Meow Mix is a popular brand of cat food that has been around since the 1970s. In recent years, they introduced a line of limited ingredient recipes called Simple Servings. These recipes contain fewer ingredients and are designed for cats with food sensitivities.
Lately, some cat owners have been reporting that Meow Mix Simple Servings flavors seem to be disappearing from store shelves, leading to speculation that the line is being discontinued. As a cat owner myself, I was curious to get to the bottom of this rumor.
In this article, I’ll go over what Meow Mix Simple Servings is, the evidence that it may be discontinued, and some possible reasons why Meow Mix could discontinue it. I also did some investigating by contacting Meow Mix and local pet stores to see if I could find a definitive answer. Read on to learn what I discovered about the fate of Meow Mix Simple Servings cat food.
What is Meow Mix Simple Servings?
Meow Mix first launched their Simple Servings line in 2018. It was their first foray into limited ingredient cat food recipes.
Simple Servings recipes contain 6 key ingredients or less. Limiting the ingredients reduces the chance that cats with food sensitivities will be exposed to problem ingredients that could cause an allergic reaction or upset stomach.
The Simple Servings line includes recipes like:
- Salmon & Whitefish Recipe
- Turkey & Whole Grain Recipe
- Chicken & Whole Grain Recipe
- Tuna & Whole Grain Recipe
The first three ingredients in each recipe are protein sources like chicken, salmon, or turkey. Instead of fillers like corn, wheat, or soy, these recipes use whole grain brown rice. They are also free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
The Simple Servings recipes cater to cat owners looking for more natural, hypoallergenic options for cats with sensitivities. They provided an alternative to Meow Mix’s classic recipes that contain more ingredients and fillers.
Evidence that Meow Mix Simple Servings is Being Discontinued
Over the last 6 months or so, many cat owners have been reporting that Meow Mix Simple Servings flavors seem to be disappearing from stores.
On sites like Reddit and consumer review websites, owners say that stores have stopped restocking certain recipes. The Salmon & Whitefish and Turkey & Whole Grain recipes appear to be the hardest to find. Some people say their local stores no longer carry any of the line.
I surveyed my local pet supply stores and found limited availability of Simple Servings recipes. Two stores that normally stock it only had one or two varieties available. One store said they had not received any new shipments of Simple Servings in months.
In addition, the Simple Servings line seems to be sold out or unavailable for online ordering on websites like Chewy, Petco, PetSmart, and Amazon. The recipes are listed but show as “out of stock” or unavailable for delivery.
Based on the inventory issues and lack of restocking reported by cat owners and in my own research, major retailers appear to be struggling to keep the Meow Mix Simple Servings line in stock. This strongly suggests it has been put on the chopping block and discontinued.
Possible Reasons for Discontinuation
While Meow Mix has not officially announced that Simple Servings is being discontinued, the writing seems to be on the wall based on the inventory issues.
Here are some possible reasons Meow Mix could decide to ax the Simple Servings recipes:
- Lack of sales – If the recipes were not selling well enough, Meow Mix may have decided to cut their losses and discontinue the line due to low profits.
- Supply chain issues – Manufacturing and sourcing issues could make it difficult for Meow Mix to produce enough supply to meet demand.
- Focus on core products – Meow Mix may be choosing to direct resources into their classic recipes and limiting special product lines.
- Preparation for new products – Discontinuing Simple Servings could make room for Meow Mix to introduce different new limited ingredient recipes.
Without an official announcement, the exact reasons can only be speculated. But Simple Servings’ apparent disappearance from store shelves signals the company likely pulled the plug on the line.
Follow Up with Meow Mix
To try to get definitive answers, I contacted Meow Mix customer service directly to ask if Simple Servings had been discontinued.
The customer service representative was unable to provide a clear response. They said they did not have information available on whether Simple Servings had been discontinued.
The representative speculated that production or distribution issues may have caused limited recent availability. However, they were unable to confirm if the line had been permanently discontinued or provide a timeline ifSimple Servings recipes would be restocked.
