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Potential Purina One Cat Food Problem

post #1 of 60
12/18/11 at 3:58pm
Thread Starter 

It's being reported through several venues that cat owners are seeing their cats sicken and (in some cases) die while eating Purina One cat kibble. The initial symptoms seem to be vomiting, lack of appetite, increased thirst, and diarrhea, eventually progressing to intermittent weakness of back legs, lethargy and worse. Blood tests aren't picking anything up during initial stages, but whatever is happening seems to be affecting the liver and kidneys of the cats.

 

I don't normally give a heads-up on warnings like this, but this seems to be effecting enough cat owners that it warrants a mention for those feeding Purina One.

 

From "Pictures of Cats": Potential Purina One Cat Food Problem

 

From "Heart of a Healer":  WARNING: Purina pet food has started making pets ill

 

Here's hoping none of our wonderful TCS kitties are affected!!!!!

 

AC

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post #2 of 60
12/18/11 at 4:07pm
Oh Brother..... Both Hope and Lucky eat Purina ProPlan Hairball.... I know it is not ONE, but still, gets me concerned, as it can come from the same plant?
I guess I am going to start transitioning them to another hairball food at once -
Thank you so much for posting this Auntie - Appreciate the heads up! wavey.gif
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post #3 of 60
12/18/11 at 4:47pm

How strange, i have purina one indoor here.. not an issue.. i am not in the US though, not sure if that makes any difference in the formulas.

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post #4 of 60
12/18/11 at 4:50pm
Thanks so much, Auntie hugs.gif.... I hope everyone sees your thread. I think is it is SO important to report thing's like this agree.gif Hope no get's sick from Purina One..... cross.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #5 of 60
12/19/11 at 11:15am

Apparently it's not just limited to Purina One....I've been reading several consumer complaints on many different Purina products, including Fancy Feast canned, Pro Plan, and also not limited to cat food, but dog food as well.  Strange that Purina has not come out with a statement!  But now that this has come up, I, myself, have noticed that my own cats have be shying away from their "beloved" Fancy Feast canned food AND Pro Plan canned food, and maybe this is why!  Darn, those were the only two wet foods they would generally eat rolleyes.gif.  I bought them a can of BG the other day, and they all four turned their noses up at it

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post #6 of 60
12/19/11 at 9:04pm

Purina products have been always problematic. 80% of all their ingredients come from China. As you may know Purina is owned by Nestle. I do not buy Purina and I recommend not to buy Purina products. They make China rich. Boycott Purina

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post #7 of 60
12/20/11 at 12:56am

My cats are junk food junkies. They like eating purina ONE over all the rest. I give up. What ever makes them happy. Just rather have them with me as long as possible. Funny how most people want to get rid of them after the cuteness wears off. But I like mine. I like saving as many as I possibly can. Even if I do have cheap food. And I don't care if one or two make me sneeze when I hold them. The love is worth the inconvientance

Corn/potatoes what the differance. Too bad about the China conection tho. Might switch becasue of the that. But what isn't now a days. Cats rule my house

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post #8 of 60
12/20/11 at 6:18pm

great all I can afford and get mine to eat is fancy feast canned, and purina one canned.  They have some good quality canned they eat too.  Both ours seem fine so far, knock on wood.  Both eating, drinking and pottying good.  I'll have to find a way to buy different canned food for my babies than take the other stuff back, they will not be happy with mommy.

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post #9 of 60
12/20/11 at 7:32pm
Thread Starter 

Hey, guys, don't give up; arm yourselves!

 

Educate yourselves on which ingredients are healthy, which cause the least harm, and which are totally unacceptable. Then read up on the many ways cats can be enticed, tricked, cajoled and bamboozled into eating healthier foods. Once you've got that ammunition, do some studying on the huge variety of canned products available, pick out some new foods for your cats (I recommend no less than three, in rotation, but the more, the better) and go for it.

 

The TruthAboutPetFood.com site has a large catalog of ingredient-related information, but there are actually quite a few resources on this topic. Your best bet, for an in-depth understanding of the manufacturing process, the tricks used in creating the "ingredients lists", ingredient sourcing and naming as well as what's truly behind the names, I recommend picking up any of the several books on the topic. In my opinion, Susan Thixton's "Buyer Beware" is the most detailed and easy to read, but any of them will give you the info you need to feel confident when you hit the pet food aisles.

