What Does Innovation Look Like in the Pet Care World?

You might wonder how you can get excited about a career path in pet care. One word: Innovation. It is central to what we do and considerably one of the reasons we've been around—and remained a leader—for over a century.

It all started with our passionate Founder, William Danforth, who instilled a people-centric, continuous-improvement culture back in the late 1890s that we continue to embody today at our very core.

Take a look at just a few of the innovations throughout our history:

• 1916: Establishment of the first Purina analytical lab.
• 1926: Launch of the first center dedicated to dog nutrition.
• 1947: Introduction of clay absorbent cat litter, a significant development for indoor cats.
• 1956: First to adapt extrusion technology to produce pet food.
• 1976: Introduction of the first over the counter (OTC) weight loss food for dogs.
• 1980s: Development of a new manufacturing process that makes real meat the #1 ingredient in dry kibble.
• 1991: Launch of the first functional cat food for urinary tract health.
• 1998: Introduction of the first hydrolyzed diet for food allergies.
• 2000: Launch of the first foods to manage feline diabetes and feline hairballs.
• 1987-2001: Canine longevity study shows feeding dogs to their ideal body condition throughout their lifetime can extend their healthy years
• 2004: Introduction of the first canine diet to manage osteoarthritis.
• 2006: Launch of the first diet shown to extend a cat’s healthy life.
• 2010: Introduction of the first diet shown to improve cognition in older dogs.
• 2016: Launch of the first diet shown to improve cognition in older cats.
• 2017: Launch of the first diet to manage canine idiopathic epilepsy.
• 2018: Introduction of the first probiotic shown to reduce anxious behaviors in dogs.
• 2020: First to develop a dietary approach to neutralize cat allergens.
• 2022: Launch of the first probiotic shown to reduce anxious behaviors in cats.

At Purina, innovation is not just about the products we create; it’s about the passionate people driving these advancements. We have over 500 scientists who significantly impact each one of our products that go to market. Our team comprises engineers, technical experts, and creative influencers from all corners of business, all dedicated to enriching the lives of pets and the people who love them.

As one of our Laboratory Scientists Berenice puts it, “At our research center, we look into nutrients that can bring health benefits to pets. I've truly never seen so many passionate people dedicated to the wellbeing of pets. I'm always learning in order to make innovative ideas come to life, often using the same cutting-edge science applied in human nutrition. And among all that science, our real measure of success is the beneficial impact on the pets that have long, fulfilling lives with the families that adopted them."

One of our most recent innovations, a dietary approach to neutralize cat allergens, was even inspired by allergies faced by a team member’s daughter—highlighting how at Purina, employees make a difference in the areas that drive their passions.

For decades, we've been guided by the belief that pets and people are better together. As the aspiring voice of pet care, we put our unparalleled knowledge and passion for pets to work to develop pet care innovations that revolutionize the industry, all thanks to the dedicated individuals who make it happen.

Ready to start a career with us? Be sure to enroll in our talent community so you can receive customized job alerts for your area of interest.