Friskies teams up with cat stars for a cause

Famous felines Grumpy Cat and Nala Cat will join cat lover and WWE star Natalya Neidhart in unveiling the Friskies Create & Taste Kitchen, where cats and Friskies foods will go head-to-head in a truly unique way.
Leading #TeamSaucy and Friskies SauceSations, notorious curmudgeon Grumpy Cat will "compete" with sweet Nala Cat, who will take charge of #TeamTender and represent Friskies Grillers with Meaty Tenders. Attendees at the Friskies Create & Taste Kitchen on Thursday, August 20, 2015, at 1701 Broadway in New York City will have the opportunity to meet and take photos with Grumpy Cat and Nala Cat, interact with Neidhart, and participate in fun, cat-food themed activities to help donate up to 10,000 meals to shelter cats.
"At the Friskies Create & Taste Kitchen, we are having a lot of fun with the fact that cats have different personalities and unique food preferences and we're matching Grumpy Cat and Nala Cat's preferences against one another in a fun, light-hearted way," said Whitney Evans, assistant brand manager at Friskies. "Friskies' Grillers and SauceSations are two unique products and it makes sense that two very different cats have different preferences. That's what cats are all about!"
Friskies Create & Taste Kitchen attendees will have the chance to participate in games and activities for both teams that will trigger a donation of one Friskies meal to shelter cats, up to 10,000 meals. People outside New York can still help shelter cats by sharing whether their cat is on #TeamSaucy, like Grumpy Cat or on #TeamTender, like Nala Cat. Every use of the hashtags on Twitter and Instagram between now and August 24 will trigger a donation of one Friskies meal to shelter cats.
In addition to generating meal donations to shelter cats, Friskies has partnered with Petfinder to help showcase adoptable shelter cats at the Friskies Create & Taste Kitchen who need to find forever homes. People who attend the event on August 20 will have the opportunity to take home an adoptable cat.
Well-known cat lover Neidhart will also be in attendance to interact with fans and cats alike.
"As an owner of four cats who are all very different, I am honored to work with a brand like Friskies that truly understands cats can have distinct personalities," said Neidhart. "Participating in the Friskies Create & Taste Kitchen surrounded by Grumpy Cat and Nala Cat is a dream. And on top of that, we're having fun and working to help out shelter cats; it's just an experience I couldn't pass up!"
To build anticipation for the public opening of the Friskies Create & Taste Kitchen, the brand is offering a two-day preview of the space. On August 18 and 19, passersby can get a glimpse into the cat-controlled kitchen through peep holes in the window displays. Stop by between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on August 18 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 19 to see what the adorable shelter cats are cooking up.

Schedule

Thursday, August 20 – Doors open to the public
Open Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Celebrity appearance schedule:

• 9-11 a.m.: Nala Cat
• 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Grumpy Cat
• Noon-2 p.m.: Natalya Neidhart
• 2-3:30 p.m.: Nala Cat
• 4-5 p.m.: Nala Cat
• 5:30-7 p.m.: Grumpy Cat

 The Friskies Create & Taste Kitchen is located at 1701 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.

Merrick Pet Care, Tree House partner to feed homeless cats

Tree House Humane Society and Merrick Pet Care have announced an exclusive partnership to provide Chicago, Illinois homeless cats with quality nutrition while they’re awaiting their forever homes. Merrick is now providing Tree House with petfood for all of Tree House’s residents—formerly sick, injured, abused and neglected stray cats.

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“Tree House Humane Society is committed to ensuring the health and happiness of every pet in our adoption program,” said Dave de Funiak, Tree House’s executive director. “We are proud to provide the pets in our care with Merrick and Organix cat food during their stay and provide a foundation of health and nutrition that we hope will continue for the rest of their lives.”
As Tree House’s exclusive feeding partner, Merrick will provide all of the meals to each resident cat, including Merrick Purrfect Bistro and Organix kibble and canned food, as they begin the journey to find a new home. From their first meal at both of Tree House’s Chicago Adoption Centers (Uptown and Bucktown) until adoption day, each Tree House cat will enjoy recipes made in Merrick’s kitchens.
“Tree House has a proven record of helping pets in need and we are pleased to partner with them to feed homeless cats awaiting their forever homes,” said Greg Shearson, CEO of Merrick. “Together, we can better help cats not only survive, but thrive through feeding them more wholesome, natural and nutritious foods.”
In addition to supporting the shelter-feeding program, Merrick will help each new family kick-off a healthy at-home eating program by offering each adopter a coupon to be applied to a supply of dry/canned food for the transition to their new home.

Rachael Ray 'Shelter Cats Are Beautiful' tour to promote adoption

Daytime television host and author Rachael Ray and her petfood brand Nutrish have announced a nationwide tour to “make over” cats in various shelters with the hopes of increasing adoptions.

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In partnership with GreaterGood.org’s One Picture Saves A Life program, Rachael Ray Nutrish will take the “Shelter Cats are Beautiful” tour to 16 cities across the US and offer professional grooming and photography services to capture the full beauty and personality of cats in need of adoption. The program will also provide shelters with the necessary tips, tools and equipment to groom and capture best possible photographs of shelter pets in the future.
The program helps celebrate the launch of Rachael Ray Nutrish‘s new line of natural food for cats, which is now available in stores nationwide. Proceeds from the sale of Rachael Ray Nutrish go to help animal support organizations—which has resulted in more than US$6.5 million in donations to date.
Rachael Ray will kick off the national tour with an event in New York City on July 11. Then the “Shelter Cats are Beautiful” tour will continue throughout the summer, rolling through: Bentonville, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Antonio. 

Nestlé Purina to donate cat food, pet supplies to domestic abuse victims in New York, USA

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, Urban Resource Institute (URI) and Nestlé Purina are teaming up in support of URIPALS, an initiative in New York, New York, USA, to allow victims of domestic violence to enter shelters with their pets. Purina will donate welcome kits and educational materials for families entering URI's domestic violence shelter.
By working together, URI and Purina hope to raise awareness about the impact of abuse on the whole family, including pets, and reduce barriers to escape and recovery.
"When victims of domestic violence flee abusive situations, they are often forced to uproot their entire lives, leaving behind key belongings and supplies," said Nathaniel Fields, president of URI. "Our goal at the Urban Resource Institute is to provide survivors-including pets-with the resources and services they need to rebuild stable, secure lives. We are grateful for Purina's support of URIPALS, which will provide critical supplies to ensure that families entering shelter with their pets have the resources they need to recover together after escaping abuse."
Currently in its six-month pilot phase, URIPALS is accepting families with cats and smaller animals into its shelter, and hopes to expand the program to include dogs in December. As such, Purina's welcome kits during this phase of the program will be tailored to cats, including items such as food, toys, crates and other accessories. Purina is also donating a year's supply of food and litter to families upon leaving the shelter. In addition to these welcome kits, families will receive educational materials designed to guide them in best practices for caring for their pets.
"We are proud to support the Urban Resource Institute in its mission to provide comfort to victims of domestic abuse and their pets," said Michael Kotick, senior brand manager, Purina. "At Purina, we believe people and pets are better together, and the strong bond between pet owners and their pets can prove to be beneficial no matter what the circumstances."