 

CatInfo.org, RawFedCats.org, Feline-Nutrition.org and many other sites all have transition articles of one sort or another. Read as many as you can, since you never know just which trick will be exactly the one to which your cat responds.

 

Use petfooddirect.com to start your product reviews. They offer a huge selection, and both ingredients and analysis are available on every item.

 

Finally, be patient, wily and persistent; you're in charge and your kitty's well-being is dependent upon you. You have to out-wait, out-fox and out-maneuver the little rascal. catman.gifThis can sometimes takes weeks or months, but it can be done.

 

Never give up!

 

AC

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post #10 of 60
12/20/11 at 7:39pm
Well, I guess I need to start my transition to another hairball food ASAP - Little Lucky is as finicky as it gets, and the bag is 1/2 way.... Heck no, I am not getting another one!

BTW everyone, here is some - A LOT of complaints:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/ralston.html
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post #11 of 60
12/20/11 at 8:51pm
Thank you Carolina for the above link. Scary to read. I have Fancy Feast here and at times have to feed it to Perla when she gets finicky about her wet food. paranoid.gif..
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post #12 of 60
12/21/11 at 12:59am

Carolina, I will keep feeding the same as I was. Dry and wet. Mine like Friskies wet tho. Why not Friskies dry I don't know. I don't eat it. I like the shinny coat they get from Nutro products, but they tire of that food and leave it. Purina ONE for sensitive stomach and indoor cat the bowls are empty all the time.

Wish I had the money and time for something else, but I don't.

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post #13 of 60
12/21/11 at 3:42am

I don't feed Purina, but know several people who do, so this is worrying.

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post #14 of 60
12/21/11 at 7:46am
This morning I sent an email to Purina (via their website "contact us" form) asking why they are not addressing the growing complaints of pet illness and pet death from eating their pet food products. If I hear any reply, I'll post it here.

PS not completely off topic since people are concerned about switching finicky cats: I discovered a trick that worked with Tolly angel.gif, most of the time. If he was being finicky, I would put a food down in front of him I KNEW he didn't like. (His looks of disgust were roll on the floor funny). Then I remove the offending food and put down the food I wanted him to eat. By comparison the second food smelled good, and he would usually eat it without any more trouble. laughing02.gif
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post #15 of 60
12/21/11 at 8:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy View Post

Hey, guys, don't give up; arm yourselves!

Educate yourselves on which ingredients are healthy, which cause the least harm, and which are totally unacceptable. Then read up on the many ways cats can be enticed, tricked, cajoled and bamboozled into eating healthier foods. Once you've got that ammunition, do some studying on the huge variety of canned products available, pick out some new foods for your cats (I recommend no less than three, in rotation, but the more, the better) and go for it.

The TruthAboutPetFood.com site has a large catalog of ingredient-related information, but there are actually quite a few resources on this topic. Your best bet, for an in-depth understanding of the manufacturing process, the tricks used in creating the "ingredients lists", ingredient sourcing and naming as well as what's truly behind the names, I recommend picking up any of the several books on the topic. In my opinion, Susan Thixton's "Buyer Beware" is the most detailed and easy to read, but any of them will give you the info you need to feel confident when you hit the pet food aisles.

CatInfo.org, RawFedCats.org, Feline-Nutrition.org and many other sites all have transition articles of one sort or another. Read as many as you can, since you never know just which trick will be exactly the one to which your cat responds.

Use petfooddirect.com to start your product reviews. They offer a huge selection, and both ingredients and analysis are available on every item.

Finally, be patient, wily and persistent; you're in charge and your kitty's well-being is dependent upon you. You have to out-wait, out-fox and out-maneuver the little rascal. catman.gif This can sometimes takes weeks or months, but it can be done.

Never give up!

