Cheer up, Grumpy Cat: You have an endorsement deal

ST. LOUIS -- It probably won't affect her famous mood, but Grumpy Cat now has an endorsement deal.

The frown-faced Internet sensation, real name Tardar Sauce, is now the "spokescat" for a Friskies brand of cat food, Nestle Purina PetCare announced Tuesday. The St. Louis-based company didn't release terms of the deal.

Photos of Grumpy Cat, her brown and white face in a constant scowl, have become a constant presence on Facebook and other social media, often accompanied by crabby messages such as "I don't like days that end in Y" or "I'm listening, I just don't care." She also is among the biggest stars of the peculiar trend of cat dominance on web videos and postings.

Grumpy Cat's own Facebook page has more than 1.3 million likes. The dour animal also has more than 111,000 Twitter followers.

In addition to the relationship with Nestle Purina, which featured Grumpy Cat in an online video game series in March, the 1 1/2-year-old mixed-breed feline has a merchandise line and reportedly has a movie deal in the works.

"She's very busy," Friskies spokeswoman Julie Catron said. "The first thing she'll do for us is receive the lifetime achievement award."

And Catron isn't kidding. The feline will receive the award Oct. 15 in New York as Friskies honors the best cat videos of the year as chosen through an online vote.

Grumpy Cat is owned by Tabatha Bundesen, who lives in Phoenix.

----

Online:

www.friskies.com