Is Anyone Else Struggling to Get Enough Catfood with the Current Supply Shortages we are Encountering?

[Norachan]

I haven't noticed any shortages here. I usually bulk buy online, a month's supply of canned, dry and cat litter at a time. I have a big outdoor shed I can store things in.

Another idea ... is your vet aware that you feed ferals? If so, maybe mention to them you're struggling to feed your ferals. They might be open to having a donation jar, or even bin, for monetary or cat food donations.

Our vet saves up all the free samples of prescription food once they get near the sell-by date and lets me have those. It's usually only a couple of meals worth, as I'm feeding more than 20, but it's a free meal of something new. The cats and I appreciate that.

 

[Willowy]

TG there is no shortages with delivery people.

Um. Hate to break it to ya, lol. All the delivery companies are having significant employee shortages. But we muddle through. Work some overtime. Etc.

She fell on hard times financially and had to switch to dry which was more affordble.

I saw a video of one of the rescue places (I want to say Best Friends but could be a different one) and they mixed a small amount of canned food with dry food and added water and mixed it all together until it was kind of a slurry. That way everybody got enough moisture but it was also more affordable. Of course if you do that, it has to be eaten quickly, but that's not usually a problem for ferals.

 

[Whenallhellbreakslose]

betsygee I am thinking of feeding them Kitty Chow and topping it with a broth that is good for them. The kitties really love wet food. However, I do give them as a 2nd feeding to get them through the night Kitten Chow with some water poured over it. They will eat it, but they really want wet food.

If I can find a safe broth to pour over the Kitten Chow (no onion, garlic or other bad ingredients for cats in it) then that might do the trick. However those Fancy Feast broths are too expensive for me. Do you know of any broths that are good for cats that are being sold? I hope this works.
Norachan Thank you for that suggestion, I will look into it. Someone also mentioned asking pet stores for the dented cans that usually don't sell because nobody is interested buying them.
W Willowy Oh shute!!! That's not good! I also live in an area where Sanitation may go on strike. When it rains, it pours.

I always combine wet and dry food with water. Maybe I can try to cut back on the wet food a little. I also was thinking of putting a cat friendly broth on top of Kitty Chow, so they don't fell too deprive if wet food. Anyway, I am open to all Ideas.

Thank you everyone.

 

[vince]

Stocks have been low in downstate Michigan, but I've been able to get Friskies, Purina and Tractor Supply house brand cat foods without too much trouble. Fortunately, my cats are little piglets and will eat anything they're served.

 

[Willowy]

I think the Walmart brand of chicken broth doesn't have any onions or garlic, and comes in a low-sodium option. But of course if you have time, the cheapest (and yummiest) way is to boil up some cheap chicken parts, pull all the bones out, then give them the broth and the chicken.

 

[vince]

I think the Walmart brand of chicken broth doesn't have any onions or garlic, and comes in a low-sodium option. But of course if you have time, the cheapest (and yummiest) way is to boil up some cheap chicken parts, pull all the bones out, then give them the broth and the chicken.

Another suggestion would be to get some chicken gizzards and boil those until they're fairly tender (well, for gizzards, anyway). My cats love them. No bones, either!

 

[Whenallhellbreakslose]

Thank you both. I will look into it. A nice warm broth (especially home cooked) should warm their bones in the dead of winter. Also, thanks for the chicken gizzard idea. I hear it is very good for cats, especially their teeth.

 

[DreamerRose]

The only thing is that I haven't seen gizzards, or livers for that matter, for sale in a grocery store in years. Gizzards don't even come inside a turkey anymore, just the heart, liver, and neck.

 

[game misconduct]

its hard to find tikicage free rabbit or duck at times but it evens out kinda since i got graycie to accept 3 brands of food now kind of so i am able to still walk out with a case or 2 of her food sometimes mixed up with the 3 brands she will eat most of the times

 

[Whenallhellbreakslose]

The only thing is that I haven't seen gizzards, or livers for that matter, for sale in a grocery store in years. Gizzards don't even come inside a turkey anymore, just the heart, liver, and neck.

I guess I would have to go to a Butcher shop for that. I never bought Gizzards before, so I never realized it is no longer sold in Supermarkets and is no longer sold in Turkeys. Thanks for pointing this out.

 

[Willowy]

Ah, dang it, I'm at Walmart now and their brand of chicken broth/stock all have onion ingredients. The only one here without onion is Swanson's cooking stock, unsalted. It's $2.72 for 32 ounces (here, anyway). Oh and also Zoup brand, but that's $5.77 for 32 oz so I don't think so, lol.

