It's #FATCAT Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Parade!

Yesterday was the big one ... the one where the Purina Cat Chow #fatcat Fess-Up Float got to strut his love handles in a real New Orleans Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras parade! It was beyond fun and an experience I will not soon forget. I can still hear the "Fat Cat, Fat Cat!" chants in my head. Here are a couple of photos from the parade (all from the Purina Cat Chow Facebook page) and you can see all the photos by clicking here.

Not sure if you have a fat cat? Take the quiz.

Fat Tuesday, Rain and Laser Dots Galore

It's Fat Tuesday and this morning the #fatcat tour is gearing up for a parade in New Orleans! Looks like we may be parading in the rain, but we have ponchos so it's all good. And the giant cat on the float is one feline who doesn't mind getting wet! My cats just called me and said they're glad they stayed home -- they don't like crowds, costumes or getting wet. Plus Cosmo is a giant drama queen and would be complaining the whole time.

Yesterday we passed out Purina Cat Chow Healthy Weight samples at a local Walmart. It rained, but we met lots of cat people and they were excited to received the samples.

"Cat food, anyone?"

On a side note, we were out last night and one place had laser lights galore! We were imagining how that scene would drive a cat absolutely nuts! I imagine that guy on the stool would be a little surprised if a cat started pouncing on his back, swatting at all those dots. Hey, why should humans have all the fun at Mardi Gras, right??

Remember to follow all the fun and share your fat cat stories using the #fatcat on Twitter or on the Purina Cat Chow Facebook page!

I'm Acting Like a Cat Again, but This Time I'm in Mississppi

Yesterday we rode the #fatcat Fess-Up Float in the Mardi Gras parade in Pass Christian, Miss. and it was a ton of fun! Do you have a fat cat? Click here for tips on getting your chubby kitty back on track. Tomorrow is the Fat Tuesday parade in New Orleans! To confess your fat cat story, remember to use the hashtag #fatcat on Twitter and join in the conversation of Purina Cat Chow's Facebook page!

Meow!

Here's a short video of some moments on the tour. And yes -- that's me on the float and I'm acting like a cat. Again.

Hittin' the Road #FatCat-Style!

This morning I'm heading to the Gulf coast to join the Purina Cat Chow #FatCat Fess-Up tour. Tomorrow is a Mardi Gras parade in Pass Christian, Mississippi and then it's on to New Orleans for Fat Tuesday! Remember to tell Cat Chow your fat cat stories on their Facebook page or by using the Twitter hashtag #fatcat! Pics forthcoming!

Got a #FATCAT? Fess-up to Purina Cat Chow! Also, I'm Going to Mardi Gras!

Have you heard that a giant orange cat is traveling from St. Louis to New Orleans? It's true. The overweight cat featured on the Mardi Gras-inspired Purina Cat Chow Fat Cat Fess-Up Float is making its way across Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana in an effort to raise awareness about feline obesity.

Catladyland is the place to come for cat humor, but cat obesity is no laughing matter. According to the Pet Obesity Study for the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, there are more than 46 million overweight cats in the United States. Purina Cat Chow Healthy Weight Formula is asking pet parents to pause the Mardi Gras festivities for a few moments and confess their own fat cat stories. And the Purina Cat Chow Fess-Up float is traveling to four states in one week to join local Mardi Gras festivities, capturing confessions and encouraging people to think about healthy feline weight.

Beggin' Strips Barkus Pet Parade in St. Louis (photo: Purina Cat Chow Twitter)

The Purina Cat Chow Fess-Up Float kicked off the road trip in St. Louis on Sunday and will make additional stops on its journey to New Orleans for Fat Tuesday. And guess what? This Sunday I get to join the tour and help spread the word! How exciting is that?

At this point, you're probably wondering how you can participate -- am I right? Well, I just happen to have that information handy for you:

#1 Visit the Fat Cat Fess-Up Float at one of the stops:

Feb. 7 -- Memphis, Tenn. (Walmart, 577 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, Tenn.)
Feb. 8 -- Jackson, Miss. (Walmart, 2711 Greenway Dr., Jackson, Miss.)
Feb. 9 -- Pascagoula, Miss. (Jackson County Carnival Assn. Mardi Gras Parade)
Feb. 10 -- Pass Christian, Miss. (83rd Annual Pass Christian Mardi Gras Parade)
Feb. 11 -- Slidell, La. (Walmart, 5110 Jefferson Hwy., New Orleans, La.)
Feb 12 -- New Orleans (Krewe of Elks Orleanians Parade on Fat Tuesday)

#2 Participate online

Use the hashtag #fatcat on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Instagram.
Join the Purina Cat Chow community on Facebook.

And you can follow my updates from the parade trail here, and on Catladyland's Facebook page and Twitter feed.

Fess-up! (Photo: Purina Cat Chow Facebook page)