Purina: Nearly half of millennials are cat owners

Forget the stereotype of the pet-loving lady with a houseful of cats. Turns out many of today’s most passionate cat owners are millennials – nearly half of whom surveyed have a cat at home.
To better understand the relationship between young Americans and cats, Purina surveyed millennials in the United States (age range 18-34) in October 2015 and found:

• 88% consider themselves similar to their cat, and nearly the same number say they’re “in sync” with their cat.
• 57% consider their feline friends as important as the friends in their lives, and 2 in 5 say that owning a cat means they have a new best friend.
• 86% consider their cats to be a loyal companion, and nearly 1 in 2 say they tell their cat secrets no one else knows.

“People like cats because they are great pets – they provide comfort to their owners and with appropriate socialization they can be warm and friendly,” said Purina behaviorist Sandra Lyn. “In addition, they don’t need to be taken on walks or for bathroom breaks and they’re generally happy doing their own thing, though they do like attention and cuddling. These personality traits could be a factor as to why cats are growing in popularity among millennials – cats are a great fit for their busy lifestyles.”
Further fueling millennial enthusiasm for cat ownership is social media. Nearly 60% of millennials watch cat videos online. And – reflecting this generation’s love of sharing – half have spread cat memes online, and nearly 2 in 5 talk about their cat(s) often on social media.
Though cats seem particularly well-suited for today’s lifestyles, many of the reasons millennials love them have remained constant for millennia:
“Living alone after college, getting a cat was one of the first things on my to-do list,” said Hayley Lynes, 23, of Chicago. “I wanted the comfort of a pet but also knew I didn’t have the lifestyle to take care of a dog. I have heard so many stereotypes that cats are ‘mean’ and ‘loners,’ but my experience with my cat, Tilly, can’t be further from that – she loves to cuddle!”

Purina helps celebrate domestic violence shelter dog park

Urban Resource Institute (URI) and Nestlé Purina PetCare hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 13, 2015, to celebrate Manhattan’s first-ever dog park in a domestic violence shelter.
The new dog park is located at Urban Women’s Retreat (UWR), an emergency shelter that is part of the URIPALS (People and Animals Living Safely) program. URIPALS is the only program in New York City and one of the few nationally that allows survivors of domestic violence to live in shelter with their pets. To date, URIPALS has helped 43 families with 63 pets, including 38 cats, 18 dogs, and a range of smaller animals, such as reptiles and fish, escape domestic violence.
Sponsored by Purina, which funded the design and construction of the dog park, the Purina Pet Haven will provide survivors of domestic violence and their families (including pets) with a safe and calming retreat in which to heal together while in shelter. The opening of the new dog park builds upon Purina’s previous support of the URIPALS program. In spring 2014, Purina also sponsored the creation of the Purina Play Haven at URI’s Safe Haven shelter in Brooklyn. Since its opening, the park at Safe Haven has served as a vital component in the healing process for a number of families and their pets.
“Through the URIPALS program, we have witnessed first-hand how important it is for survivors to have their beloved pets by their side while they heal,” said Nathaniel Fields, president and CEO of URI. “From early on in the URIPALS program, Purina has been committed to supporting survivors of domestic violence and their pets. We know that the new dog park will play an integral part in helping our clients heal, and for that we are extremely grateful to Purina.”
URI and Purina’s collaboration in support of URIPALS brings together one of New York City’s largest domestic violence service providers and a leader in the pet care industry around the closely linked issues of animal abuse and domestic violence. United by the belief that people and pets are better together, URI and Purina are helping reduce barriers to safety for families with pets in domestic violence situations and hope to continue raising awareness about the impact of abuse on the whole family — including pets.
“For most pet owners, the bond with their pet is incredibly strong, and for people in abusive relationships their pet can be an important source of comfort,” said Dr. Kurt Venator, Purina veterinarian. “Purina is very proud to support the Urban Resource Institute in its efforts to keep families and their pets together during this time of healing.”
As part of its support for the URIPALS program, Purina is also donating Purina ONE brand dog food, Purina Cat Chow brand cat food, along with other dog treats and cat litter. In addition, Purina is working with URI to provide supplies for welcome kits for families bringing pets to Urban Women’s Retreat, including pet travel carriers, safety gates, pet beds, pet feeding and watering bowls, cat scratching posts, leashes and pet toys.
 At the ribbon-cutting, Manhattan Deputy Borough President Aldrin Bonilla and New York State Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal issued proclamations celebrating the URIPALS program and its impact on survivors of domestic violence and their pets in New York City.

