Meow Mix Cat - The feline
mascot of the Ralston Purina's Meow Mix cat food who chanted the company's
repetitive catchphrase "Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow..." in a number
of TV commercials since the 1970s.
The first Meow Mix commercial
entitled "Singing Cat" was created by the Della Femina,
Travisano & Partners in New York in 1972. The TV spot featured a cute orange tabby
singing the now classic lyrics "Meow, meow, meow, meow..." According to the
New York Times article (3/26/2002) "Jerry
Della Femina, now chairman at Della Femina Rothschild Jeary & Partners in
New York, said that the shots of the cat ''singing'' were not initially
intended. The cat was actually choking on cat food when it was recorded,
and executives later decided to add music for a lip-sync effect." A later ad campaign
created by
Avrett Free Ginsberg in New York centered on
the experiences of Frank, a cat
owner, and his cat, Baxter,
in situations including a wedding scene and a charter boat. In one of them,
Baxter called up his
master on the phone and recited his "Meow Meow" slogan to let
his owner know that he wanted something to eat. After Ralston Purina
sold the company to a
Boston investment firm, J. W. Childs
Associates, the Meow Mix cat was revived. These 2002 spots
were created by
Kirshenbaum Bond agency.
Richard Thompson,
chief executive at the Meow Mix Company hoped the new campaign would
''appeal to older people who have seen the commercial before, but also
younger consumers who are not familiar with the original commercial and
the brand's humorous theme, ''Tastes so good, cats ask for it by name.''
TRIVIA NOTE:
In 2002 the Meow Mix Co. in
Secaucus, New Jersey premiered a
half-hour program May 30 on the Oxygen cable channel.
The program announced called Meow TV featured entertainment geared toward cats
(scenes of bouncing balls, birds, mice, etc.) and offer advice to cat
owners, as well. See also - "Morris the Cat"