AC

Thank you for this info - I have noted it to give to others.
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post #16 of 60
12/21/11 at 8:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post

This morning I sent an email to Purina (via their website "contact us" form) asking why they are not addressing the growing complaints of pet illness and pet death from eating their pet food products. If I hear any reply, I'll post it here.
PS not completely off topic since people are concerned about switching finicky cats: I discovered a trick that worked with Tolly angel.gif, most of the time. If he was being finicky, I would put a food down in front of him I KNEW he didn't like. (His looks of disgust were roll on the floor funny). Then I remove the offending food and put down the food I wanted him to eat. By comparison the second food smelled good, and he would usually eat it without any more trouble. laughing02.gif

laughing02.gif Great tip!!! AND btw - I have had to try this with Perla - and it work's!!! She is my finicky one. That is why I end up feeding her Fancy Feast xeye.gif. I would lace the good stuff with Fancy Feast flail.gif Not any more frown.gif.... Have to find another trick.... hmmm.gif

Please do let us know if you here from Purina agree.gif
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post #17 of 60
12/21/11 at 9:00am

I am going to keep a close eye on this.  My cats are a hard case...  Rex and Juno both have sensitive stomachs and, oddly enough, they can not eat the GOOD foods as easily.  I have no idea why, but we have tried everything!  We used Authority, Wellness, Blue Buffalo and all 3 gave Rex and Juno diarrhea.  Now they are eating Purina (NOT Purina One) indoor and stools are perfect.  If I switch, particularly those two cats, the outcome could be awful for their tummies.  :(  This is all too reminiscent of the big recalls 5 years ago...when my dog was eating Iams which was affected.  We narrowly missed that one before we got him switched.  Good Grief! 

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post #18 of 60
12/21/11 at 10:36am
Thread Starter 

 

Originally Posted by otto View Post

...   PS not completely off topic since people are concerned about switching finicky cats: I discovered a trick that worked with Tolly angel.gif, most of the time. If he was being finicky, I would put a food down in front of him I KNEW he didn't like. (His looks of disgust were roll on the floor funny). Then I remove the offending food and put down the food I wanted him to eat. By comparison the second food smelled good, and he would usually eat it without any more trouble. laughing02.gif


What a cool idea!!!! I'm adding this to my arsenal of tips. Thanks!!

 

Originally Posted by BlueRexBear View Post

I am going to keep a close eye on this.  My cats are a hard case...  Rex and Juno both have sensitive stomachs and, oddly enough, they can not eat the GOOD foods as easily.  I have no idea why, but we have tried everything!  We used Authority, Wellness, Blue Buffalo and all 3 gave Rex and Juno diarrhea.  Now they are eating Purina (NOT Purina One) indoor and stools are perfect.  If I switch, particularly those two cats, the outcome could be awful for their tummies.  :(  This is all too reminiscent of the big recalls 5 years ago...when my dog was eating Iams which was affected.  We narrowly missed that one before we got him switched.  Good Grief! 


I'm keeping an eye on this. I have a theory - STRICTLY theory - that what's going on may be closer to what happened in 2007 than any of us would like.

 

Seventeen brands of kibble have undergone recalls / product pulls for aflatoxin in the last few weeks (eleven different Iams and Eukanuba cat and dog products; two Cargill Animal Nutrition dog products: River Run and Marksman; one O’Neal’s Feeders Supply, Inc. dog product: Arrow Brand; and three Advanced Animal Nutrition of Thayer Dog Power products: Adult Maintenance Formula 21-12, Hunters Formula 27-14, and Hi-Pro Performance Formula 26-18).

 

From what I understand so far, weather conditions were just right for promoting the growth of aflatoxin in corn at a crucial time during the production. Both Purina One and Fancy Feast are grain heavy products and include corn. Aflatoxin poisoning symptoms are vomiting, lack of appetite, discolored, bloody and loose stools, lethargy and weakness, eventually leading to liver and kidney problems, among other things.

 

Since there are many, many more manufacturers who use corn in their products, I think there is a potential these problems / recalls may spiral out in the same pattern we saw in 2007. Just not, heaven forbid, in the numbers nor with the deaths that marked the melamine poisoning.

 

Of course, there are many problems that can cause those same symptoms, so I could very well be wrong. Only time will tell.

 

Regards.

