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    23

    Jul 2021

    Last Updated: 23/07/2021
    Community
    Community

    Harrogate district cat owners 'heartbroken' after deaths linked to food

    by Connor Creaghan

    | 23 Jul, 2021
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    The Food Standards Agency has recalled a number of cat foods amid concerns of a link with the potentially fatal bone marrow condition feline pancytopeni.

    cat-deaths
    Albert and Tina both died after eating the recalled cat food.

    Two cat owners from the Harrogate district have spoken of their heartbreak after their pets ate food which has been linked to hundreds of deaths across the UK.

    Both cats Albert and Tina had been eating Sainsburys Hypoallergenic Recipe before they became seriously ill earlier this month.

    The Food Standards Agency has recalled a number of cat foods by Applaws, Sainsburys, Ava from Pets at Home and Wilko.

    No definitive evidence exists at this stage confirming a link between the cat food and a potentially fatal bone marrow condition called feline pancytopenia but recalls have been issued voluntarily as a precaution while an investigation takes place.

    While a vet confirmed that Tina died from pancytopenia, which has been connected with the recalled food, Albert's death is only a suspected case of the same disease.

    The Royal Veterinary College is aware of 506 cats with the disease in the UK. Of these, 62.5% have died. Usually there is only one case in the UK in a year.



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    Vivienne Cameron, who is from Pateley Bridge and was the owner of Albert, told the Stray Ferret:

    "All I want to do is raise awareness. I had no idea when I bought the cat food that it could lead to Albert's death.
    "He was a really greedy, mummy's boy. Albert would eat anything. He would probably try to eat you if you sat in his bowl.
    "Albert had been eating that food for a few weeks. In the space of a week he stopped eating food, became quite lethargic and then died.
    "I miss him. People cannot imagine how much I miss him."


    Liz Chambers, who is from Helperby, near Boroughbridge, and was the owner of Tina, said:

    "When we took Tina to the vets they told us it was either cancer or pancytopenia. They said the best of the two would be cancer.
    "We tried everything we could but she was not in a good way by the end. It was all very distressing.
    "She was always there for us, whether it was by my side putting the clothes out or comforting my eldest when she was upset. It just feels empty in the house now."