Purina searching for men who love cats

Purina Pro Plan is shredding perceptions of traditional cat food and who typically loves cats by launching the Purina Pro Plan #MenAndCatsContest to celebrate the new Savor Shredded Blend.
Purina Pro Plan is working to change the perception of dry cat food by introducing the new Savor Shredded Blend, an all-new mealtime experience that combines crunchy kibble and tender meaty shreds to provide extraordinary nutrition and exceptional taste.
In order to change how people think of who typically loves cats, Purina Pro Plan is partnering with proud cat guy and "Devious Maids" actor Gilles Marini to search for extraordinary men who own and love cats. We are asking that people nominate the cat guys in their lives or that those extraordinary cat guys out there enter themselves by sharing a photo of them with their cat on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #MenAndCatsContest and tagging @ProPlanCat from August 31-September 14. Those men could be featured in the 2016 Purina Pro Plan Extraordinary Men and Cats Calendar and win a year's supply of Savor Shredded Blend.
"I'm a man who loves cats and I'm proud of it. I am extremely honored to work with Purina Pro Plan to launch Savor Shredded Blend and show the world that there are lots of guys out there who love their cats," Marini said. "Since the first day we brought her home, our cat Penelope has become a very important member of our family and I can't wait for everyone to see all of the amazing pictures of my fellow cat guys and their cats."
The 2016 Purina Pro Plan Extraordinary Men and Cats Calendar will be donated to Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue, a network supporting hundreds of small rescue groups nationwide. Group members will be able to sell the calendars at rescue events to raise money for their organizations and promote pet adoptions.
"We're very excited to introduce Savor Shredded Blend as a whole new way to look at dry cat food, and to celebrate that, Purina Pro Plan wants to change the way people look at who typically loves cats, too," said Aaron Williams, brand manager for Purina Pro Plan. "We've seen so many fun photos of Gilles with his cat Penelope and having a proud cat ambassador like him on our team is the perfect opening for men to not only change the perception of who cat lovers are, but to also help rescue organizations across the country find loving, permanent homes for cats just like theirs."
The Purina Pro Plan #MenAndCatsContest kicks off on August 31, 2015, and ends September 14, 2015. Judging will be based on the following criteria:

• 50% relevance (image captures the unique relationship between man and cat)
• 25% composition (image layout is composed and cropped with balance)
• 25% originality (image content is unique and creative)

 For entry details and eligibility requirements and to learn more about Savor Shredded Blend, visit Men who love cats No purchase necessary.

Purina offers tips to keep pets at healthy weight

Ninety-five percent of pet owners think their overweight or obese dog was a normal body condition, according to Purina. With summer barbecues on the horizon, “people food” may tempt your dog and he could eat more than just his daily kibble.
Here are some stats about pet obesity:

• In 2014, 43.8 million dogs were overweight
• 42 percent of owners said they didn’t know what a “healthy weight” was for their pet
• Dog owners can end up feeding about 37-80% more food than their dog needs

 Just Right by Purina has created an infographic that shares some fun ideas for how pet owners can prevent pet obesity and keep their pets healthy and happy this summer.

Blue Buffalo files counterclaims against Purina

Blue Buffalo issued a letter to its customers on its website on May 19, 2015, regarding its ongoing battle with Nestle Purina over the labeling of ingredients in its products.
“Given all the misinformation out there, we would like to give you a quick update on the legal front. As we had informed you on May 9th, today we formally brought claims of breach of contract, fraud and unjust enrichment against the parties responsible for the intentional mislabeling of certain ingredients that were shipped to us and other well-known pet food brands through May 2014,” the statement said. “Separately, we informed the court in the case involving consumers’ claims in this matter that we would also name the same parties as defendants in that case, so they can be held fully accountable for their actions.”
Blue Buffalo’s amended answer to Purina’s lawsuit includes counterclaims against Purina and its public relations agencies and new claims against the suppliers of mislabeled ingredients.
“We encourage all of you who are interested to read our lawsuit and learn more about Nestlé Purina’s smear campaign attacking our integrity, and the supplier fraud that impacted the industry until May of last year,” the statement said.
On May 6, 2014, Purina filed a lawsuit against Blue Buffalo for false advertising after testing revealed the presence of poultry byproduct meal in some of Blue Buffalo’s top-selling pet foods. On May 6, 2015, Blue Buffalo acknowledged in court that a “substantial” and “material” portion of Blue Buffalo pet food sold to consumers contained poultry byproduct meal, despite advertising claims to the contrary.

