AGREEMENT  FOR  DEFERRAL  OF  2000  ANNUAL  CASH  BONUS

     Ralston  Purina  Company  ("Company")  and  _____________ ("Participant")
agree  that, effective  November 1, 2000, $ ________ awarded to Participant
under the 2000 Annual Cash Bonus  Award  Program  shall  be deferred, as
requested by Participant, into the option  or  options  available  under  the
Deferred  Compensation  Plan for Key Employees ("Plan"), the Prospectus for
which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated  by  reference  herein.

     Pursuant to Participant's request, the following amounts have been deferred
for  Participant  in  the  manner  set  forth  below:

(1)     RALSTON  PURINA  EQUITY  OPTION
        --------------------------------

       (a)  $  _____ in a deferred Stock Equivalent account in
            Participant's name  under  the  Ralston  Purina  Equity Option
            as set forth in the Prospectus.

       (b)  $  _____ in  a  deferred  Stock  Equivalent  account  in
            Participant's  name representing Company Matching Deferral
            (25% of amount listed in  1(a)  above)  as  set  forth  in  the
             Prospectus.

(2)     SHORT-TERM  PRIME  RATE  OPTION $ _______ in a deferred Cash
        -------------------------------
        account  in  Participant's  name under the Prime Rate Option as set
        forth in the Prospectus;  provided,  however, that, notwithstanding any
        provision to the contrary contained in the Plan, amounts attributable to
        deferrals into the Prime Rate  Option  shall  be  paid  to  Participant
        in  January  2001.

(3)     PRIME RATE OPTION   $ ______ in a deferred Cash account in
        -----------------
                            Participant's name under the Prime Rate Option as
                            set forth in the Prospectus.

(4)     MEASUREMENT  FUND  OPTION(S)  - in a Vanguard Measurement Fund Option in
        ----------------------------
        Participant's name as set forth in the Prospectus in the amount
        indicated below:

        Wellington  Fund         $       LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund $
        500  Index  Fund         $       LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund     $
        Windsor II  Fund         $       LifeStrategy Growth Fund              $
        Small-Cap Index Fund     $       International Growth Fund             $
        LifeStrategy Income Fund $

     Participant's  deferral hereunder is pursuant to the Plan and is subject in
all  respects to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Plan.  No
other  communications  or  representations,  written  or  oral,  made  prior  or
subsequent  to  this  Agreement  shall be deemed to amend or modify the terms of
this  deferral  except  by  an  agreement  in  writing  executed  by the parties
subsequent to the date of this Agreement, expressly consenting to such amendment
or  modification.  Participant  hereby  waives  any rights, and releases Company
from  any  claim,  based on any such prior communications or representations, if
any.

ACCEPTED:                                     RALSTON  PURINA  COMPANY

______________________________                By:______________________________
          Participant                                C.  S.  Sommer
                                                     Vice  President  and
                                                     Director,  Administration
_______________________________
          Date