Cat food is in short supply in many East Hawaii stores.
Cost-U-Less currently has no inventory of cat food, according to manager Mike Kelley.
“There have been supply chain issues on an international level, and that’s been affecting a few products,” Kelley said Tuesday. “We don’t have cat food, plastic silverware, aluminum and tin products are also low.”
Kelley said they also don’t have stock of wet dog food, but the cat food has been running low for a while.
As a Walmart employee restocked a little inventory of cat food on Tuesday, customers quickly walked down the aisle and emptied the shelves.
Gloria Silva-Sampaio grabbed a few small bags of cat food for a friend and herself.
Silva-Sampaio recently emailed Purina, a cat food company, to tell them about the shortage of cat food in Hilo. To her surprise, the company gave a prompt response.
“We are aware of an increase in demand for our products and this may be what you are experiencing in your area,” according to Emy, an engagement specialist with Purina. “We can assure you that our associates are working hard to replenish our inventories, and not all flavors and formulas may be available at all times.”
The company offered to help by sending coupons.
Some stores, like Petco and Tractor Supply Company, have specialty cat food brands available.
Wet cat food also was more readily available on Tuesday at some stores.