Blue Buffalo admits to byproduct meal, Purina responds

Purina has issued a response to Blue Buffalo’s admission in court on May 6, 2015, that a “substantial” and “material” portion of Blue Buffalo pet food sold to consumers contained poultry byproduct meal, despite advertising claims to the contrary.
Blue Buffalo has asked the court for additional time to file an amended complaint in the litigation, naming its ingredient suppliers as defendants.
“Despite this admission, Blue Buffalo still has not informed consumers of the presence of poultry byproduct meal in Blue Buffalo pet food, refuses to accept responsibility for the product it sold and is instead blaming its suppliers,” said Keith Schopp, a spokesperson for Nestlé Purina Petcare.
On May 6, 2014, Purina filed a lawsuit against Blue Buffalo for false advertising after testing revealed the presence of poultry byproduct meal in some of Blue Buffalo’s top-selling pet foods. Blue Buffalo’s CEO responded by immediately claiming the testing was “voodoo science” and assuring its customers that “Blue Buffalo does not use chicken byproduct meal or poultry byproduct meal in any of our products.”
Blue Buffalo has called into question Purina’s independent testing by Windsor Laboratories, saying that the research “does not even come close to meeting the basic requirements of a scientific test, let alone being something to use as support to make their outrageous, malicious allegations.” The lab, said Blue Buffalo, is actually a single individual with “dubious scientific credentials” who works out of a home lab. The analysis was performed “with a rudimentary microscope under less than optimal conditions with questionable methods and record keeping.” The company has conducted a report on the research, via Vinayak P. Dravid, PhD.
According to Purina, “Windsor Laboratories is a well-recognized laboratory specializing in microscopic analysis for the agricultural and other related industries, including the pet food industry. Its owner, Dr. James V. Makowski, is the author and lead editor of Microscopic Analysis of Agricultural Products (4th Edition, 2010), a training resource on the subject of microscopic analysis of agricultural products used by the US Food and Drug Administration.”
According to Schopp, “Only when faced with undeniable evidence from the lawsuit has Blue Buffalo admitted the truth to the court: a ‘substantial’ and ‘material’ portion of Blue Buffalo pet food sold over the past several years contained poultry byproduct meal. It is unclear to us if or when this practice stopped, or whether any Blue Buffalo pet food containing byproduct meal is still on store shelves.”
According to petfoodindustry.com’s Top Pet Food Companies Database, Blue Buffalo made US$750 million in sales in 2013.
“Through a $50 million annual advertising campaign that flooded airwaves and pet food aisles alike, Blue Buffalo told consumers over and over, emphatically and without qualification, that its products never contain poultry byproduct meal,” said Schopp.
“Blue Buffalo now claims it had no way of knowing the bags contained byproduct meal. A manufacturer is responsible for knowing what’s in its product, and a simple audit of its supply chain would have revealed what we discovered after reviewing the documentation,” Schopp said. “Blue Buffalo owes consumers an apology for all the false statements, false labels and false advertising. More than this, it is time for Blue Buffalo to be transparent with the public and prove to their ‘pet parents’ that no mislabeled product remains on shelves.”

Purina-sponsored cat cafe opens for one weekend in New York

The Purina-sponsored Cat Café opened on April 24 in Manhattan, and cat lovers enjoyed complimentary "cat'achino" cappuccinos, discussed cat health and learned about cat adoption with 16 cats in attendance. Purina One hosted the café as a pop-up shop, lasting only through April 27, but organizers said they hope the event encourages cat health awareness and adoption.

