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You are here: Home / Kitty Wisdom / Meet Purina in St. Louis – Part One of Two

Meet Purina in St. Louis – Part One of Two

October 8, 2012 By: Sparkle Cat39 Comments

Welcome sign!

I was among 16 pet bloggers invited by Purina to a whirlwind event at their campus in St. Louis. Since I was unable to leave my duties in my own corporate offices, I sent my human in my place. They put her up at the Four Seasons Hotel (I think they forgot I wasn’t personally attending).

Coffee, tea - or me?

The Purina humans took awesome care of all the bloggers (and my assistant). There were digitized screens all over the offices with our blog headers and Twitter handles!

Rocki, in a rare angelic moment.

On the first day, they introduced the bloggers (and my assistant) to the company and explained its origins, beginning with William Danforth. They also introduced them to the resident cats, Rocki and Ava. These two were a little diva-ish.

She was MEAN to flat Skeezix!

Rocki pretended she was pleased to meet flat Skeezix, but then she pushed him off the table! Can you believe it?

She made the humans crawl under the table to take photos.

Ava sat in a chair under a table and when she had to pose with bloggers, she made airplane ears. Maybe they were having temper tantrums because they found out I was not attending.

Personally, I would have preferred REAL cat food!

After hearing about the company, their many, many welfare projects, and how they do their food research (the cats are treated and live like royalty, there is no invasive research or euthanizing pets, and the company only supports scientists who are equally humane), everyone got to have lunch at the Purina Culinary Center. All the food was based on pet food! Above is a tuna and aged cheddar sformato based on a Friskies flavor. The funny thing is that the chef, Amanda Hassner, used to work for the Lean Cuisine brand — and my human eats their food all the time!

I say stand tall and catch Da Bird!

After lunch, all the bloggers (and my assistant) took a walk around the campus. It was like a park! It even had a dog park. I’m surprised they did not have a cat hotel.

I'm surprised the humans don't play hooky and hang out there all day

They did have a lake and a waterfall.

Don't they look delicious?

And the lake was full of big, yummy-looking cod! Humans could feed them, and if they did, the fish went nuts! Look at them with their mouths open, waiting for food to fall. If I had been there, I would have been waiting for one of them to jump in my mouth! Even if they were nearly as big as me.

The Fancy Feast table

After that, the bloggers (and my assistant) were taken to a big meeting room set up like an exhibition hall with all the pet brands represented!

The Purina One people confess that we are wild, untamed creatures!

At the Purina One table, my human got a huge backpack with an umbrella in it.

I like the boxes - I bet they are fun to play in!

The Friskies humans were giving away bowls.

I hope someone I know wins this!

By the way, there is still time to enter The Friskies video awards — the deadline is October 12!

My human took one back to the hotel and had it for breakfast the day she left.

There were even cupcakes! They even had cupcakes that were orange kitties, like me. The Purina humans must have been really disappointed I sent my human in my place!

Just wait ’til tomorrow, when I tell you about the second day, when everyone went to Purina Farms — there were trained kitties!

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Comments

  1. Rykerz Boyz 'n' Allie says

    October 10, 2012 at 11:42 am

    Allie: Oh Sparkle! I can only imagine how DEVASTATED they all were to discover your lowly ASSISTANT had made the trip. though I *do* believe it’s scandalous – simply SCANDALous – that they don’t have decent cat hotel accommodations so you could have attended in style.

    Reply
  2. Angie Bailey says

    October 9, 2012 at 7:28 am

    Great review!! I had a ton of fun hanging with your human and experiencing Purina. What a great trip!!

    Reply
  3. Small Town Mommy says

    October 9, 2012 at 6:32 am

    It looks like quite the event. I think the PR people are probably relieved that you didn’t attend. You are so handsome, no one would have paid any attention to their presentations. The audience would have been focused on you. Sending your human was a very considerate move.

    Reply
  4. Colehaus Cats says

    October 8, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    How exciting…for your human. What a shame you couldn’t get away from the corporate offices! Especially given they had fishies! And cupcakes! Maybe even fishie-tasting cupcakes. And stuff, oh the stuff!