 

AC

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post #19 of 60
12/21/11 at 11:32am
Fancy Feast canned food doesn't have corn. . .I hope it is Aflatoxin in corn (any grain can be infected, and dairy from cows who have eaten infected grain), because my mom's cats all eat Fancy Feast. Ugh.
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post #20 of 60
12/21/11 at 11:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy View Post

From what I understand so far, weather conditions were just right for promoting the growth of aflatoxin in corn at a crucial time during the production. Both Purina One and Fancy Feast are grain heavy products and include corn. Aflatoxin poisoning symptoms are vomiting, lack of appetite, discolored, bloody and loose stools, lethargy and weakness, eventually leading to liver and kidney problems, among other things.

 

Since there are many, many more manufacturers who use corn in their products, I think there is a potential these problems / recalls may spiral out in the same pattern we saw in 2007. Just not, heaven forbid, in the numbers nor with the deaths that marked the melamine poisoning.


Over 70% of supermarket products contain some form of corn product in the United States.  In fact, corn and soy make up more calories of an American diet than any other food product.  If corn crops at large were an issue, which is entirely possible, the health effects would not take months to realize.  

 

When in doubt, simply use bags/cans with an older date, which means they would have been in circulation for many many weeks.   Personally, I don't feed anything I haven't held onto for a month, which is a non-issue since the dry and wet food typically has a shelf life of at least two years.   Even the best manufacturers have recalls now and then, as I learned with the Wellness 12oz cans I had which were recalled for a particular vitamin deficiency.

 

Can't get any safer than that.  smile.gif

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post #21 of 60
12/21/11 at 11:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willowy View Post

Fancy Feast canned food doesn't have corn. . .I hope it is Aflatoxin in corn (any grain can be infected, and dairy from cows who have eaten infected grain), because my mom's cats all eat Fancy Feast. Ugh.

Exactly... Unfortunately, it doesn't explain the problem with the FF cans people are having. We ran out of the cans we normally feed, and the closest place to purchase is about 45 minutes away, and we just haven't been over that way. So I was feeding the FF we have on hand. Tuxedo and Lazlo started turning their noses up at it Sunday night. When I read this thread, I fed everyone the a/d I had on hand last night (and this morning, until we could get out) - and they both ate the a/d. So I think there WAS something off with the FF cans (I only have chicken / beef classic). Thankfully everyone seems just fine... I'm just wondering what to use as a fall back "enticement" food now.
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post #22 of 60
12/21/11 at 5:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy View Post


What a cool idea!!!! I'm adding this to my arsenal of tips. Thanks!!

Regards.
AC


Quote:
Originally Posted by Feralvr View Post

laughing02.gif Great tip!!! AND btw - I have had to try this with Perla - and it work's!!! She is my finicky one. That is why I end up feeding her Fancy Feast xeye.gif. I would lace the good stuff with Fancy Feast flail.gif Not any more frown.gif.... Have to find another trick.... hmmm.gif
Please do let us know if you here from Purina agree.gif


Thanks you guys. It's working for Queen Eva too! clap.gif

Quote:
Originally Posted by Feralvr View Post


Please do let us know if you here from Purina agree.gif

I heard back already:

laughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.gif

Thank you for contacting Nestlé Purina PetCare Company.

Your comments are important to us, and as such, we would like to be able to discuss this matter more completely with you. Please contact our Office of Consumer Affairs directly at 1-800-778-7462 weekdays between 7AM to 7PM CST. One of our Pet Advisors will be more than happy to speak with you regarding your inquiry. Please provide the Pet Advisor with the reference number that appears in the subject line of this e-mail. Or, if you prefer, please e-mail us back with your phone number and we'll be back in touch with you as soon as possible.

We look forward to hearing from you.


laughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.gif
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post #23 of 60
12/21/11 at 5:58pm
OH Gail - that sound's like a brush off laughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.gif Not surprised. hmmm.gif
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post #24 of 60
12/21/11 at 5:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post

Exactly... Unfortunately, it doesn't explain the problem with the FF cans people are having. We ran out of the cans we normally feed, and the closest place to purchase is about 45 minutes away, and we just haven't been over that way. So I was feeding the FF we have on hand. Tuxedo and Lazlo started turning their noses up at it Sunday night. When I read this thread, I fed everyone the a/d I had on hand last night (and this morning, until we could get out) - and they both ate the a/d. So I think there WAS something off with the FF cans (I only have chicken / beef classic). Thankfully everyone seems just fine... I'm just wondering what to use as a fall back "enticement" food now.

