by Elisa Black-Taylor
(USA)
This article concerns a potential Purina ONE® cat food problem.
Purina ONE® cat food had its most voluntary recall back in the summer. Here’s an article with an overview of this recall. Please read over it if at all possible before reading more of my article.
The list of symptoms to watch out for were taken from the above link for those of you who don’t have the time to read the entire article. It’s critical that all cat owners know these.
“Salmonella can affect animals eating the product, and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated products. People handling contaminated dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may exhibit decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.”
From the information I’ve learned in the last 24 hours, I’m afraid another recall is imminent. I’m not doing this article to bash Purina. Nestle Purina is taking this issue seriously, but not enough information has been gathered to demand another voluntary recall.
What troubles me is the same symptoms are appearing in cats from Ohio to California and several have died. I even received word from a cat in Australia dying with the same symptoms.
The first thing I’d like for everyone to do is memorize the symptoms of salmonella poisoning. What disturbs me most about the most recent deaths is the failure of blood work to detect any problems. When the blood work comes back as normal, this gives the cat owner a false sense of security. It’s only in the later stage when it’s too late to save the cat that liver and kidney damage is showing up.
“We don’t know that the food is the cause, but everyone needs to be aware of a strange coincidence regarding Purina One Dry Food that is going on between our house in California, and my sister’s house in Ohio. My sister in Ohio had one cat that started vomiting about 2 months ago. She thought it might be hairballs, but he lost the use of his back legs. His blood work came back ok, so the vet chalked it up to a blood clot, and he started feeling better. He came home, and was fed the same food. Then, her cat Franklin had the same problem; vomiting and losing the use of his back legs. The same with him; blood work was good, and vet chalked it up to a strange coincidence. (BTW both cats indoors, previously healthy as a horse, and being fed Purina ONE® Indoor).
A few weeks ago, her first cat, Ernie, declined again, and passed away after having another bout of the same symptoms; this time the vomit had blood in it. This morning Franklin, the second cat passed away. Since his first hospitalization, his blood work got bad; kidneys and liver. He was also vomiting with blood in it. Both cats were drinking water excessively. Her vets still don’t see what would have caused this to happen in both indoor pets. She has filed a claim with Purina One, and has spoken to the attorneys. She is also taking Franklin to the Vet School for a post mortem.
Now my California story….mine is only a week’s worth of illness story. I have been feeding my cats Purina One SmartBlend Chicken & Rice for at least a year. My cats have been drinking a lot of water-noticed the increase a few weeks ago, and chalked it up to the heater being on. Bebe, my indoor 1 1/2 year old healthy as a horse male cat started vomiting liquid green….then yellow bile, and lost his appetite completely. He also had diarrhea. On the second day I took him into the vet. They took x-rays, and thought they saw a bowel obstruction. The vet did exploratory surgery, and found nothing but highly irritated bowels, not even a hairball. He stayed in for a couple of nights. She did take biopsies of his intestines, which we have not gotten back. Then our 22 pound cat Lenny (also no history of illness, and healthy as a horse) started the same barfing Thursday….after he barfed bile again on Friday morning, I pulled the Purina One, went out and got 5 different kinds of food without the Purina Label; Wellness Core, Eukanuba, Royal Canin, Max Cat, and Innova to see which one they like best…Lenny barfed the last time Friday morning, but as of last night, the barfing has stopped, no diarrhea, appetite is back, water consumption has decreased, and BeBe, staples and all, is running around.
I have called Purina on this, as I still have the bag and the remainder of the food. I pressed them to take my information, even though they said there has been no recalls, which they did. I am also considering filing a claim with them, depending on what the biopsy of BeBes intestines say, and what my vet thinks. I will keep you posted. What I have seen is a few people on blogs that have mentioned that their cats have also been getting sick. If anyone thinks that their cat might be getting ill from their food, it is important to call the manufacturer right away to let them know, and press them to take the information so they have a record. Right now, I don’t plan on feeding my cats, or Chihuahua, Purina until my sister and I get the results from BeBes biopsy, and Frank’s post mortem.
A lot of my friends have questioned whether other Purina products are involved, including those for dogs. To my knowledge, it’s only the Purina ONE® Cat Food.
As responsible cat owners, we need to monitor our cats for any health changes regardless of what we feed them. In this day with all kinds of questionable ingredients being put into cat food we must remain vigilant.
If any of you have a problem with any pet food, here’s the link furnished by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to report the problem.
Here’s a link to report to Nestle Purina.
Please, please, if you have had any health issues with your cats on this food, let all of us know under the comment section. Include the flavor and the identification numbers the company would want you to give them. Maybe we can nip this in the bud and save some lives.
In closing I’d like to say I have nothing against Nestle Purina. They’ve done voluntary recalls in the past when a problem is reported on one of their products. I consider myself as doing them a favor by making the consumer aware there may be a problem BEFORE the death of a beloved cat.
Elisa
My cat peanut passed away July 2 2013 he just started throwing up bile became very weak would not eat or drink water he became sick on Thursday his white blood cell count was up his liver was over 100 he had a fever an full of gas they thought e might a blocked intestine but it was not he ate purine cat chow complete purine one indoor advantage and fancy feast can food he also had blood color poo oh my gosh I just found this web sight I cannot believe this
Up until last year I had 6 cats, 4 of them died because of Purina. All 6 lost a lot of weight and 4 also developed liver problems after only 6 months of eating Purina One Outdoor Formula in the green bag. Purina needs to be sued. It’s a shame that most people including me don’t have the money to punish a truly evil company. I can’t believe this food is still on the shelf killing more innocent cats.
Thanks for the input. These pages may interest you:
– Raw food diet for a cat
– Best wet cat food USA 2013 (not sure if you are American though)
I have switched to Iams brand until I learn more about making my own cat food. I found a good site made by a Vet that details how to do this safely and efficiently but I forgot the URL. Google it and im sure you can find it, if interested. My brother and parents feed their pets Meow Mix and 9 Lives which are made by Del Monte. Del Monte isnt rated very well but so far I dont think they have killed pets. I was shocked to discover that 90% of the different “Brands” of cat food at my local stores were all made by Purina. there was a 20 foot long, 6 foot high shelf of cat foods and the Non-Purina took up a space about 2 feet wide and 4 feet high! I was appaled.
Anyway, Iams is about $30.00 a bag. My rescue cat who has always had a sensitive stomach loves it. The other 2 cats who survived the Purina mishap also enjoy it. I think Meow Mix and 9 Lives run about $15.00 a bag. I dont want to pormote any specific brand since I have decided that it is probable that all mass manufactured cat food is potentially unsafe. But those are some options.
I’m so happy I found this site. I have been feeding my cats Purina Cat Chow complete for quite a while without any problems. But just recently all three of my indoor cats have been throwing up. I’m going to switch cat food ASAP. But I live on a budget and can’t afford 40.00 for a 17 pd. bag of cat food. Does anyone know of some good cat food that is reasonable? I can afford 30 dollars but not above. I recuse strays and have some dogs but there food is always been great it is not made by Purina. I also took my one cat to the vet he did not have a clue as blood work was normal, no worms or mites but my cat has lost weight.
I have always felt that euthanised shelter cats were shipped out to pet food manufacturing plants. It makes sense from a commercial standpoint. From a moral standpoint it is horrendous. If it does happen it also promotes and maintains the mass slaughter of animals at shelters.
Do you have some hard proof that dead pets are used as ingredients in cat food?