RENO, Nev. — A Reno woman has filed a federal lawsuit against the manufacturer of recalled pet food, claiming Iams brand food killed her 20-year-old cat, "Patches."
Marion Streczyn seeks unspecified damages from Ontario, Canada-based Menu Foods in the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Reno.
Menu Foods spokesman Sam Bornstein said Friday that the company would have no comment.
The company, which makes "cuts and gravy style" dog and cat food sold under nearly 100 store labels and major brands, recalled 60 million containers in mid-March after cats fell sick and died during routine company taste tests.
The recall has since expanded to include earlier dates and other brands, and at least six pet food companies have recalled products made with imported Chinese wheat gluten tainted with an industrial chemical. The Food and Drug Administration said tests indicated the food was contaminated with melamine, which is used as a fertilizer and in the manufacture of cutlery and kitchenware.
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While the FDA has confirmed about 16 pet deaths from tainted food, other sources put the death toll much higher. The Web site www.petconnection.com said as of Thursday, more than 4,000 animals have died, based on information from pet owners.
Streczyn's suit filed April 2 joins a growing number of others filed around the country against the pet food maker and is believed to be the first in Nevada, her attorney, Brian O'Mara, said Friday.
In the suit, Streczyn said she purchased and began feeding her cat Iams "Select Bites" cat food in December. By February, the suit said, Patches developed trouble urinating and was vomiting. A vet put her on antibiotics and steroids to help her eat, and changed her diet, but the animal eventually was euthanized.
Though the cat was 20 years old, O'Mara said Patches was "in great shape."
"The fact of the matter is, Patches never had a problem until she started eating the poison food," he said.
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On the Net:
Menu Foods: www.menufoods.com
Food and Drug Administration: www.fda.gov
