Purina's #BetterWithPets Summit 2015: Emotional Wellness and the Bond Between Pets and their People #Sponsored Part I

This is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of  Nestle Purina®  I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the  2015 Better With Pets Summit.  Cat Chat With Caren and Cody only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

My challenge when writing this post about the Purina Better With Pets Summit 2015 is to try to convey to you just how incredible it was with about being overly verbose and without giving you photo overload! Warning! I don't think that is possible!

I had the honor of being one of a number of digital influencers (Purina's term for us, which I LOVED!), who were brought together with some of the brightest minds in pet science and culture to share how big, innovative ideas are improving the emotional wellness of pets and the people who love them.  This was my second Summit, and I could never have imagined it would surpass my first, but it did! Everything Purina does is done with perfectionism and class, and they exhibit caring and concern for all of us that is unsurpassed. I have been a digital influencer for Purina since 2012, and each event I have had the privilege of attending has outshone the one that came before.

I wanted to include this photo, because I found it fitting that when I arrived at the airport in Detroit, one of the first sights I saw was this:

It was only fitting that I would be greeted by a dog or a cat on my way to an event featuring pets. It was incredibly kind of the police woman to allow me to take this photograph.

I arrived in one of my all-time favorite cities, New York, Monday, November 2nd and entered The W Hotel where the first person I saw was Dr.Jessica Vogelsang, author of All Dogs Go To Kevin, and the blog Pawcurious. After shrieking with glee because I hadn't seen her in forever, the lobby quickly became a "mini-reunion" for my fellow digital influencers, as many arrived the same time as me.

Monday evening we were gifted with time to explore NYC and to reconnect with friends, and I took advantage of that by going to a scrumptious Greek dinner with Layla Morgan Wilde of Cat Wisdom 101. The restaurant was called Avra, and while the hostesses were less than friendly, the food was AMAZING!

After dinner,  since we had to be up super early to board the buses that would transport us to the Brooklyn Expo Center where the Summit was being held,  after I got my Jimmy Fallon fix, it was "La-La-Land" for me!!

Even in the early morning hours, in spite of not being thoroughly caffeinated,  there was electricity and excitement in the air as a bus load of communicators from all different specialties chattered away filling the bus with a jovial hum of conversation!

View from the bus window!!

 We waited in line to receive our badges and I had the pleasure of reconnecting with a number of Purina employees whom I hadn't seen in some time! We had time to mill about, grab a shot (or two or three) of espresso, and take some photos with our friends, (and I took one of the photographer who was photographing US!), before the sessions began.

Ingrid King of The Conscious Cat
and I with our heads cut off!!
Hadn't seen her in forever
and it was fantastic to connect again!

This photographer was a
super good sport and allowed me
to take photos of HIM!!

Then it was time for the summit to begin!

The third annual summit shined a spotlight on the emotional wellness of pets and the people who love them. How do pets help us be well? How do we help them in return?

There was a welcome by writer and comedian Josh Gondelman, who recently adopted an adorable senior Pug named Bizzy.

Next up was the Keynote from Dr.Arleigh Reynolds, Purina Senior Research Scientist. This was my third time listening to him speak and it was a complete honor!

Panel 1 was up next and that was "An Evolving Relationship with Cats?" which offered a close look at the dynamic, possibly evolving relationship between people and cats, and what it might suggest for a new generation of pet owners. It  was moderated by Hal Herzog, Professor of Psychology at Western Carolina University. His research focuses on the psychology of human-animal interactions, including attitudes toward the use of animals and the impact of pets on human health.

Other panelists included Sandra Lyn, a behaviorist at Purina, where she leads the Nestle' Purina Global R&D Feeding Behavior research program,  Christina Ha, co-founder, Meow Parlour, NYC's first cat cafe'. Meow Parlour's goal is to create a calm environment for connecting adoptable cats with cat-loving humans. Last but not least,  Mikel Maria Delgado, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and co-owner of Feline Minds, offering consulting, training and support related to cat behavior for cat owners, animal shelters, rescue groups and other organizations.

Photo Courtesy of
http://www.multivu.com/

My "take-aways" from this panel:

• 1 out of 3 Americans have cats, there are more cats than dogs in American homes.
• Soon millenials will be the largest percentage of cat owners, used to be the "Boomers" but the Millenials will be taking over!
• Common stereotype is cat people are more introverted, but social media is changing that due to cat cafes etc. Cat people are becoming much more social!
• Older people are more secure and less anxious about whether or not their pets love them, younger people tend to question whether they are loved by their pets much more.
• Interaction with cats are better if the CAT initiates the interaction (this was one of my faves)
• Cats give back in proportion to what you give them
• No two cats are the same
• People who love both cats and dogs are more open to new experiences and more out-going
• More work needs to be done to educate people about cats.

