But the center is in France :-/

450 cats and 200 dogs are in a full board hotel in Elven. Twelve years ago, the company Diana Pet Food set up one of the biggest testing centers for pets in the world there, in order to assess what food they like best. Kibbles and pâtées makers love it.

According to the article, cats live the good life in this place similar to a “3-star hotel” and can choose the food they prefer.

That’s exactly the goal of this “3-star hotel” for dogs and cats, based in Elven (Morbihan, France) . . . . to test the attraction of the pets to the ingredients that Diana Pet Food prepares in order to go with kibbles and pâtées. Powders or potions, “made with natural ingredients,” that the company will sell to Purina, Mars Royal Canin, or retailer groups brands…, the biggest names in animal food. “We hold 55% of the global market of appetence factors,” explains Jean-Pierre Rivery, Diana Pet Food’s President.

Apparently, there are 200 dogs and 450 cats living there. It is kind of like human homes only with a lot more food options.

What bothers me a little is that dogs and cats come very young from breeders and “work’ there only for a period of 4 to 5 years. Then they are “given for adoption.” But we all know that adult cats (and dogs I guess?) are less wanted when they are already adults…

They also say that the food has to smell good to… humans!

In Elven, humans give their opinion. “We must give satisfaction to the animal and the smell must please their owner” [sic!] analyzes Isabelle Guiller, R&D Director. “If it smells bad he [the human] won’t buy it again.” But owners [geez!] are received in white, sterile cubicles. For in Elven, the VIP room is for [pets].

There’s a video in the article. It’s in French but you can see a little bit the testing center.

So what do you think?