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"The goal of what we're doing here is try to start a conversation about cat health," said Niky Roberts with Purina One. "What better place to do that then over a cup of coffee with some friends in a café? We thought if people are going to be talking about cat health, you should be among your subjects and have cats all around you.
"It's a great thing because dogs are very publicly social—you can take your dog out and go for a walk, talk to people at the dog park—but that's not a luxury most cat owners have, so this is a place you can talk with like-minded people about cat health and be among cats."
The café featured a "Cat Chat" speaker series with discussions led by a cat behaviorist, a veterinarian and other cat experts. Purina One partnered with North Shore Animal League, a large, no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization based in Long Island, New York, to bring 16 specially chosen cats from around the country to hang out at the café.

Petfood maker Purina to donate to Illinois, USA, tornado victims

Petfood maker Purina announced on November 21 that it plans to donate US$10,000 to assist cats and dogs affected by the recent tornadoes in Illinois, USA.
The donation will help animal welfare agencies in Peoria County stock a distribution center where displaced families can obtain free pet supplies, such as litter boxes and scoopers, grooming supplies, cat carriers and dog crates, Purina spokesman, Bill Salzman said. The funds will also cover the cost of veterinary care for injured pets.
Purina is also "assessing the opportunity for a petfood and litter donation and will proceed accordingly, as soon as we receive word that the local pet welfare organizations are fully prepared to handle the donations," Salzman said. "It often takes several days for disaster relief workers to be able to accurately assess the needs of the situation and set up appropriate intake facilities."
Tornadoes that ripped through central Illinois on November 17 destroyed hundreds of homes, leaving many pet owners without ample supplies for their animals.

Purina ONE, GOOD celebrate pets as everyday heroes with new contest

Purina ONE and GOOD are teaming up to celebrate the ways that pets are everyday heroes with the new "Hero Pets to the Rescue" photo and video challenge.
Now through November 11, pet owners can submit a photo or video and a true story about how their cat or dog has helped someone in need. A panel of judges will review applications and select 15 hero pets to move on as finalists for the GOOD community to vote on from December 2-9. 
The hero pet with the most votes from the GOOD community will receive a year's supply of Purina ONE brand petfood, a featured post on Good.is to share their pet's story and a US$5,000 donation made to the winner's choice of one of the following four pet service nonprofit organizations: Pet Partners, Support Dogs Inc., New Horizons Service Dogs Inc., or Working Dogs for Conservation.
"At Purina ONE, we're always striving to highlight the positive difference pets make in everyone's life," said Christina Schneider, assistant brand manager, Purina ONE. "Whether in small ways or in bigger ways, all cats and dogs are heroes to the people who love them. We look forward to seeing the inspiring stories that pet owners submit to the 'Hero Pets to the Rescue' Challenge."

Purina Picturing Pets Challenge highlights how pets change lives

Purina ONE and GOOD have teamed up to launch the Purina Picturing Pets Challenge, highlighting how pets inspire and change lives. The competition aims to change misleading perceptions that surround pet shelters to encourage adoption.
Through August 14, proud owners can go online and share an inspiring story that celebrates the simple, everyday things that pets do to make the world a better place. One winner will be selected to be featured on good.is and win a year's supply of Purina ONE brand petfood, as well as have a pet photo shoot with photographer Nanette Martin at a shelter. The winner will also choose one of four pet shelters to receive a US$1,500 on their behalf.  Voters will select a winner, who will be announced around October 1. 
"Every pet picture tells an important story, and every pet deserves the chance to tell their story and change someone's life. With the rising number of homeless pets worldwide, we are proud to partner with GOOD to celebrate the difference that shelter pets have made in people's lives and showcase their beauty," said Christina Schneider, assistant brand manager, Purina ONE.

RECALL: Purina recalls Waggin' Train, Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky treats

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company's wholly owned subsidiary Waggin' Train LLC is voluntarily recalling its Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch brand dog treats sold throughout the United States until further notice. The New York, USA, Department of Agriculture notified the company that testing found trace amounts of antibiotic residue in samples of Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky treat products.
According to the company, the antibiotics found in the chicken jerky treats are approved for use in poultry in China and other major countries, but are not among the antibiotics approved for use when raising poultry in the US.
"All of us at Waggin' Train care deeply about pets and their owners, and the quality of our products is of the utmost importance," said Nina Leigh Krueger, president, Waggin' Train LLC. "Waggin' Train has served millions of pets and their owners very well. In the final analysis, our company and our loyal consumers must have total confidence in the products we sell and feed our pets. Once we understand and determine how to comply with the technicalities of different regulatory frameworks, we will work with all appropriate parties to define the best way to supply the market."
For a product refund or more information, please call the company's Office of Consumer Affairs at +1.800.982.0704 or visit www.waggintrainbrand.com.

