Bayer's Advantage® II for Cats Reveals "America's Chattiest Cat!"

SHAWNEE, Kan., Dec. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer HealthCare LLC Animal Health division's Advantage^® II for cats' Chatty Cat Challenge gave cat owners across America the chance to tell the world what their cats would say keep them healthy and happy. And the winner is…String Bean, a female, black short-haired cat who hails from Berkeley, California, where she lives with her owner, Shelly Mandel.

Cat got your tongue? Well, not String Bean, who let the cat out of the bag in her entry about how well her owner treats her. "She's actually pretty great, serves a mean meal, knows just where on my belly and behind my ear to scratch, and brings home all the best toy mice," wrote String Bean. See String Bean's entry for yourself at www.chattycatchallenge.com, where you can also check out all the entries and learn how two of the keys to caring for your cat are regular veterinary care and year-round use of a monthly flea preventive.

When asked what the win meant to her, String Bean didn't hesitate to say, "Meow, meow meow meow, meow meow!"

In addition to being proclaimed "America's Chattiest Cat," String Bean will receive a three-year supply of Advantage^® II for cats to kill fleas through contact, a premium cat carrier to travel to the vet in style, and an iPad™ mini to watch the latest viral cat videos. According to Mandel, String Bean will have to wait in line to make good use of these prizes – particularly the iPad™ mini – since she is one of four felines in the household! Mandel, who volunteers with a local nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting feral cats, notes String Bean, herself, is a rescued feral cat who quickly became accustomed to the good life!

"The Chatty Cat Challenge judges found it challenging to pick a top cat from the Top 10 chosen by America's cat-loving public," said Cristiano von Simson, DVM, MBA, director of Veterinary Technical Services at Bayer HealthCare Animal Health division, North America. "But String Bean's story captured our hearts, which is why she earned the title of Bayer Advantage^® II for cats' Chatty Cat Challenge champion."

Dr. von Simson was part of a three-member panel of cat-savvy judges that included: Ilona Rodan, DVM, DAVBP, ABVP (Feline), former president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP); and Abbie Moore, executive director of Adopt-a-Pet.com.

String Bean's Full Winning Entry
"Hey – that's me, peering through the front door mail slot for my sweet human to come home and play with me. OF course, I have to indulge our other felines as they too love our human. She's actually pretty great – serves a mean meal, knows just where on my belly and behind my ear to scratch and nibble, and brings home all the best toy mice, catnip and ping pong balls to chase and bat around. She even built two outdoor enclosures for us to enjoy the sights and smells outdoors while safely enclosed in a cool space with benches, scratching posts and even waterproof boxes for wet weather. Oh, it's not all fun and games – if we scratch our itch, she doses us to prevent fleas; if we feel under the weather for too long, we have to go in a box and a car to the vet; and if we make another cat squeal cause we're chasing or playing too hard – we get a stern dressing down. Oh, and her lap – so soft and inviting – there's only room for two of us – but we're four! ME OWWWWWW."

About the Chatty Cat Challenge
Advantage^® II for cats' Chatty Cat Challenge asked owners to submit a video, photo or meme of their cat, along with a narrative, that revealed the secrets to keeping their cats healthy and happy. The Top 10 felines, chosen by public vote, received a one-year supply of Advantage^® II for cats and a premium cat carrier. To learn more about the Chatty Cat Challenge, including official rules, and view the entries, visit www.ChattyCatChallenge.com.  

The Chatty Cat Challenge is sponsored by Advantage^® II for cats, a monthly topical flea preventive that kills fleas through contact. A single flea can bite up to 400 times per day¹, and Advantage^® II helps prevent misery-causing biting fleas.

About Advantage^® II for cats
Advantage^® II for cats is a once-monthly topical solution for cats and kittens 8 weeks and older. Advantage^® II has adulticidal, larvicidal and ovicidal properties, killing adult fleas and preventing the emergence of new ones. Advantage^® II kills fleas through contact. Fleas don't have to bite to die.

About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 18.6 million (2012), is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 55,300 employees (Dec. 31, 2012) and is represented in more than 100 countries. More information at www.healthcare.bayer.com.

Contact:
Staci Gouveia, Tel. 913.268.2577
Email: [email protected]

Lauren Dorsch, Tel. 913.268.2747
Email: [email protected]

Find more information about the Chatty Cat Challenge at www.ChattyCatChallenge.com
Find more information about Bayer HealthCare Animal Health at www.animalhealth.bayerhealthcare.com 
Follow us on Twitter: @Bayer4animalsUS 
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/healthcare.bayer  

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Bayer, the Bayer Cross and Advantage are registered trademarks of Bayer.

¹Taking the bite out of fleas and ticks. FDA website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/FDAVeterinarianNewsletter/ucm130778.htm. Accessed June 14, 2013.

SOURCE Bayer HealthCare Animal Health