 

[Whenallhellbreakslose]

its hard to find tikicage free rabbit or duck at times but it evens out kinda since i got graycie to accept 3 brands of food now kind of so i am able to still walk out with a case or 2 of her food sometimes mixed up with the 3 brands she will eat most of the times

Thanks for posting. I wondering how our cats are adjusting to having to be put on new food or a mixture of other brands. I hope Gracyie is doing well. I know she wants her favorite food. Hopefully things will go back to normal soon.

 

[Whenallhellbreakslose]

Ah, dang it, I'm at Walmart now and their brand of chicken broth/stock all have onion ingredients. The only one here without onion is Swanson's cooking stock, unsalted. It's $2.72 for 32 ounces (here, anyway). Oh and also Zoup brand, but that's $5.77 for 32 oz so I don't think so, lol.

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks for letting me know, I appreciate it . I guess it is Swanson's or I will have to make home made broth. That's the way to go.

 

[game misconduct]

Thanks for posting. I wondering how our cats are adjusting to having to be put on new food or a mixture of other brands. I hope Gracyie is doing well. I know she wants her favorite food. Hopefully things will go back to normal soon.

your welcomei probably dump about a quarter of each case that has new foods graycie refuses but a little pure bites chicken treats crumbled helps getting her to try/eat new foods

 

[margecat]

Yes. I have been feeding a stray mama and her 4 kittens, and was fostering them, in addition to my 11 cats. It's worrying us (3 of the fosters have gone to the shelter, though).

 

[DreamerRose]

I guess I would have to go to a Butcher shop for that. I never bought Gizzards before, so I never realized it is no longer sold in Supermarkets and is no longer sold in Turkeys. Thanks for pointing this out.

You may be able to order it from the grocery store butcher department or find it at an ethnic grocery. There's one store in my area that sells chicken feet by the pound.

 

[maggie101]

Last week, I visited the Pet Store I normally buy cat food from. In normal times, it was a very well stocked National chain Pet Store. However, last week it looked like this.
View attachment 401704
I also went to BJ's Wholesale (which is very much like a Costco's). The pet food aisle was completely empty of nearly all the canned wet food, I had to buy Meow Mix that comes in cups which goes way too quick.

I feed a lot of outdoor cats, so I rely on the cheaper cat food like Friskies and Nine Lives. All the supermarkets by me are barely stocked with this food anymore. I am getting worried. I am on a tight budget and I have had another cat feeder dump her cats on me. I have confronted her in the past and we had a major falling out. Now I have to worry that at any time she will dump the rest of her cats on me. This is a stressful situation to begin with. The food shortages is the latest challenge to deal with.

I like to ask the members her on TCS, especially those who have a lot of cats to feed whether they are your cats or you take care of community cats. How has the shortages been in your area? Is it mostly the cheaper cat food that is in short supply or have you noticed other brands? I haven't notice a problem with the dry food yet, but is their a shortage of dry cat food in your area?

What have you been doing to deal with these shortage problems? Have you been buying more online? Have you been buying tuna or sardines, or are using something else as a subitute for cat food? How has the kitties you feed been handling the changes?

I also like to discuss winter feeding of outdoor cats. I am very worried over this and need to figure out how to stretch things out. I am feeding a lot more cats than last year and to say it is a challenge is putting it mildly.

I would like to hear from you. Thank you in advance for taking the time to reply to this thread.

I recently posted about the Purina Store closing. Not sure what that means. I think after dec1 it can only be bought online and certain retailers

 

[nartyteek]

Hell yes, I have! It sucks, since I have a free pet pantry on my sideyard, and with need greater than ever, it is often left unstocked. For myself, there's a few different foods I can switch between, but finding liquid treats for medicating purposes has been difficult, and I have switched to human baby food. Just the pure, regular meat foods. They actually smell exactly like Delectables, which is terrible to know. As always, beware onions and whatnot. Just the plain meat varieties, if in doubt. It works great.

 

[maggie101]

I use churu tubs, dip her Cerenia tablet in it so it
Slides down her through easily

 

[Antonio65]

I like to ask the members her on TCS, especially those who have a lot of cats to feed whether they are your cats or you take care of community cats. How has the shortages been in your area? Is it mostly the cheaper cat food that is in short supply or have you noticed other brands? I haven't notice a problem with the dry food yet, but is their a shortage of dry cat food in your area?

I live outside the US, and so far I haven't encountered such problems. And of course I hope I won't.
I usually stock at least a week (if not two) worth of food, both for my indoor cats and for the outdoor one. And for my colony which lives 2 miles from home.
But I've been told that a few brands have trouble with supplies, mainly canned food, not pouches, because the cans are mainly manifactured in China and they have issues with the materials.

My indoor cats eat canned food. And dry.
The outdoor cats eat wet food in pouches. And dry.
The colony cats eat mainly dry, because it's easier to handle and doesn't go to waste if left in the open for too long.

The main concern here in my country (Italy) and Europe is the vaccines supply, as I reported in this post