SEQUIM – Janice and Mike Littlefield said goodbye to Blue, their sapphire-eyed tabby, on Saturday.
Blue, after eating Nutro Natural Choice and Special Kitty – two recalled Menu Foods products – became lethargic, stopped eating and developed what seemed an unquenchable thirst.
On March 22, Janice brought her to Greywolf Veterinary Hospital in Sequim, where the 12-year-old cat was diagnosed with acute renal failure.
Veterinarian Maya Bewig gave Blue intravenous hydration and medications, and sent her home on March 28.
The cat looked calm that evening, and for a while she seemed like she might pull through, Janice said.
But Blue’s body was weakened by her ordeal, and by last Friday she hadn’t improved.
“We could see the pockets of water in her body. Her kidneys still didn’t work,” Janice said.
“We had her euthanized.”
Blue is one of hundreds of pets nationwide sickened by wet pet foods – sold in cans and pouches – that have been recalled.
She is the only North Olympic Peninsula animal reported to have been sickened after eating the recalled food.
The Menu Foods company has said it will attempt to compensate owners for their medical expenses.
“I want some answers,” said Janice, “and I want my vet bill paid.”
She’s called Menu Foods twice, and was told the company would contact her.
It has yet to do so, and Janice said she’ll wait a few more days before trying again.
The bill for Blue’s care and medications totaled about $1,500, Janice said.