Purina Mills launches new small animal food, treat line

Purina Mills LLC is launching a new line of small animal food, Purina Little Wonders Food and Purina Small Animals Treats, in select Walmart stores.
These specially formulated diets for gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits provide small animals with wholesome ingredients, like seeds, nuts, vegetables and fruits.
Products available include Purina Little Wonders Guinea Pig Diet in 4 lbs.; Purina Little Wonders Rabbit Diet in 4 lbs.; Purina Little Wonders Gerbil and Hamster Diet in 2 lbs.; Purina Apple-Flavored Flips; and Purina Gourmet Bites with Tasty Vegetables. Purina Apple-Flavored Flips and Purina Gourmet Bites with Tasty Vegetables are treats formulated for a variety of small animals including gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats and mice.
“Small animals need the recommended amount of vitamins and nutrients that will fuel their energy and support their overall health, just like the rest of the family,” said Dr. Mikelle Roeder, a nutritionist with Land O’ Lakes Purina Feed. “Purina Little Wonders Food and Purina Small Animals Treats are a balanced mix of fun, delicious food that you will enjoy sharing with your critters combined with the nutrition needed to help them live a long healthy life.”

Pet food study promotes benefits of dog ownership to families

Nestle Purina Dog Chow brand dog food commissioned a study of pet owners that revealed the many positive perceptions of pet ownership and its effects on families. Along with the survey, Purina Dog Chow brand is partnering with husband-and-wife country music duo, Thompson Square, to share the joys of pet ownership and donate funds to help a nonprofit organization that trains service dogs for veterans.


According to the Family Impact Study, dog owners said their dogs teach them responsibility, are regarded as good listeners and provide unconditional love.
"We partnered with Purina Dog Chow because we are a proud dog family," said Shawna Thompson. "We couldn't think of a better way to join the community of dog owners, knowing how much a dog would bring to our lives in every situation, from being on a cross-country music tour, to simply spending time at home with family." 


Dog lovers can visit the company's Facebook page and access a new tab called "Dog Families Know," a Facebook community of dog lovers who can share their own stories, photos and videos. From now until July 31, a new topic will be proposed each week that dog families can relate to, and for each unique story, photo or video added to the virtual community board, Purina Dog Chow brand will donate US$1, up to US$25,000, to Patriot Rovers Inc. to help support its mission to "Save Dogs, Help Soldiers and Honor Heroes."  

Purina Cat Chow brand launches cat story contest for cash prizes

Purina Cat Chow is hosting the "Purina Cat Chow Real Stories Project Contest," a nationwide search to find, showcase and celebrate cat stories that highlight the special relationship between cat people and their cats with a cash prize reward for the grand-prize winners
From now until July 31, pet owners can submit their cat relationship stories at www.yourcatstory.com, and five grand-prize winners will each receive a US$5,000 cash prize, a one year supply of Purina Cat Chow brand cat food for one cat, and have their cat relationship story told through a Purina Cat Chow brand online video, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. 
To enter, cat owners should complete an online entry form and select a theme that best describes their story from the following categories: My First Cat, Why I'm a Cat Person, Forever a Cat Family, How We Found Each Other, Generations of Care, Always There for Me, and Memories. Along with the brief essay story, cat owners may also include an optional photo or video of up to two minutes.
Entries will be evaluated based on originality in describing your special relationship with your cat, high-quality storytelling in an essay and/or photo or video, and effectively demonstrating the Purina Cat Chow brand's belief of "always there for you." A panel of judges will select 10 finalists and consumers will vote online for the winners. Winners will be announced on October 1. In addition to the grand-prize winners, Purina Cat Chow will also reward five runners-up with a US$1,000 cash prize and a one-year supply of Purina Cat Chow cat food for one cat, and 40 more stories will receive honorable mention and a US$100 gift card. 

