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Blue Buffalo and Petco have raised more than US$2.4 million in 2014 for pet cancer research. The partnership, which began in 2010, has raised more than US$7 million total so far. This year, Blue Buffalo donated US$1 to go to pet cancer research for every bag of Blue dog or cat food sold during the month of May at any of the more than 1,300 Petcos nationwide. Additionally, Petco customers were asked to make a donation at the cash register or online.
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Money raised will fund efforts like the Denver, Colorado-based Morris Animal Foundation’s 5-5-5 Initiative, which will conduct five annual clinical trials on osteosarcoma, the most common form of bone cancer in dogs. Additional money will be distributed to universities and clinics across the US that are conducting research on the causes, prevention and treatment of canine and feline cancer, as well as to organizations that are dedicated to helping families in need cover the cost of pet cancer treatments.
Whole Foods has partnered with vendor American Tuna to create a new sustainable petfood line from red meat tuna portions.
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American Tuna’s brand, also called American Tuna, is a line of sustainably fished tuna for human consumption and is sold in Whole Foods Markets. "Whole Foods wanted zero-food waste,” said Natalie Webster, a member of one of six fishing families that founded American Tuna, "so we came up with Deck Hand [cat food] and Whole Foods thought it was a great idea.” Deck Hand uses the red meat portion of the company's albacore and skipjack tunas left over from the processing of the human food Pole & Line brand.
In addition, any leftover tuna parts, not used for cat or human-grade food, become fish and bone meal for animal feed and no food waste is generated, as per Whole Foods’ wishes. Whole Foods began carrying Deck Hand Premium Cat Food and the human line Pole & Line in May 2014. Deck Hand comes in single 3- and 5-ounce cans and in a 3-ounce can three-pack running US$1.99. Singly, 3-ounce cans are US$0.69 and the 5-ounce cans are US$0.89.
Royal Canin conducted a New Zealand-wide survey asking cat owners to help shed light on the relationship they have with their pets. The survey uncovered some commonly held myths, as well as revealing insights into the eating, sleeping and other daily habits of pet cats, according to the company.
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Royal Canin Veterinary Technical Consultant Mark Edwards said that while New Zealanders really do care a lot for their cats, with almost half of owners thinking about their cats’ level of happiness on a weekly basis, there were some common misconceptions around cats, especially when it comes to what to feed them. Some key survey findings included:
- 69% of New Zealand cat owners surveyed consider flavor to be the most important factor when buying food for cats
- 90% of cat owners don’t consider their cat’s lifestyle when selecting food
- 94% of cat owners surveyed said breed isn’t an important factor when choosing a diet
"While cat owners’ hearts are in the right place, cats have less than 500 taste buds, as opposed to 10,000 in humans, so while the taste of food is important to humans, it’s just not the case for cats," said Edwards. The survey results also revealed that 49% of New Zealand’s multiple cat owners fed their cats the same food because it’s easier; however, Edwards said that this approach could be detrimental to the health of pets. "Pet food companies like ours have been producing tailor-made products for pets for decades, as it is a well-researched fact that the lifestyle, breed, age, neutering status and health of cats should determine what they are fed," he said.
- 58% of New Zealand cat owners surveyed don’t measure the portion of food they serve their cat for each meal
- Over half of owners believe a cat tends to be overweight due to not being fed the right type of food
- 23% of cat owners surveyed said they make sure their cat gets exercise on a daily basis
When it comes to thinking about the behaviors of pet cats, 76% of New Zealand's cat owners think their cats spend most of their time eating. While some cats can sleep for 15–18 hours a day, other cats have a natural tendency to be more social and spend a great deal of their time playing—and if they get the chance, socializing either with their owners or other cats. Other insights uncovered in the survey around people’s perception of cat behavior include:
- On a daily basis, 88% of cat owners are most likely to pet their cats
- On average, New Zealand cat owners believe their cats are sleeping 14.51 hours in a typical 24-hour period
- Almost all owners think their cats spend the most time sleeping during the day
- On average, New Zealand cat owners believe their cats are snacking/nibbling 4.07 times a day
"Our cats are complex creatures, and are often considered the heart of the family home," said Edwards. "We hope the results of this survey, and by looking into what our cats get up to on a daily basis when no one’s home, helps to shed light on the curious life of our cats so people can be sure they get the optional conditions for health, growth, development and contentment."