Panel 2: Stress, Our Pets and Us was the next panel.  This panel featured a discussion of the sources and effects of stress on pets, and how to manage stressors to enhance your pet's well-being. The panel was led by moderator Marty Becker, D.V.M, Chief Veterinary Correspondent, American Humane Society, and it featured Ragen McGowan, Senior Scientist, Nestle' Purina, her research incorporates a holistic approach including behavior and physiology to assess emotions in pets. She aims to understand what is positive for pets and quantify the human-animal bond from the pet's perspective.  Also included was: Heather Lewis, Principal, Animal Arts an Architectural firm that has exclusively designed veterinary hospitals and animal care facilities since 1979.

Last but not least was Tony Buffington, D.V.M., Professor Ohio State University. His clinical interests include stress effects on disease, obesity, evidence-based medicine and effective medical communications.

My "take-aways" from this panel:

Environmental enrichment is main cure for bladder infections in cats.
Stressors in cats can be anything from changes in temp, change in perfume etc!
Did you know that dogs and cats prefer PASTEL colors?
Cats who are kept in cages at the Vet and in Shelters should be HIGH UP.....(horizontal bar vision)...they experience less stress if they are high up.
Good stress for cats and dogs can be found by playing and utilizing treat puzzles.
Cats and dogs prefer WORKING for their food, also known as "contrafreeloading" (the jury is still out with Cody in reference to this one, I don't think so!!)
Whenever cats and dogs live in a mixed environment it is important to have a SAFE HAVEN FOR THE CATS (I did that from day one with Cody, hence baby gates!)
The most important enrichment device at home for our pets is to have food puzzles, primarily for cats, but dogs benefit too!
Always think about things from the animal's perspective
Boredom can be just as bad for a pet's health as stress

The third panel was Raising Pets and Kids, and since I didn't have kids, I really didn't focus on my note-taking during this panel.

New to the Better With Pets Summit this year were five educational zones which featured interactive exhibits for attendees to engage, as well as see Purina’s vast expertise in the pet wellness space and connect with Purina experts. The exhibits featured educational touchscreen displays, a dedicated room showcasing healthy environments for cats,

 a play lab for agility dogs with wearable technology that monitored their activity as they played, and an area where attendees can see how nutrition impacts cognition and emotional wellness in pets.

Due to the length of this post, please join us THIS WEDNESDAY where we will be featuring Part II of this series which will showcase the CATS that were at the Better With Pets Summit (and some humans too!!!), as well as a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Then, please  join us on Monday, November 16 when we will feature our Purina "Call to Action" post. 

About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is a global leader in the pet care industry. NestléPurina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.

Follow Purina!

·         Purina Facebook

·         Purina Twitter (@Purina)

·         Purina Instagram (@Purina)

· 

Cats! You Must Read How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity by Patricia Carlin-World-Wide Give-Away!

Well, well, well, it's Cody, and here I sit, my tail between my legs, feeling like NOTHING, a BIG silver-gray tabby pile of NOTHING. No, it's not the Monday Blues, nope, not at all. It's my MOM. My lazy, good-for-nothing, poor excuse of an Assistant, MOM.  Why is my fur standing on end because of HER? I'll tell ya why, and trust me, it's pitiful.

I was pawing around on my Mom's desk this weekend and found this:

My loser Mom stole this photo from the publisher's website

Let me ask you this kitties, WHERE WAS THIS BOOK FOUR YEARS AGO when Mom I started this blog? WHERE WAS IT? For the past four years I have had to endure the unbearable pain of witnessing my Mom work on post after useless post, much of it drivel. I have watched her haphazardly insert unacceptable photos of ME, do you hear me? ME on our MY blog.  I have watched her struggling to take videos, with the sun blaring in her face (any idiot knows the sun should be BEHIND you), or shooting videos in a room darker than the Black Hole, and she WONDERS WHY no one has a CLUE who I am? If Mom had had this MUST READ book, I might have been, be still my kitty heart, FAMOUS by now!

