Purina ONE® Elevates Feeding Experience For Cats At Maker Faire

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- What you feed your cat is just as important as HOW you feed your cat. Cats are designed to hunt for their food, and while domestic cats have it much easier they still benefit from the stimulation that comes from the hunt. Swapping a bowl for a puzzle feeder encourages your cat to work for her food, stimulating her mind and body and helping her live her True Nature. So Purina ONE^® is calling on the cat community to create and share do-it-yourself (DIY) puzzle feeder projects to help enrich the feeding experiences of cats. Designs will be featured on Purina ONE's DIY Cat Projects Pinterest board and in the brand's booth at Maker Faire in New York on September 21 and 22, where Purina ONE will work to challenge common misconceptions and educate cat owners about their cats' True Nature.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130826/LA69621)

"The True Nature of Cats movement is about letting our cats be who they were born to be through proper nutrition and enriching experiences," says Nida Bockert, director of Purina ONE brand cat food. "The active pursuit of food is in a cat's True Nature, and using a puzzle feeder is one great way to appeal to your cat's natural desire for physical and mental stimulation."

Purina ONE is calling on passionate cat owners to create unique puzzle feeders to help cats experience their True Nature and ultimately be healthy, happy cats. Some puzzle feeders are ball- or tube-shaped and release bits of kibble when rolled just the right way. Some have sliders that move to reveal hidden compartments where you stash the food. Others have silos of different heights to add complexity to the hunt. While these feeders come in all shapes and sizes, they operate on a similar premise: each challenges your cat to work for her food.

"Puzzle feeders don't have to be expensive, and there are many different DIY versions that are cheap and easy to build at home. Maker Faire, described as the greatest show-and-tell on earth, is the perfect place to showcase these items," said Bockert. "We're excited to see and share the great puzzle feeder designs cat lovers come up with!"

An example of a DIY puzzle feeder includes "The Wheel," which is made by cutting a few holes in a round food container (such as an empty margarine or sour cream container). The holes should be large enough for a piece of kibble to pass through. Gluing an additional lid to the bottom of the container that is slightly larger in diameter will alter the way that the feeder rolls and add variety to the experience for your cat.

Enriching the feeding experience of cats with things like puzzle feeders is core to Purina ONE's True Nature of Cats movement. By studying African wildcats, an ancestor to the domestic cat, Purina ONE identified several ways to help your cat be who she was born to be, including the right activity and proper nutrition. This was the inspiration behind the Purina ONE^® SMARTBlend^® Healthy Metabolism™ wet and dry formulas, which are specially formulated for the nutritional needs of spayed and neutered cats.

Find out more at www.PurinaOne.com/TrueNatureofCats and Facebook.com/TheTrueNatureofCatsbyPurinaONE.

About Purina ONE brand cat food
At Purina ONE, we closely study every aspect of cats, and do our best to provide products that reflect their nutritional needs, while empowering owners to gain a deeper understanding of their cats. Our goal is to provide cat owners with excellent nutrition for the cats they love, helping promote whole body health.

Purina ONE SMARTBlend® formulas contain real meat, fish or poultry, along with dual defense antioxidants and Omega-6 fatty acids. Our products give cats the taste they love and the nutrition they need. Our Targeted nutrition formulas are optimized for your cat's lifestyle, providing balanced nutrition for each life stage.

About Nestle Purina  
Nestle Purina PetCare Company is a global leader in the pet care industry and promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri. Nestle Purina is part of Swiss-based Nestle, the world's leading nutrition, health and wellness company.

SOURCE Purina ONE