Liza Soberano made her much-awaited return to the Philippines this week, not for a film premiere, but for something closer to her heart: the launch of Prof. Bengal, the feline-focused sister brand of Dr. Shiba.
Held on Wednesday, November 6, at SM MOA Seaside Boulevard, the Prof. Bengal University event celebrated the debut of the Cat Paste Treats, the Philippines’ first functional paste treats for cats, alongside Kind Kibble for Cats.
For Soberano, who has been based in the United States for her acting career, the launch also marked a reunion with the Dr. Shiba family. She joined the program as a “visiting professor,” continuing her advocacy for better pet care, a role she began nearly two years ago as one of the brand’s ambassadors.
“I rescued five cats in LA — a mama and her four kittens. And the journey has been very fun, but also very chaotic at times,” Soberano said. “It's definitely a big adjustment going from being a fur mom to just a dog to now having a dog and five cats.”
During the same event, the Dr. Shiba team introduced the Prof. Bengal Cat Paste Treats, billed as the country’s first functional paste treats for cats. These are not snack-style pastes. They are formulated with targeted ingredients to support specific feline needs: taurine for vision and heart health, salmon oil for skin and coat, and prebiotics for digestion. The paste format was developed with veterinary input and aims to combine high palatability with measurable wellness benefits.
Prof. Bengal also unveiled Kind Kibble for Cats, a complete daily formula made primarily with fresh chicken, chicken liver, and sweet potato. The formula includes nutrient-rich additions, such as frozen cod and blueberries, and is positioned as filler-free and free of artificial additives. The cat kibble follows the same science-backed approach that made Dr. Shiba’s Kind Kibble for Dogs a success.
Philipp Renner, founder and CEO of Dr. Shiba and Prof. Bengal, framed the launch as an effort to make healthier choices both accessible and appealing. “We wanted to make healthier choices accessible for cat parents and irresistible for their cats,” he said. “Every ingredient in this lineup has a clear purpose, proof that healthy can also be delicious and affordable.”
Veterinarian Dr. Roxanne Ignacio participated in the program and addressed the role of functional nutrition in feline health, explaining how targeted formulations can help cat parents balance enjoyment and efficacy in feeding.
As a fellow cat parent, I was delighted to attend the event with my two adopted cats, Moira and Offred, in tow. We rescued them during the pandemic, and since then, caring for their health has been a top priority. Offred has a history of kidney trouble and was once hospitalized, so we’ve become extra cautious about urinary health. It was reassuring to hear from the Prof. Bengal team that their products are safe for cats with urinary sensitivities. When we got home, my two furbabies wasted no time sampling the Cat Paste Treats, and, true to form, they loved them.
Prof. Bengal follows in the pawprints of its canine counterpart, Dr. Shiba, which has grown rapidly across Asia and beyond — now found in over 1,500 stores across the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and even the UK. Together, the two brands share a research-driven approach to pet wellness and a heart for animal welfare, supporting local rescue groups like Pawssion Project.
Cat parents can now get their hands on Prof. Bengal’s Cat Paste Treats and Kind Kibble for Cats through dr-shiba.com, Lazada Mall, Shopee Mall, and TikTok Shop, with more retail stores joining in throughout November.