"Oh I blog because I love cats" she says, or, "I'm not in this for the money" she says...c'mon, cut the "Holier than Thou" routine lady! If someone knocked on our door offering us movies and endorsement deals like Grumpy Cat  (by the way, I was GRUMPY way before that 2 year old cat ever came onto the scene, but I live with a LOSER who never dreamed of capitalizing on that!!!), she would be all over it, like me on one of my catnip toys!! CUT THE CATNIP WOMAN!! YOU ARE "being forced to admit that despite owning both a cat and a computer during this legendary Golden Age of Cat Videos-you ARE the only cretin in the world who is failing to cash in!!!"

See this photo? It's at least 2 years old!
BEFORE THE GRUMPY CAT ERA!!

Yeah she posts on Twitter, does a few obligatory things on Facebook, Pinterest, and a few other sites,  (just a few of a myriad of invaluable tips that this book offers,) but the WOMAN HAS NO CLUE.

Now, adding insult to injury, while pussy footing around the Internet I ran into reviews of  How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity written by The Conscious Cat and Sparkle. I hung my head in shame and began frantically kneading the closest blanket. The fact that THEY read this book and reviewed it is like giving ICE to an Eskimo!!  THEY ARE ALL FAMOUS!  THEY ARE ALL ALREADY DOING MANY OF THE THINGS THAT THE BOOK SUGGESTS THAT WE DO!! In fact, Sparkle wrote about how upset she was that all of her trade secrets were revealed in this book! Imagine that! Me? My darn Mom can barely scratch two nickles together to buy kibble AFTER GOING ON FIVE YEARS of having MOI as her MUSE!

I HAD TO READ THIS BOOK AND FAST! Maybe SOME semblance of pride could be restored and I had to do it  before Katie and Waffles from  Glogirly , and that text-crazed cat known as "Mittens" from Texts from Mittens,   (created by Angie Bailey of Catladyland and Whiskerslist fame), get their paws on it!!!

These people  understand that, as How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity clearly states:

 "NO FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY WILL GIVE YOU A GREATER RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAN YOUR CAT"

We all know that NONE OF THEM NEED THIS BOOK! WHY? I'LL TELL YA WHY!  

THEY ARE ALREADY UTILIZING ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS IN THIS BOOK!

I AM THE ONLY SORRY-BUTT LOSER WHO ISN'T!

From the Publisher: With How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity, readers can unlock the secrets of grooming your kitty for success, creating a terrific viral video, managing your cat’s burgeoning stardom, and much more. Packed with practical tips and helpful diagrams, this indispensable resource shows how ordinary housecats can follow in the venerable pawprints of the Internet’s brightest stars.

While many of the tips are written in a "tongue-in-cheek" manner, there are MANY tips/suggestions in this PURRFECTLY POWER-PACKED PAPER-BACK BOOK that can be put into practice NOW! DO YOU HEAR THAT MOM! I SAID "NOW!!!"

Now kitties, I don't want to reveal ALL of the tips in this book, heck, if NO ONE made it EASY for ME to make any BUCKS I'm certainly NOT going to do that for you, hehehe! 

 Trust me, you and your HUMANS NEED THIS BOOK if you have any hopes of hitting the big time and having some extra loot for more noms and toys!

To learn How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity, you will have to do a couple of things on your own:

1) BUY THE BOOK

Available as an ebook

E-Book ISBN: 

9781594746840

ISBN: 

9781594746796

Book Price $12.95

2) ENTER TO WIN A COPY!!!!! YEP!! THIS LOSER CAT WAS OFFERED A WORLD-WIDE GIVE-AWAY BY THE PUBLISHER!! 3 LUCKY (OR LOSER) CATS LIKE MYSELF WILL WIN A COPY OF THIS MUST READ (OVER AND OVER AGAIN), GUIDE BOOK!! IT'S A PAYCHECK AT YOUR PAWS!!! AND....THEY ARE GOING TO EACH WIN A POSTER TOO!!! 

You do realize the Publisher must have felt sorry for me and my Mom when Mom asked if we could do a give-away and they agreed, right? Well, we'll take anything thrown our way, and you should too! 

ENTER ON THE RAFFLECOPTER BELOW!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

In Full Disclosure: (of course there was no money given to us for this review because if you remember, my LOSER MOM DOESN'T DO THIS FOR THE MONEY!!!!), we were given a copy of the book to review and the publisher will send a book and a poster,  to each of our 3 winners.

