Due to a national shortage in supplies, Pets at Home has warned customers it is rationing certain pet food.

The UK’s largest pet supplies retailer has sent an email to customers saying stocks of wet cat and dog food are low and they will be unable to buy multiple packs.

In the email, Pets at Home said: “Due to a widespread increase in demand for wet cat and dog food, you may have noticed your pets’ favourite products are temporarily out of stock, not only at Pets at Home, but other retailers too.

“To help feed as many pets as possible, we’re limiting all multi-pack purchases of wet food to two packs per person while we work hard to restock our shelves.

“Should you need to find an alternative food for your pet, we’ve created two handy guides on how best to change their diet.”

Shortages of certain stocks of cat and dog food are being blamed on a surge in pet ownership over the past 12 months.

Earlier this month, the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association revealed that 3.2 million households in the UK had acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic.