Last week I had a super fun adventure. Purina ONE asked me to come down to their headquarters and learn about the True Nature of Cats program.
Today I want to share with you some of the things I learned and some pictures from my day. Be sure to stop by again tomorrow for a huge giveaway that any cat lover would be sure to enjoy!
I live near St. Louis so I drove in daily but I have never been in the building that occupies the Purina headquarters. It is amazing! These huge banners hang from the ceiling. I remember telling someone that if I could see pets all day, I would be a much happier person in my job. Apparently, there are actual pets in the buildings too because employees can bring their pets!
We spent some time learning about what the True Nature of Cats is all about. The goal is “To make the world a better place, one pet at a time”. I just love that!
We learned a bit of history… when we think about cats, we have to think about how long humans and cats have cohabited. Well, it has been about 9000 years. While the breeding of dogs has changed a lot, cats are basically the same. Yeah, there are some new hairless breeds and some others, but overall, cats haven’t changed much over the years. So, Purina ONE experts set out to observe the African Wildcat in its natural habitat… they went to South Africa! Through studying the African Wildcat, Purina ONE is able to help us understand our beloved pets and give them what they need.
What they learned is that the African Wildcat does not suffer from the same problems our domestic kitties do; they have no UTI, obesity, or dehydration. They get everything they need from the environment they are in; they live in the environment they evolved from. There are a few things they found that are common about the African Wildcat and our pets…
- They like to see without being seen… they need places to hide
- They like elevated views
- They love the hunt. They are built to do this; their brains are wired for it. They need it!
- They hide and pounce
- They bat and play
- They like being social and are more social after eating
We visited the True Nature of Cats space in the building. Oh my gosh. It was so cool! There are 3 distinct enriching lifestyles that the space talks about. Awaken is for sedentary cats who have weight problems and UTIs. Foster is to give active cats and outlet for their energy which may be destructive. Nurture is for kittens. There was also a DIY space that employees can make blankets or hidey boxes for shelter kitties. What the space is really is a creative space for meetings but it fosters conversations about cats and can enrichment. They even have iPads placed around the room with information to get visitors to the area more involved.
Here is a video that Purina ONE provided me with more information about this space…
Here are some pictures from the area…
I even had a chance to make a blanket for a shelter kitty!
After our fun in this area, we were taken on a tour of the grounds! It is beautiful. I can only imagine how nice it is when the flowers are blooming and trees are green again. We had just had 12 inches of snow in St. Louis the weekend before so the ground still had some remaining snow. It was a beautiful day though to take a walk outside.
We spent the rest of the afternoon having some delicious lunch and having a Q&A with the experts. We even had some resident kitties there to keep us company.
I am so excited to be able to utilize the vast knowledge of the experts at Purina over the next 4 weeks! What am I talking about? Well, starting tomorrow, you will see ToBeThode take the True Nature of Cats journey. I will be making changes in the lives of my kitties to help them be more like the African Wildcat… and to live their lives as happily as they can.
Be sure to stick around… and remember, tomorrow brings a big giveaway! There are over $150 worth of prizes to be won for a special cat lover!
Disclosure: Purina ONE provided ToBeThode with a meals and a stipend for travel in order to participate in this program. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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