    Reply
  5. Oui Oui says

    October 8, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    How cool! Those carp look really hungry, so be careful. Our mom likes the cupcakes, they are kawaii she says (Japanese for cute). Its seems only right the cats there should act like . . . cats!

    Reply
  6. The Island Cats says

    October 8, 2012 at 7:26 pm

    Wow, the Purina peoples sure have a first class place there!!

    Reply
  7. Spitty the Kitty says

    October 8, 2012 at 6:21 pm

    Wow-sccccoooooorrreeee! I hope your Human remembers all that swag is YOURS, even the Human fudz and the cupcake. That was really really rude of that Rocki to knock flat Skeezix right off the table. As if! I guess they must get to thinking they is the Kings and Queens, eh? Well, they haven’t met *US* have they now, Sparkle?!

    Reply
  8. KatzTales says

    October 8, 2012 at 5:55 pm

    We like those cupcakes too! Any left over, Sparkle?

    Reply
  9. meowmeowmans says

    October 8, 2012 at 5:45 pm

    Wow, Sparkle! That sure looks like a neat place. We’re glad your human got to go, and that she gave you such a detailed report (and pictures to share)!

    We can hardly wait to see part 2!

    Hugs!

    Reply
  10. Catherine says

    October 8, 2012 at 5:13 pm

    Dear Sparkle, That was so nice of you to send your human in your place. It looks like she was well taken care of and had a nice time.
    I just love that they made cupcake that looked like you.
    Looking forward to seeing what is coming tomorrow. Blessings dear. Catherine xo
    P.S. I haven’t forgotten about the tuna casserole. It is on my list of things to make.

    Reply
  11. Callie (a.k.a. Trouble) says

    October 8, 2012 at 4:54 pm

    Isn’t that just like humans? We do all of the work and they get the trips!

    Reply
  12. Connie says

    October 8, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    Looks like your human had a great time..

    Reply
  13. Katie Bella says

    October 8, 2012 at 4:19 pm

    Oh what a wonderful thing you did for your mom when you sent her in your stead! And may she do you proud!

    Reply
  14. Abby says

    October 8, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    Oh Sparkle
    I am so glad you were able to send your assistant.
    That looks like one cool place.
    purrs
    >^,,^<
    ✿•*¨`*•. ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥✿•*¨`*•.

    Reply
  15. Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal says

    October 8, 2012 at 2:42 pm

    WOW !
    What a great trip your assistant went on !

    P.S My dad LOVED all the Koi´s fishes in the pond/lake

    Reply
  16. CATachresis says

    October 8, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    Sparkle, it is obvious you were not there, the report lacked a certain je ne sais quoi!!???? 😉

    Reply
  17. Cathy Keisha says

    October 8, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    What the heck is a “trained kitty”? I’ve heard of trained humans. We could’ve had our way with those divas, couldn’t we, Sparkle. Heh heh.

    Reply
  18. Dash Kitten says

    October 8, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    Miss Sparkle, thank your assistant for a cool and fascinating report, we had no idea they had their own cats AND fish AND (Mum says) CUPCAKES!!!!

    Friskies looks amazing – they rock!

    Reply
  19. BeadedTail says

    October 8, 2012 at 11:31 am

    Your human did a great job taking note of everything on your behalf Sparkle! Those cupcakes are so cute! Of course, we’d rather have a fish!

    Reply
  20. Brian says

    October 8, 2012 at 11:24 am

    Rumor has it that all of the humans had a grand time, I know mine did!!!

    Reply
  21. Caren Gittleman says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:19 am

    Wow Sparkle your human did such an AMAZING job of covering this catabulous event!!! Pays to have a good camera huh? Not one that dies like my Mom has!!! MOL!!

    I think you are right that the Purina kitties were upset that you weren’t there but my Mom was soooo happy to FINALLY meet your INCREDIBLE ASSISTANT! She loved her even more in pawson!!

    FABULOUS POST!
    xoxoxo

    Reply
  22. Famous SpokesGoat Pricilla says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:07 am

    It sounds like your assistant had a very good time.