Purina Mills celebrates Small Animals month in June

Purina Mills LLC is celebrating the first Small Animals Awareness Month throughout June, and invites small animal owners to share stories and photos on the company's Facebook page.
From June 4-30, consumers will also receive a US$2 off coupon for any Purina Small Animals Garden Recipe food and can be redeemed at US PetSmart stores.
“Purina loves animals of all sizes, but for the month of June we’re taking special notice of the littlest family members – gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats and mice,” said Gabriela Bonadonna, senior marketing manager for Purina Mills. “Small pets can bring such joy to children, helping to teach them responsibility, providing comfort and becoming an amusing companion. We are excited to take this month to celebrate the contributions of our furry friends.”

Purina launches small animal treats in PetSmart stores

Pet food maker Purina recently launched two new lines of food and treats for small animals, available in US PetSmart stores. 
The new products, Purina Garden Recipe and Purina Small Animals, are specially formulated diets for gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats and mice, Purina says, made from ingredients like seeds, nuts, vegetables and fruits. Products include Purina Garden Recipe Rabbit Diet, Purina Garden Recipe Rat and Mouse Diet, Purina Garden Recipe Guinea Pig Diet, Purina Garden Recipe Gerbil and Hamster Diet, Purina Apple-Flavored Flips, Purina Gourmet Bites with Tasty Vegetables, and Purina Treat Sticks varieties for guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits.
"All pets, no matter how small, quickly become cherished family members,” said Gabriela Bonadonna, senior marketing manager for Land O’Lakes Purina Feed. “With years of experience feeding animals large and small, people have trusted Purina to provide quality products backed by more than a century of scientific research and an abiding passion for the health and well-being of animals of all sizes. With the launch of Purina Small Animals, we can be sure that even the smallest family members are getting the nutrition they need, the variety they love, and treats that taste good and satisfy.”

Purina One pet food launches QR code, Facebook promotions to feed pets

Purina One pet food brand launched two new Shelter Pet Program initiatives, one in which QR codes will appear on pet food packaging and another one the Purina One Facebook page.
The company will now include QR code stickers on the front of its Purina One dry cat food packages and will donate US$1.00 to feed shelter pets, up to US$30,000, for every person who scans the QR code with their smartphone. Additionally, Purina One's Facebook page is hosting "Bowl-by-Bowl," which allows users to take simple, four-question quizzes that challenge negative perceptions of shelter pets and aims to inspire pet adoption. For each completed quiz, Purina One will donate one bowl of food to a shelter in need.
"Purina One is dedicated to helping shelter cats and dogs," said Lisa Luedde, brand manager, Purina One brand petfood. "We believe that the right nutrition can make a world of difference in a shelter pet's life, so we've made it easy for people to help. Scanning a QR code and taking a short quiz is all it takes to help us champion shelter pets."

Purina Dog Chow launches donation campaign for Facebook page 'likes'

Purina Dog Chow brand dog food created a Facebook page to celebrate the launch of Paramount Pictures upcoming film, The Adventures of Tintin, and will make a monetary donation to three animal organizations for every consumer who "likes" the new page. 

For each consumer who "likes" the Purina Dog Chow Facebook page, the brand will donate US$1, up to US$150,000, to be split equally between three service and therapy dog organizations featured on the page. Purina will donate an additional US$1 for each friend who visits the promotion page by clicking on the link in a shared Facebook message.

The program will run through January 3, 2012. 

Purina petfood launches iPad app for cats

Purina, in promotion of its Friskies food for cats, launched a range of Apple iPad application games for cats.
Purina's iPad app games include Cat-Fishing, Tasty Treasure Hunt and Party Mix-Up. In the games, cats can chase and paw at the bright colored moving objects, like fish and mice, on the screen. The iPad's touchscreen responds to the cat's paw just as it does a human's hand.

Purina launches search for 'Purina Cat Chow Correspondent'

Purina has launched a search for the "Purina Cat Chow Correspondent" as part of a plan to connect with cat owners all over the US.
The person chosen for the role will travel the country and connect with fellow cat owners about how they nurture well-being in their cats. The correspondent will also report on cat-interest stories and attend pet industry events. 
Applications for the one-year position with Purina will be accepted until March 28, 2011. There will also be five casting calls at various PetSmart stores throughout the country.