Cat Lovers Wanted: Nationwide Search for First-Ever Purina Cat Chow Correspondent to Travel the Country and Connect with Fellow Cat Owners

St. Louis, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Are you a cat enthusiast? Do you enjoy sharing stories about your cat? If so, there is a great opportunity for you. Purina® Cat Chow® announced today the launch of the official search for the "Purina Cat Chow Correspondent," an individual who will travel the country and connect with fellow cat owners about how they nurture well-being in their cats. The Purina Cat Chow Correspondent is a one-year position and will offer a $50,000 salary – and you can even keep your day job.

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The Purina Cat Chow Correspondent will travel to pet industry events around the country to learn about the strong connection between cats and their owners. The Purina Cat Chow Correspondent's experiences will be shared via catchow.com and Purina Cat Chow's social media channels including Facebook and Flickr.

The Purina Cat Chow Correspondent should be a passionate and knowledgeable cat owner with a vibrant personality and an interest in learning and sharing about the cat-owner relationship. No formal training or expertise is required to apply.

From now until March 28, 2011, consumers can apply to be the Purina Cat Chow Correspondent on catchow.com. Consumers must complete a brief application and upload a photo of themselves with their cat to be considered for the position. The selected Purina Cat Chow Correspondent will be announced by May 15, 2011, and the position will run from May 15, 2011 to May 15, 2012.

"We're searching for a passionate and enthusiastic cat owner as the Purina Cat Chow Correspondent to connect with other cat owners across the country," said Dr. Karen Sueda, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorist and a Purina Cat Chow Mentor. "The two top qualifications for potential candidates are to own a cat and have a curious disposition to learn about the relationships other owners have with their cats."

Select PetSmart® stores will also host five casting call events for interested consumers to interview in person for the Purina Cat Chow Correspondent position. Consumers need not apply in person or conduct an in-person interview to be eligible for the position. The Purina Cat Chow Correspondent Search Casting Call events will take place at the following PetSmart stores.

About Purina Cat Chow Mentor Team

Purina Cat Chow strives to provide the best well-being resources for cat owners to enhance the connection between them and their cats. These resources include the Purina Cat Chow Mentors, a team of qualified experts and real-life cat owners who provide consumers with advice and information on a variety of cat care topics. The Purina Cat Chow Mentor team includes:

• Dr. Karen Sueda: Dr. Sueda is a practicing veterinary behaviorist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of behavior problems in pets. Dr. Sueda treats animals at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital. She is one of only 50 Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in the world.

• Jennifer Sutton: Jennifer is a full-time mom and lifetime cat owner who brings her knowledge of juggling a household full of two- and four-legged creatures. She interacts with consumers on the Purina Cat Chow social media channels.

About Nestle Purina PetCare and Purina Cat Chow Brand Cat Food

The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Mo., where Ralston Purina was founded more than a century ago. Nestle Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestle Purina PetCare is part of the Swiss-based Nestle S.A. – the world's largest food company. With advanced nutrition for each life stage, Purina Cat Chow brand Cat Food offers a family of products with 100 percent complete and balanced nutrition for physical health and emotional well being. For more information on Purina Cat Chow, visit catchow.com.

SOURCE Purina Cat Chow