    Reply
  23. Random Felines says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:06 am

    bet they missed you – but it looks like your human had a good time

    Reply
  24. Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101.com) says

    October 8, 2012 at 9:50 am

    Awesome coverage. Wow, Purina is a class act.

    Reply
  25. mollieandalfie says

    October 8, 2012 at 9:35 am

    Wow what a fab time yor Humom must of had..Did she see Cody’s Mom there ?? xx00xx
    Mollie and Alfie

    Reply
  26. Nerissa's Life says

    October 8, 2012 at 9:17 am

    Oh Sparkle… I bet everyone WAS really disappointed not to see you in purrson. I mean… who wouldn’t be? But, I suppose, your mom would be the next best thing. Maybe next time… purrs

    Reply
  27. Tamago says

    October 8, 2012 at 8:57 am

    Wow how nice your human got to attend such nice event! I mean how lucky she is that you sent her 🙂 The campus looks really beautiful and the photo of fishies is amazing!
    These cupcakes are too cute to eat!

    Reply
  28. I HAVE CAT says

    October 8, 2012 at 8:19 am

    I was wondering who was going to get the first post up! of COURSE it’s you! Loved it! Good job giving a nice overview of our days there!
    🙂

    Reply
  29. Texas says

    October 8, 2012 at 7:22 am

    Your human was very lucky you sent her!
    Purrs

    Reply
  30. prancer pie says

    October 8, 2012 at 7:04 am

    What a pawsome trip! We can’t wait to hear more! Beautiful pics. Happy Monday, pretty Sparkle. xoxo

    Reply
  31. Toby & Leia says

    October 8, 2012 at 6:52 am

    We know they were disappointed not to see your beautiful face, Miss S., but at least your hoomin got to be at a nice place. Those pics are very pretty.

    Reply
  32. Glogirly & Katie says

    October 8, 2012 at 6:47 am

    What a COOL trip and great opportunity! I’m not quite sure why Glogirly wants to lick the computer screen…something about buttercream frosting. ; )

    Can’t wait to see and hear more!
    ; ) Katie

    Reply
  33. Simba says

    October 8, 2012 at 5:36 am

    How cool! How do *I* (my human) get and invitation? Seriously.

    Reply
  34. Hannah and Lucy says

    October 8, 2012 at 4:32 am

    Thank goodness our Mum wasn’t here as she’d have shown herself up by eating all the cakes. What a shame your human didn’t catch some of those fish and your could have had them for supper.
    Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

    Reply
  35. Marg says

    October 8, 2012 at 3:38 am

    Wow, that really is a pretty place. Those cupcakes do look yummy. Can’t wait for the second chapter. Glad you got to go. Take care.

    Reply
  36. Fuzzy Tales says

    October 8, 2012 at 3:19 am

    Wow, it looks like it was quite the event. BTW, our human’s drooling over the cupcakes, with her sugar addiction, but says they’re too lovely to eat. 🙂

    We wouldn’t want our human to be at something like that, though, because she’d be exceptionally obnoxious about all the grains in food that’s made for *obligate* carnivores. But then, no Being lives forever, no matter what s/he eats, so happy and loved and safe take precedence we think (and so does our human, bottom line).

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Help Your Favorite Shelter With This Giveaway! says:
    October 26, 2012 at 12:11 am

    […] am about to announce what will probably be my favorite giveaway of the whole year! Remember my human’s trip to the Purina campus in St. Louis? They worked 110% to let her and the other humans there know how much they appreciate pet bloggers! […]

    Reply
  2. Of Humans, Cats and Canines (but only a little of the latter) says:
    October 12, 2012 at 12:55 am

    […] of the things my human was told at last week’s Meet Purina Event was that physiologically, dogs and humans are very similar. Which makes sense — […]

    Reply
  3. Meet Purina in St. Louis – Part Two of Two says:
    October 9, 2012 at 12:29 am

    […] For Part One of this two-part series about the Meet Purina event, click here! […]

    Reply

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