Reality Roll Call

ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–That’s right. After years of canine-dominated reality TV, the cats are strutting in and demanding their rightful time slot. Starting on June 7th, cat lovers can tune in to Animal Planet to watch Housecat Housecall™, a new all-cat reality-based series presented by Purina® Cat Chow®. The shows profile 18 different cat-loving families as they work with veterinarian Dr. Katrina Warren, BVSc, and her expert team to try and resolve their most pressing feline matters. From hunger strikes to excessive licking, “Housecat Housecall” features real cats, real people, and real veterinarians dealing with a range of common cat behaviors.

“Housecat Housecall” will air over a 12-week period on Saturdays at 9a.m. E/P and Sundays at 7a.m. E/P beginning June 7th. In each episode, Dr. Katrina visits three different cat-owning homes, observes the kitties in their native environment and recommends an appropriate plan of action. Through her holistic approach for caring for cats, Dr. Katrina’s advice involves solutions that address not only the cat’s physical well-being, but also his emotional state. In each case, Dr. Katrina also consults with two seasoned cat experts, Purina Cat Chow Mentor and Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Debra Horwitz, DVM, and Dr. Stacy Fuchino, VMD, to ensure they get to the heart of every issue.

A Cast of Catty Characters

For a creature that spends two-thirds of its life asleep, cats certainly manage to find time to make their fair share of commotion. And the cats of “Housecat Housecall” are no exception. Whether they are nosing around in houseplants, waking their owners up in the middle of the night, or chasing other pets around the house, their families are in need of credible advice that will bring harmony back into their households.

Consider Fluffy Salway, one of Dr. Katrina’s wayward feline patients. Fluffy is on all accounts a nice and loving cat until visitors come into the picture. In her own discreet way, Fluffy makes sure houseguests know that she’s the boss. Dr. Katrina and her veterinary dream team recommend a two-pronged approach to Fluffy’s family that includes playing more interactive games with Fluffy as guests enter the home to distract the cat, and advising guests that they should let Fluffy greet them vs. the other way around. Following this guidance, the Salway family now feels more comfortable having friends and family over. Plus, they are even able to foster kittens in their home with no problems at all from Fluffy.

Now look at Obi-Wan’s story. At first glance, he appears to be a normal, active cat, but whenever his homicide detective owner Dave Burgess goes out of town on a case, he goes on a hunger strike and refuses to be fed by other members of the family. Dr. Katrina and her team quickly identify some simple solutions to address the problem and suggest minor changes to his feeding routine, like getting other family members involved in feeding time even when Dave is home and separating his feeding dish so they can monitor his intake. Of course Dr. Katrina also encourages lots of play and stimulation for Obi-Wan to foster the development of a strong bond with each family member. These solutions help Obi-Wan start to overcome his separation anxiety and his owner, Dave, is hopeful that they will improve the quality of life he and Obi-Wan share together.

A Celebrity Veterinarian At Your Service

As the host of “Housecat Housecall,” Dr. Katrina not only provides solid cat wisdom in the show, but also brings a level of prestige based on her superstar status in her native Australia. In fact, she has previously walked the (pardon the pun) catwalk as a fashion model. But animals are her true passion, and it was only a matter of time before she established her own innovative veterinary house call service in Australia.

“My mission is to strengthen the bond between cats and owners and create a household situation where cats are considered a part of the family,” Dr. Katrina said. “Cats are wonderful creatures that can improve the quality of life for many people, which is why Housecat Housecall is so relevant in helping cat owners get past their cat’s quirky antics to realize the great joy of having a feline companion.”

The cat’s out of the bag—and he’s thrilled to be #1

Every dog may have his day, but that day is going to have to wait…at least until the cats have had their say. It’s a cat fact: canines no longer hold the coveted title of America’s most popular pet. According to the official 2007 American Veterinary Association pet census, cats outnumber dogs by a whopping 9.6 million, and this is exactly why “Housecat Housecall” will resonate with pet owners across the country. Knowing that Fluffy and Obi-Wan’s situations are just two of many stories out there, Purina Cat Chow has made it possible for all cat owners who find their cat situation on the home front less than ideal, to get practical solutions on housecathousecall.com. The website offers information on the show and also provides helpful advice from Purina Cat Chow Mentors, cat care specialists who are available any day of the week. And while cat owners are on the site, they can also learn how their unique story could be considered for the 2009 season of “Housecat Housecall!”