. . Most of them are short in supply which is a serious issue to be resolved. But first: Dont hoard. There are many good reasons to feed cats only wet food, including kidney health. Reuters reported that about 12.6 million U.S. households got a new pet between March and December 2020, according to the APPA (American Pet Products Association). This has created a lot of problems among all pet owners as they need to be able to give food to their pets in the required quantity. Chances are high that this problem will also continue for the rest of the year. This includes the meat, minerals, and vitamins that encompass the production of cat food itself. Cat Food Supply Shortage: Why Can't You Find Food for Your Kitties. KIRO 7 News Seattle, KIRO 7 News Seattle, 1 Apr. China is known for being the leading producer of aluminum cans and there is a noticeable decline in its production of aluminum this year. The shortage of Purina cat food is a problem that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. It's hoped that this pet food crisis will be only temporary. The vast majority of ingredients used in Purina products made in the U.S. are sourced here in the U.S. Like other food companies, they do source a . Similarly, all the plant bistro ingredients are used in making cat food or Lewins supply. Contact your vet to see what alternative foods will work with your cats condition first. Theres always something, Plomin said. The shortage was alarming to Linda Zak of Saylorsburg, who said she was caught off guard while shopping at ShopRite of Brodheadsville on Thursday in search of canned food for her three cats. Anthony said these will continue to be challenges as we continue to deal with COVID-19. Is Friskees Extra Gravy Pate Cat Food Any Good, What Is The Ash Content In Blue Wilderness Cat Food. First, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global economic slowdown, which has led to a decrease in demand for dry cat food. Lets all hope for a positive future. North Carolina is one of the major areas in the United States of America facing a cat food shortage problem. Jun. Feb 7, 2023. Cats are still being adopted at the same rate as they were during the peak of pandemic.[13][14]. They are working hard to figure out the best way to get their food to your stores. With over 50 brands to choose from, you will certainly find what your pet likes here. Look for more cat foods to be offered in pouch-type packaging, which eliminates the dependence on aluminum. Maybe your cat is a picky eater and you worry that he wont eat anything but his fave. The culprit of this canned cat food shortage is the lack of aluminum used for the cans and the meat ingredient for the cat food itself. Due to shutting down, they could not bear the losses during that time. The Chinese government also implemented a stricter rule concerning carbon emissions to secure their environmental objectives for the country. This is especially important if you are feeding them dry food, as it will help to keep them hydrated. Is FedEx going out of business (2023) Reason of their shuting down. These photos are from my local grocery-store pet-food aisle. As a cat owner, you might be feeling a little stressed due to the cat food shortage in various places in the US. Manufacturers of pet food are reporting shortages of chicken by-product meal, the primary ingredient used in many pet foods. Pet food is especially in the lamb beef flavors and is unavailable in the market. "I'm in Weis right now, and I just got some cat food; they have a little more than ShopRite (right now)." Aluminum is also less expensive to manufacture than many other types of packaging. Baby Formula Shortage 2023 - Will this continues or last in the next months? Also, Nielsen data showed that pet owners spent 46 percent more on online pet food purchases in 2020 versus 2019. Many cats do well consuming only dry food their entire lives. Focus on making sure your cats stomach is full! We feel that this is a great alternative to your cat's regular food, and you can purchase several versions of the Naturals line, including original, grain-free, hairball, and healthy weight. [11] Hamblen, Amy. 5 Main Causes & Remedies. But its not a long-term solution. It's small, unassuming, and nestled in the corner of a long shopping plaza. Over the last few months, it seems like (theyve) cut down on donations, Dunbar said. Dogs and humans, by contrast, are omnivores, meaning we can eat all kinds of foods, so we can be more flexible. As many of you have probably already noticed, the recent COVID pandemic has led to a pet food shortage that could last until 2022. Another problem is when the meat and other ingredients are sourced outside the borders of the US. This dilemma for cat owners causes them to ask, how long will cat food shortage last?. The shortages have resulted in an increase in the prices of Purina products. 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