Why is There a Shortage of Cat Food?

The reasons for the shortage of cat food are many and varied. Manufacturers blame the shutdown of production in China, the rise in pet adoptions, and aluminum can shortages. Others blame increased wholesale costs and pandemic manufacturing shutdowns. And there’s the price hike in pet stores! How do we get a handle on this shortage? Here are some tips! We’ll look at some of the causes of the shortage. We’ll also look at some solutions.

Aluminum shortage

The aluminum shortage in cat food and canned dog food is a problem with more than just your beloved feline’s health. While the demand for aluminum has increased due to the pet adoption boom, aluminum is not making it to market as quickly as it should, and the price of aluminum has surged to nearly $2,800 per metric ton. Because aluminum is light and inexpensive to produce, it is a good choice for packaging products, but the current supply-chain crisis has many manufacturers scrambling to meet the demand. In addition to this, China’s pollution crackdown has lowered the aluminum production level in the country. The resulting aluminum shortage is projected to continue into 2023.

COVID-19 supply chain

A professor at Iowa State University believes that the recent shortage of cat food is due to issues in the COVID-19 supply chain. Those issues include aluminum shortage, meat shortage, and a shortage of tinned cat food. While most pet adoptions increased following the pandemic, cat adoptions are still at the high rates they were during the epidemic. Small changes in the supply chain can have large impacts. For example, when aluminum is in short supply, tinned cat food won’t be able to keep up with demand.

Increased wholesale costs

The petfood industry has been grappling with increased wholesale costs of raw materials as the cost of grains has skyrocketed. Cereal prices are soaring on the commodity markets, with wheat hitting a record high on the Chicago Board of Trade last February. The rising price of these staples means more manufacturers are paying more to produce petfood, which they pass on to consumers. Other factors such as higher energy prices and transportation costs are also contributing to the price hike.

Price hikes in pet stores

It has become increasingly difficult to buy pet food in stores because of the recent price hikes. Unlike in the past, pet food is more expensive than human foods, so consumers are left feeling frustrated. Price hikes are being blamed on a number of factors, from the pandemic to winter snow storms and production problems. But one thing is for sure: pet owners are not alone. They are not the only ones feeling the pinch. The media outlets have also reported that consumers are becoming more demanding and are causing price hikes.

Changing brands

In an attempt to combat a nationwide cat food shortage, online pet retailers have ditched aluminum packaging in favor of glass and plastic. In addition, several pet food brands, including Stella and Chewy, have switched to a non-aluminum container. While this solution has proven to be a temporary fix, it could prove tricky for cats with medical conditions. Listed below are some tips for solving a cat food shortage.

Transitioning to a new food

Adding a new food to your cat’s diet can be an exciting experience, but it also poses a few challenges. Using the proper transition period and gradual change of food can help reduce digestive problems and allow your pet to adjust more easily to the new diet. Also, make sure to give your cat plenty of playtime before the new meal. It’s important to monitor your cat closely during this transition period, especially if your cat has a sensitive digestive system or gastrointestinal disease.