Complaint Review: Blue Buffalo Company - Glendale Arizona

Blue Buffalo falsely advertises and misleads consumers regarding their Blue Buffalo Naturally Fresh Quick Clumping Litter.

On the badk of their packaging Blue Buffalo states that there is virtually NO Dust making Blue Naturally Fresh litter virtually dust-free so you and your cat can breathe easier!  BLUE Naturally Fresh is Low Tracking because it doesn't stick to your cat's paws so it's not tracked througout the house.

I began purchasing Blue Naturally Fresh Walnut-based litter for my two cats about a year ago.  In the beginning it seemed to be working fine other than my cat's paws were always brown and I had brown paw prints EVERYWHERE on my couches, bed and carpet.  Cat's like to walk on counters, sleep on your couch and your bed.  I also was vaccuming three times a week because the litter tracked everywhere. My furniture and couches were always covered with brown dust which had me constantly dusting.

My cats began coughing and wheezing violently after about six months so I took them both to my veteranarin and had tests run on both cats.  This cost me over $500.00.  My cats were about 8 years of age at the time with no breathing problems up until I began using Blue Buffalo litter.

My vet said that the tests were not conclusive regarding asthma however she prescribed Prednisone which is a steroid to help reduce any inflammation and help with the coughing and wheezing. I refused to put my cats on Prednisone because it is known to shorten your cat's life.

I began searching for alternative ways to heal my two cats so I tossed out their $125 cat tower thinking maybe it was the carpet fibers making them sick.  I purchased two Himalayan Salt Lamps to the tune of $40.00 a piece thinking it would help purify the air in my home.  I cjhanged their food, bought new counches, replaced an area carpet, had my dryer and furnace vaccumed out and purchase AmazePet respiratory and asthma relief for pets.  All of this didn't help my cats breathing.  I spent $1.943.03 trying to get some type of relief for my two cats!

Then finally I replaced their litter with Dr. Elsey's R&R Silica Litter and within a 24 hour period both cats began breathing easier and after a week there was no coughing or wheezing. 

I wrote to Blue Buffalo and even though I had detailed my experience they required that I fill out their complaint form and again describe the complaint I had about their litter.  

I received a reply from Kim Jones, Director of Customer Service at Blue Buffalo Company and this is what she said.

"Thank you for taking the time to contact Blue Buffalo with your recent concerns regarding our BLUE Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping litter for cats.  Your claim has been reviewd by both our veterinary and legal departments.

Our veterinarian reviewed all the documtntaion submitted by your veteranian about your two cats with the primary complaint of coughing and wheezing.  One cat was diagnosed with mild asthma and the other cat was stated to possibly have mild asthma, although her radiographs were noted to be unremarkable.  Both cats were prescribed a course of Prednisone, although it is noted that this was declined in favor of a more holistic course of treatment.

I am sorry that we cannot honor your claim because the veterinarian's diagonosis fails to link an association of the medical issues with the use of our BLUE Naturally Fresh Quick Clumping litter.  All of our products, including our BLUE Naturally Fresh cat litter, undergo extensive regulatory and quality diagnostics to ensure that each product upholds our commitment to produce the highest quality possible.  There is no indication in the medical notes that your cat's illness was a result of any inherent defect in the BLUE Naturally Fresh Quick-Clumping cat litter they were using.

We hope your cats continue to be healthy and happy members of your family.  If you have any additoinal questions or conserns, please do not hesitate to contact us."

I wrote to Blue Buffalo not only because my of cats wheezing and coughing but also because of their false and misleading advertisement.  Their litter is NOT dust free and nor is it LOW TRACKING.

It did indeed cause my cat's breathing problems because my cats NO LONGER are coughing or wheezing.  

Kim Jones statement that Blue Buffalo products undergo extensive regulatory and quality diagnostics to ensure that each product upholds their commitment to produce the highest quality possible is a BLATANT LIE AND MISREPRESENTATION. Why? Because Blue Buffalo was sued for using chicken byproducts and they admitted that chicken byproducts make up a significant portion of the pet food that Blue Buffalo has.  Until the lawsuit Blue Buffalo had claimed that they made "byproduct free" pet food. 

Blue Buffalo's founder, Bill Bishop, said Purina's lawsuit and press release are nothing more than a "year-long smear campaign," but again admitted to using chicken byproduct.

I believe that Blue Buffalo is in violation of 15 U.S. Code 54 for False Advertising and by falsely misleading consumers regarding their cat litter.  I am also filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commssion because they are in violation of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) regarding their labeling.  They cannot truthfully state and advertise that their product is virtually dust free, that it doesn't track and it helps cats and humans breathe better.

If you find that you have been using this terrible litter please share your story and maybe whe can get BLUE Buffalo sanctioned and fined for falsely miselading consumers with their advertising and also to help your felines and yourself breathe better.