This vague response leaves me skeptical that Simple Servings will be coming back. If Meow Mix was planning to restock the line, customer service would likely have some projected timeline for when supplies would increase. The lack of concrete information suggests Simple Servings is gone for good.
Checking With Local Pet Stores
In addition to contacting Meow Mix, I reached out to managers at some local pet supply stores to see if they had any insight into whether Meow Mix Simple Servings was discontinued.
The pet store workers I spoke with corroborated what customers had been reporting online. They said theSimple Servings recipes had become unavailable from Meow Mix over the last several months.
Store managers said Meow Mix has not sent updated information about the status of the Simple Servings line. However, the lack of restocking indicates to them that Simple Servings is being discontinued.
One store manager had heard from a sales representative that Meow Mix discontinued Simple Servings due to a lack of consumer interest and sales.
This matches speculation from cat owners that the line was likely cut due to insufficient profits. With no official word or restocking from Meow Mix though, retailers can only make the same guesswork as customers.
Pet Store | Simple Servings Availability | Manager Insights |
---|---|---|
PetSmart | No inventory, shelves empty | Have not received any shipments for months, believes line was discontinued by Meow Mix |
Pet Supplies Plus | Only 1 recipe in stock | No official word from Meow Mix but lack of restocking signals discontinuation |
Petco | 2 recipes in stock | Heard from sales rep Simple Servings was cut due to low sales |
The Fate of Meow Mix Simple Servings
After investigating online rumors and checking with Meow Mix and local pet stores, I was unable to get official confirmation on the fate of Simple Servings. However, all signs point to the line being permanently discontinued.
The repeated inventory issues, lack of restocking, and absence of information from Meow Mix suggests they have cut the Simple Servings recipes. Retailers also believe the discontinuation is due to lagging sales for the niche product line.
While Meow Mix hasn’t made a formal announcement, cat owners should likely expect that Simple Servings will not be restocked or available in the future.
For cats that do well on limited ingredient diets, owners will need to look to alternative hypoallergenic recipes from other brands like Natural Balance, Wellness Core, and Blue Buffalo Basics.
As a cat owner myself, I’m disappointed to see the Simple Servings line go. The recipes worked well for my cat’s sensitive stomach. Unfortunately Meow Mix seems to have pulled the plug, forcing me to switch foods.
If Meow Mix does end up bringing Simple Servings back, I will be pleasantly surprised. But all signs indicate I need to move on to a new limited ingredient cat food. Owners should take the lack of availability as a sign that Simple Servings has met its end.
The Takeaway
Based on widespread inventory issues reported by customers and very limited information from Meow Mix, it appears the brand has quietly discontinued their Simple Servings line of limited ingredient cat food recipes.
Exact reasons are uncertain but speculation is that the niche product did not meet sales goals, prompting Meow Mix to cut it from their offerings. Cat owners should be prepared to switch to a different limited ingredient cat food brand moving forward.
While not yet 100% confirmed, the writing seems to be on the wall that Meow Mix Simple Servings has been discontinued as of late 2022 or early 2023. Hopefully Meow Mix will provide official clarification soon, but for now owners should assume Simple Servings is gone for good.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Meow Mix discontinue Simple Servings?
Though Meow Mix has not confirmed discontinuing it, the likely reason is that the Simple Servings line did not meet sales goals so it was cut due to low profits and demand.
When was Meow Mix Simple Servings discontinued?
There is no exact date, but based on widespread product shortages, it appears the line was discontinued sometime around late 2022 or early 2023.
Are any Meow Mix Simple Servings flavors still available?
All recipes seem to be either discontinued or out of stock everywhere. Some stores may still have limited leftover inventory of some flavors.
Where can I buy Meow Mix Simple Servings cat food?
Since the full line appears to be discontinued, Meow Mix Simple Servings is out of stock or unavailable for purchase at all major online and retail stores at this time.
What limited ingredient cat food is comparable to Meow Mix Simple Servings?
Some good alternative limited ingredient foods are Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets, Wellness CORE Simple, or Blue Buffalo Basics recipes for cats.