Book:Adventures in Veterinary Medicine by Ingrid King

What Working in Veterinary Hospitals Taught Me

About Life, Love, and Myself

-Ingrid King

It is an honor to present to you the latest book by author Ingrid King, Adventures in Veterinary Medicine.

I am a believer in synchronicity, and the quote, "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.", as well as listening to your gut and your heart. The path you are meant to take in life will often be clearly revealed to you, IF YOU LISTEN.

Adventures in Veterinary Medicine by author Ingrid King, is a heartfelt, true story of how a former computer manual translator , and later an executive for a financial services corporation, discovered her life's passion/calling as a result of having to spend an inordinate amount of time at various veterinary hospitals treating her first cat and "soul kitty", Feebee for bladder stones.

There are people who would love a high profile position in corporate America and would thrive, but to Ingrid, regardless of her stellar performance of the tasks required of her in those early positions, she felt a void. The speed bumps of life (a divorce and the heartbreaking passing of her beloved mother), helped pave the way for Ingrid's true calling, working with and writing about pets (primarily cats). 

From Ingrid King: Adventures in Veterinary Medicine is a "collection of essays" , many of which are about special cats and dogs that touched my heart to heroic veterinarians and staff who are in the business of saving lives every single day."

In Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Ingrid gives the reader detailed information about what it was like to first, be a volunteer at a clinic, and the often "lowly" tasks that are part and parcel of the position, (meticulously cleaning the cages of the animals, performing fecal tests, emptying trash, etc.)

As "dirty" as these tasks were, Ingrid "was in heaven." She had "found her bliss." Those early volunteer days paved the way for what would be a twelve-year journey. No two days would be alike. 

Ingrid also conveys through her touching essays, that those that work in veterinary clinics are often brought to tears by the animals in their care and are deeply affected by them, often more than we could possibly imagine.

Some of my favorite essays feature:

 A cat named "Beast", a brown -and -white tabby with a long rap sheet. It was Ingrid, and her soothing aura and voice,  who was able to get through to this gentle giant  like no one before her could. Her affect on Beast was so profound, that he rubbed his face against Ingrid's and would "hug" her shoulders with his paws.  From Adventures in Veterinary Medicine: "things aren't always what they seem. A fractious, aggressive cat may simply be starved for attention. A big, intimidating tom with a name that is meant to inspire fear may be, in reality, a great big teddy bear."

Virginia, "the poster child for "tortitude" (tortoiseshell cats), who served as Ingrid's introduction to this wonderful breed and would be the catalyst for her love affair with torties. Little did she realize at the time how tortoiseshell cats would be changing her life.

Jake the handsome young vet who Ingrid developed a crush on. This essay particularly delighted me because anyone who knows Ingrid, knows that she keeps the majority of her life private, and this essay offers us a glimpse into the giddy, smitten "school girl" side of this amazing woman while making us laugh when Ingrid reveals that she "was so dazzled by his good looks, caring and compassionate manner, and veterinary skills, that I overlooked one minor detail: Jake was gay."

There are also essays on  Kennel Work, Finding a New Vet and Life After Veterinary Medicine.

To purchase CLICK HERE

For those familiar with Ingrid's previous books: Buckley's Story-Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher and Purrs of Wisdom:Conscious Living Feline Style,  (to read my reviews of both of these marvelous books click here to be re-directed to my book review page), Adventures in Veterinary Medicine is a welcome addition to this impressive collection, and is  a "must-read" for those that believe, as Ingrid does, and I do, that sometimes you CAN "find your bliss in unexpected places."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ingrid King is the award-winning author of Buckley's Story-Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher. She is a former veterinary hospital manager turned writer. Her popular blog, The Conscious Cat, has been called "educational catnip for the cat lover" and is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health, and happiness for cats and their humans. The Conscious Cat has won multiple awards, including DogTime Media's 2011 AND 2013 Pettie for Best Overall Pet Blog and Best Cat Blog in 2012,. She also won About.com's 2012 Readers Choice Award for Best Website About Cats. Ingrid is the publisher of the online magazine News for You and Your Pet, which goes out to subscribers around the world. For more information about Ingrid, please visit www.ingridking.com

To Purchase Adventures in Veterinary Medicine (digital format) click here

In full disclosure: those who know me and my reviews, know that I normally do NOT review digital books. An exception was made when Ingrid King contacted me asking if I would review her latest book and offered to mail me the manuscript (which I could hold in my "paws" and turn the pages like a "normal" book).  I am delighted and honored to have been sent the manuscript. None of this had an affect on my opinion of Adventures in Veterinary Medicine. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: "Purrs of Wisdom" by Ingrid King

When presented with the opportunity of reading/reviewing author Ingrid King's latest book, Purrs of Wisdom, I was elated. I had reviewed her previous book, Buckley's Story, Lessons From a Feline Master Teacher, which moved me to tears.