Me too - I just bought a couple of cases from Costco. The grilled version - beef/chicken/turkey. As you know Wilbur - has been eating this too - I use it to get their appetite's up...... Now what dontknow.gif
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post #25 of 60
12/21/11 at 6:14pm

What about Purina Beyond One?  I feed my cats Merrick BG and also Purina Beyond one.  I had a problem earlier this year with TOTW and it was had to find a food grain free that the two older ones would eat.  Chirpy I think would eat most anything.  The kittens stopped eating kitten food when they tasted the Merrick.  I just bought a large bag of Purina Beyond One last week from Petsmart but haven't opened it yet.

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post #26 of 60
12/22/11 at 12:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jennyranson View Post

...

Thank you for this info - I have noted it to give to others.


Excellent! Glad you found it of interest.

 

Here's something else I'd like to add... the Pet Food Industry has its own news site, with articles from insiders, veterinarians and journalists. If anyone would like to keep an eye on what the industry is thinking and doing - and every pet owner should be - check this site PetFoodIndustry.com ("The Information Source for Petfood Professionals Worldwide") and it's companion site Petfood-Connection.com (The Professional Network for the Global Pet Food Industry) regularly.

 

Recent articles posted on PetFoodIndustry.com include: "European Pet Food Industry Federation petfood labeling code approved", "Nutrition trends: Allergen-free petfoods", "Nutro Co. scientist discusses using poultry by-products as petfood ingredients", and "Effects of rendering on meat and bone meal", all as seen through the eyes of the pet food industry.

 

And here are a few from Petfood-Connection.com: "Watch: petfood safety featured on business show", "A View of Vet School Freebies", and "Petfood and Salmonella: AVMA missed chance for public service and good PR" (this last article includes the line, "Today's pet owners are much more aware and informed of what's going on with petfoods, and their heavy usage of social media further spurs that awareness.").

 

Fascinating stuff.

 

AC

 

Edited to add some topic examples.


Edited by Auntie Crazy - 12/22/11 at 1:02am
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post #27 of 60
12/22/11 at 12:58am

Sounds like we Purina ONE feeders are in trouble.

Darn. Have to go back to reading labels in stores again.

Wish I was rich so I could feed the best

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post #28 of 60
12/22/11 at 4:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MeuzettesMom View Post

Sounds like we Purina ONE feeders are in trouble.

Darn. Have to go back to reading labels in stores again.

Wish I was rich so I could feed the best

 

 

I know what you mean by wishing you had enough money to feed the best. I live off SS disability so money is VERY tight here.

 

 

I just made a switch in foods this last week. I was going to buy Purina one (I didnt know what was going on at the time) but I got to looking at other foods and found Natural Balance Ultra Premium for kittens and cats. It was only $15 for 6 lbs. Not too much of a difference from Purina One and a whole lot more natural protien in it (chicken meal and chicken are its first 2 ingrediants), no by-products.  :)

 

 

 

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post #29 of 60
12/22/11 at 7:27am
IF you can find a good feed store, there are several decent dry foods that are cheaper than or the same price as Purina ONE. I can get Chicken Soup, Diamond Naturals, Professional, and 4Health for less than ONE, and TOTW and Felidae are only slightly more expensive. If you look up a few of the brand websites and run the store locator, you might be able to find a nearby feed store.

Canned food is a problem, though, because it seems like every non-Purina brand costs at least twice as much frown.gif. Although I guess Trader Joe's canned food is pretty good and inexpensive, too bad we don't have a TJ's.
Edited by Willowy - 12/22/11 at 7:45am
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post #30 of 60
12/22/11 at 11:38am

My cats will not touch Trader Joe's brand!  (even if I use Otto's trick of putting something they dislike even more out first laughing02.gif)

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