Sainsbury's and Pets at Home are among the stores recalling dried cat food over the potential link it could have to a deadly feline disease.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned cat owners not to give their pets dry food made on behalf of the brands by manufacturer Fold Hill Foods as a precaution.
It comes after an outbreak of feline pancytopenia, an illness that can often be fatal in cats.
Pancytopenia is a very rare condition where the number of blood cells (red, white and platelets) rapidly decreases, causing serious illness.
This condition has potentially been linked to several cat food products - listed below - but there is currently "no evidence" to suggest this presents a risk to human health.
An investigation is currently ongoing to determine the link between the condition and the food. A Government spokesman said: "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."
BIG UPDATE - now ALL packets of AVA, Applaws and Sainsbury's dry cat food have been recalled regardless of batch code, and it's been confirmed it's linked to pancytopenia which is VERY LETHAL to cats.
— Holly Brockwell (@holly) June 16, 2021
TELL YOUR CAT FRIENDShttps://t.co/if3o3eM3Wj https://t.co/objzJIwl6Q pic.twitter.com/Pwlh2x2mwL
The products being recalled are:
Sainsbury's:
Sainsburys Hypoallergenic Recipe complete dry cat food with salmon 1+years 800g
Sainsburys Hypoallergenic Recipe complete dry cat food with chicken 1+years 800g
Pets at Home:
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
Applaws products (best before date between December 2022 to June 2023 with a site reference code of GB218E5009):
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
Cat owners who have bought any of the affected products can return them to the store for a full refund.
If cat owners are concerned about the health of their pet then they should seek immediate advice from their vet.
