A Traveling Cat

Purina finalists vie at cat callbacks

By Lisa Brown • Posted: Saturday, May 7, 2011 -- 12:05 pm

A country music singer, a model and a law firm manager sat shoulder to shoulder in a boardroom at Nestlé Purina PetCare's St. Louis headquarters Friday morning, vying to become a paid cat food "correspondent" for Purina Cat Chow.

Four women and three men — all cat owners — spent the day being photographed, videotaped and peppered with questions by a dozen Purina staff members about why they should be selected for this new job as a behind-the-scenes, roving writer.

The pay? $50,000 for a one-year contract, which includes all-expenses-paid trips to attend cat events throughout the U.S. It's a part-time position, and the winner can keep his or her day job.

One finalist described the position as the "Anderson Cooper of cats." Another asked during the interview if they would receive a lifetime supply of Purina cat food. "Everything is open to negotiation," joked Rebecca Schulz, brand manager for Purina Cat Chow.

"A private jet?" one finalist asked. That's a stretch.