Pet food recalled after more than 150 cat deaths from rare disease
Sainsbury's and Pets at Home are among the retailers recalling dry cat food over a potential link to an outbreak of a rare and fatal disease in cats.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Defra are advising cat owners not to give their pets food made on behalf of the brands by manufacturer Fold Hill as a precaution.
It follows more than 150 cases of feline pancytopenia, an illness that can often be fatal in cats, since April, the FSA said.
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) said on Friday: "The RVC is aware of 209 cats that have been affected based on cases treated at our own hospitals and information provided by some vets in the UK.
"Of these there was 72.5% percent mortality at time of reporting."
A government spokesman said: "Working with the Royal Veterinary College, the Animal Plant and Health Agency and other Government departments across all four nations of the UK, local authorities and the pet food supply chain, we are investigating a possible link between specific cat food products and feline pancytopenia. There is no definitive evidence to confirm a link at this stage.
"No unsafe cat food has been identified but the manufacturer and brand owners affected, based on investigations so far, are taking the precautionary action of recalling and withdrawing cat food products that have been linked to affected cats.
"There is no evidence to suggest this outbreak of feline pancytopenia presents any risk to human health."
Cat owners are advised to seek immediate advice from a vet if their pet is unwell and has been fed any of the food listed in the product recall.
Owners are also advised to use an alternative food if their cat's usual food is included the recall.
Which cat food has been recalled?
Applaws, AVA, Sainsbury's and Wilko have all recalled some of their cat food.
For Applaws, it is all best before dates with the site code GB218E5009, including:
Applaws Cat Dry Chicken 400g, 2kg and 7.5kg
Applaws Cat Dry Senior Chicken 400g, 2kg and 7.5kg
Applaws Cat Dry Chicken & Salmon 400g, 2kg and 7.5kg
Applaws Kitten Dry Chicken 400g, 2kg and 7.5kg
Applaws Cat Dry Chicken & Lamb 400g, 2kg and 7.5kg
Applaws Cat Dry Chicken & Duck 400g, 2kg and 7.5kg
Applaws Cat Dry Ocean Fish 350g, 1.8kg and 6kg
For Sainsbury’s products, it is all batches and best before dates, including:
Sainsburys Hypoallergenic Recipe complete dry cat food with salmon 1+years 800g
Sainsburys Hypoallergenic Recipe complete dry cat food with chicken 1+years 800g
For AVA from Pets at Home, it is all batches and best before dates, including:
Ava Kitten Chicken 300g and 2kg
Ava Adult Chicken 300g, 2kg and 4kg
Ava Adult Fish 2kg
Ava Mature Chicken 7+ 2kg and 4kg
Ava Senior Chicken 12+ 2kg
Ava Sensitive Skin & Stomach 1.5kg
Ava Weight Management 1.5kg
Ava Hairball 1.5kg
Ava Oral Care 1.5kg
Ava British Shorthair 1.5kg
Ava Persian 1.5kg
Ava Maine Coon 1.5kg
For Wilko, they have recalled the following products:
Wilko meaty feast cat rabbit/chicken/veg 950g
Wilko best salmon& tuna dry cat 800g
Wilko best beef &chicken dry cat 800g
Wilko cat food active health salmon 800g
Wilko active healthcat food chicken 2kg
Wilko active health cat food salmon 2kg
Wilko dry cat food active health 7+ 800g