Ingrid was one of the first people I met when I began blogging in 2009. Her blog, The Conscious Cat, was also the first of what would be hundreds of blogs that I would follow, and to this day, remains one of my favorites.

Ingrid's grace, intelligence, knowledge of and love for cats, and her innate ability to find peace and balance in life as a whole,  is evident in everything that she touches.  On a personal note, her support, caring, encouragement and positive aura has graced my life on many occasions.

Photo courtesy of:
http://consciouscat.net/purrs-of-wisdom/

Thanksgiving weekend was the perfect weekend to curl up with Purrs of Wisdom. The weather was chilly, I lit candles, poured a cup of coffee and settled back to begin reading about what to me, was like sitting down and having a heart-to-heart with a longtime, trusted friend. You  know, the one who knows you  like no other, the  kind of friend you are free to bare your soul with. The kind of friend who doesn't judge, but listens, who offers advice in a positive, logical and motivating way, who encourages you to be the best YOU that you can be, the one who makes you feel safe, oh  and as an extra bonus,  they just happen to LOVE CATS.  For me, Purrs of Wisdom evoked all of those feelings AND MORE.


Having minored in Philosophy, contrary to my outer exuberance, I am prone to long bouts of introspection, and have always gravitated towards books that inspire me to think. Purrs of Wisdom fits the bill purrfectly.

"From help with everyday challenges to inspiration on living a joyful life, this compilation provides guidance, inspiration and enlightenment, feline style."

There were parallels in this book that to me were almost eerie. I was surprised to learn that like myself,  Ingrid didn't have her first cat until she was much older. We both spent many years in corporate America before life brought changes that would alter our respective journeys, eventually leading us to a place where we would pursue our hearts desire, writing about cats.

Purrs of Wisdom is a collection of essays based on Ingrid's "Conscious Cat Sunday" column on The Conscious Cat, and features lessons that Ingrid learned from the cats in her life.  Some of my favorites are:

• Are You Addicted to Technology?
• Gratitude
• Embrace Change
• Feeling Overwhelmed?
• Learn to Be Still

At the beginning of each essay, Ingrid features a quote to set the tone for the essay that follows. She  ends each essay with examples of how cats, (specifically Ingrid's cats Allegra and Ruby) inherently know the "secrets" of living a more positive, productive and enlightened life. If  we pause long enough to observe how our own cats also have this knowledge, we just might one day be as wise as our feline friends.

The end of the year is rapidly approaching, this is the time when many of us pause and reflect on what has transpired.  I, for one, embark on soul searching and contemplation and Purrs of Wisdom was the perfect vehicle to help me begin my yearly ritual.  Ingrid's essay on New Year's Resolutions and her preference (and now mine!) for referring to them as New Year's intentions "a determination to act in a certain way."  offer  a wonderful new take on a yearly tradition. Ingrid says in this essay: "To be successful, I have to be present and make conscious choices in support of my goal. And when it comes to being more present, I have the best support team I could ask for: Allegra and Ruby! Cats are masters at living in the moment. They don't worry about running out of time to chase that catnip mouse, being too rushed to enjoy their meal, or not getting enough sleep. If I look to them for guidance, I can't help but succeed."

Purrs of Wisdom will make you think, it will warm your soul,  it will wrap itself around your mind and your heart  like a soft-as-down kitty snuggling at your side. Purchase this book and refer to it frequently, just flip to the essay that will offer you the encouragement that you need in order to face the world that day. It is the next best thing to sharing an afternoon chat over coffee with that trusted friend who knows you like no other. It  will leave you feeling equally as peaceful, satisfied and ready to pounce upon whatever life sends your way, armed with  Purrs of Wisdom, just  like a CAT.

Photo courtesy of
http://consciouscat.net/about-the-conscious-cat/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ingrid King is a former veterinary hospital manager turned multiple-award winning author. Her popular blog, The Conscious Cat, is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health, and happiness for cats and their humans. Ingrid lives in Northern Virginia with her two tortoiseshell cats Allegra and ruby. For more information about Ingrid, please visit www.IngridKing.com




ISBN: 978-0-9883437-0-2

To purchase Purrs of Wisdom click here