Nature's Variety, an independent natural pet food company, and PetSmart have announced that the company's two petfood brands will begin selling at the specialty pet retailer.
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"Pet parents are seeking natural diets that give their pets the nutrition nature intended," said Matt McAdam, PetSmart's executive vice president of merchandising and real estate. "Nature's Variety strengthens our natural selection and gives pet parents the variety of wholesome foods they desire. PetSmart is committed to meeting the evolving needs and preferences of our pet parents who deeply care about the health and well-being of their pets."
Nature's Variety produces petfood through two brands—Instinct, a raw petfood brand; and Prairie, a balanced holistic line of food. Instinct dog and cat foods include grain-free and gluten-free formulas, and come in a variety of forms, including kibble, can, raw frozen, freeze dried raw and treats. Prairie dog foods are available in kibble, cans and treats in an assortment of proteins.
PetSmart began selling both lines on June 9, 2014, in the US and began selling both brands in Canada in late May. In addition, PetSmart will carry Instinct Raw frozen diets in more than 575 stores throughout the US and Canada.
"Nature's Variety is committed to providing pet parents with superior quality petfood and giving them more options to incorporate raw into their pet's diet," said Reed Howlett, CEO of Nature's Variety. "We are extremely proud of this partnership with PetSmart. By expanding our distribution we are able to give more households access to the natural, holistic diets they are seeking for their pets."
Three international guests from the Brazilian Association of the Industry of Products for Pets (Abinpet) took part in a business program in Brazil in the Copa do Mundo (World Cup) Project, conducted by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brazil).The program was held June 9–13, 2014, with four acting pillars: Industry presentation, visits to retail stores and factories, and business roundtables.
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In the first meeting motivated by the World Cup, Abinpet received a Costa Rican company interested in veterinary and pet care products; Miguel Mendes de Leon, editor of Pets International Magazine (Netherlands); and Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry Magazine (US). "We work for guests to arrive in Brazil with a consistent schedule, focused on knowing the domestic pet product," said José Edson Galvão de França, CEO of Abinpet. "With this, we hope to generate business and strengthen the image of Brazil as an exporter of high quality products for pets."
This was the third international action of Pet Brasil Project in 2014. In March, the organization promoted a technical-commercial mission that took 12 Brazilian businessmen from the pet industry to the US. During the visit, the professionals could monitor the Global Pet Expo, one of the largest trade shows in the country, and were in contact with major retailers of the American pet industry. In May, a pavilion of Brazilian companies in Interzoo, a trade show held in Germany, was made possible.
Champion Petfoods has partnered with Gray Construction to expand its production, and the design-build firm will construct Champion's third kitchen, assuming responsibility for the design and construction of the new custom-fitted kitchens.
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"We are very proud to invest in Kentucky's people and agriculture," said Frank Burdzy, president and CEO of Champion. "Our new custom-fitted kitchens will advance our biologically appropriate and fresh regional ingredient foods. With their rich family heritage and food experience, Gray is the perfect partner."
Hill's Pet Nutrition and its brand Science Diet offer 10 Week Turnaround, a social community for pet owners who want to "bond with their pet through a healthy, active lifestyle," according to organizers. By joining and participating, pet owners will receive access to Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight, and the chance to win part of over US$15,000 in prizes, plus free food for a year to one dog and one cat.
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Other benefits of the program include bi-weekly gift card giveaways for participating advocates, exclusive access to Hill's content including launches, infographics and more, and recognition for top advocate content across Hill's social channels.
