It’s Sunday, a day normally reserved for catching up on household chores, meeting with friends, playing with your kids or  your pets, you know, weekendy stuff.

If your like most people, you maintain a healthy balance between work and play, but not pet food executives: They use the weekends to issue recalls. Take today for example, it’s a lazy Sunday, I’m sifting through old photos and what should land in my e-Mail? A recall. Not a little one. A big ‘un.

Some recalls are pretty straight forward: Just the facts Ma’am. But then there are the recalls that make you feel like you need to wash your hands afterwords, they’re covered in an oily slime: The greasy stains left after a publicist has had his grubby little mits all over it. This recall fits neatly into the latter category, one of those recalls that leaves you feeling like you need a shower after reading it – a long, hot shower.

The following is Diamond’s recall notice (emphasis added):

Premium Edge, Diamond Naturals and 4health Dry Cat Food Formulas Recalled Due Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

Diamond Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling limited production codes of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula dry cat food, Premium Edge Senior Cat Hairball Management Formula dry cat food, Premium Edge Kitten Formula dry cat food, Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula dry cat food and 4health All Life Stages Cat Formula dry cat food. Tests conducted by the company indicated the products might have a low-level of thiamine (Vitamin B1). There have been no complaints regarding thiamine levels, or any other health issues, related to these products. In association with this voluntary recall, Diamond Pet Foods has tested all other Diamond brands for thiamine deficiency to ensure the safety of the cat food it manufactures. No other product manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods is involved in this voluntary recall.

Only product with the following Best By dates and Production Codes are included in the voluntary recall. Further distribution of these affected production codes has occurred through online sales. It is best to check the production code to determine if the product has been recalled or not.

• Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula; 18 lb. bags; Lot number: NGF0703; Best by: 10-Jul-2013
• Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula; 6 lb. bags; Lot number: NGF0802; Best by: 15-Aug-2013, 16-Aug-2013
• Premium Edge Senior; Cat Hairball Management Formula; 6 lb. & 18 lb. bags; Lot number: NGS0101; Best by: 03-Jan-2014, 04-Jan-2014
• Premium Edge Senior Cat Hairball Management Formula; 6 lb. & 18 lb. bags; Lot number: NGS0702; Best by: 10-Jul-2013
• Premium Edge Kitten Formula; 6 oz. samples, 6 lb. & 18 lb. bags; Lot number: MKT0901: Best by: 26-Sept-2013, 29-Sept-2013, 30-Sept-2013, 02-Oct-2013
• Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula; 6 oz. samples & 6 lb. bags; Lot no.: MKT090; Bets by: 30-Sept-2013
• 4health All Life Stages Cat Formula; 5 lb. and 18 lb. bags; Lot number: NGF0802; Bets by: 14-Aug-2013, 18-Aug-2013

“At Diamond Pet Foods, we have a process where we continuously test our products, and this process allowed us to find the undesired levels of thiamine in some of our cat formulas. Our food safety protocols are designed to provide safe food on a daily basis,” says Michele Evans, Ph.D., Diamond Pet Foods Executive Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance. “In the event an error occurs, we have the data to quickly alert pet owners, giving them the confidence they demand of a pet food manufacturer.”

Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact the Pet Food Information Center at 1-888-965-6131, Sunday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST. Consumers also may visit http://www.petfoodinformationcenter.com for additional information.

Cats fed product with the previously listed Production Codes and Best By dates exclusively for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is essential for cats in maintaining normal nervous system function. Symptoms of thiamine deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. In advanced cases, neurological signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, falling, circling and seizures. Pet owners should contact their veterinarians immediately if a cat is displaying any of these signs. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency typically is reversible.

In case you didn’t notice, that last paragraph, explaining what might happen to you cat or kitten after eating the thiamine deficient cat food, should have been at the beginning of the recall notice, not at the end of it. Sleazebags.