The Pet Institute was unable to predict how long the shortage will last. Many people are spending more time at home with their pets, which can lead to more feeding and more treats than usual, she said, encouraging shoppers to purchase only the amount of food they regularly need. “This can be further compounded by regulatory and trade developments that ripple up the supply chain, such as government incentives for renewable diesel that impact the pet food ingredient marketplace and cargo ship delays at America’s ports,” said Dana Brooks, president and CEO of the Pet Food Institute. pet food brands, including Nestle Purina and Mars Petcare, did not cite any one cause of the shortage, but said in an email that increased demand, the availability of transportation and drivers, and weather all can affect the availability of retail pet food. The Pet Food Institute, a trade organization representing the major U.S.

Prescription foods, too, have been difficult to get, sometimes taking a month or more to come in, she added. One person fostering kittens for the shelter went to three stores looking for Fancy Feast, Griffith said, but couldn’t find it. Subscribe - $10 Sunday Delivery Sign In My Account Logout Primary Menu ☰ XĪccording to Kate Griffith, community programs manager at Midcoast Humane in Brunswick, the holiday season is usually met with a rush of donations, but this year, the animal shelter has received less canned cat food than ever.

Notoriously finicky pets