ST. LOUIS, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In many households, mornings include rituals and memorable shared moments for people and cats alike. In a recent survey* of U.S. cat owners conducted on behalf of the Fancy Feast® brand, more than 60 percent of respondents said their cats were most eager to get their attention in the morning so they could eat. From cats waking owners by meowing or pawing at them in bed, to owners responding with affection and a meal, many cats and owners connect first thing in the morning and start the day together.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120626/SF30466)

To celebrate the connections cats and their owners share through these special moments, the Fancy Feast brand introduces Fancy Feast® Mornings™ Gourmet Cat Food, a delectable new line of breakfast-inspired morning meals for cats. With a new reason to love mornings, cat owners may now start their cats' days with protein-rich entrees made with poultry or seafood, garden veggies and real egg. Beginning June 25, consumers will find Morning Missions announcements on the Fancy Feast Facebook timeline. When the community completes the mission, free samples are unlocked at www.Facebook.com/FancyFeast.

Survey Shows Mornings Are Special for Cats and Their Owners
A recent survey by the Fancy Feast brand shed light on the morning rituals shared by American cats and their owners:

• More than 60 percent of cat owner respondents said their cats were most eager to get their attention in the morning so they could eat.
• Nearly 45 percent of cat owner respondents feed their cats first thing in the morning.
• More than 70 percent of cat owner respondents said they are awakened in the morning either by their cats or their alarm clocks.
• Among those who are awakened by their cats, more than 50 percent said their cats wake them up by meowing for their morning meals.

Mobile Morning Moments
To ensure cat owners never miss out on these irreplaceable moments – even when away from home – the Fancy Feast brand created a free mobile alarm clock iPhone app called "MorningPurr."

The "MorningPurr" app – available in early July - enables cat owners to record their cats' purrs as alarm wake-up sounds, and personalize alarm screens with photos of their cats. iPhone users can download the app by visiting the App Store on their phones.

Morning Meals for Every Taste
There are six new breakfast-inspired Fancy Feast® Mornings™ Gourmet Cat Food varieties to create a deliciously complete morning. Whether a cat prefers the light, airy texture of a gourmet souffle or the irresistible taste of tender bites in a delicious sauce, there is a Mornings meal for her. The delectable morning varieties include:

• Souffle With White Meat Chicken, Garden Veggies and Egg
• Souffle With Turkey, Garden Veggies and Egg
• Souffle With Wild Salmon, Garden Veggies and Egg
• Medley With White Meat Chicken, Garden Veggies and Egg in Sauce
• Medley With Trout, Garden Veggies and Egg in Sauce
• Medley With Wild Salmon, Garden Veggies and Egg in Sauce

The new Fancy Feast Mornings™ Gourmet Cat Food entrees are available in stores nationwide for the suggested retail price of $0.80-$0.89 per can.

About Fancy Feast® Gourmet Cat Food
The Fancy Feast Brand makes every day extraordinary with an exquisite selection of gourmet cat food entrees, restaurant-inspired feline cuisine, dry meals, and Fancy Feast Appetizers for cats. Fancy Feast Gourmet Cat Food is manufactured/distributed by Nestle Purina PetCare Company, a global leader in the pet care industry. Nestle Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri. Nestle Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A. -- the world's largest food company.

*About the 2012 Fancy Feast® Survey
The survey presents the findings of an online Omnibus survey conducted by Ipsos May 18-21, 2012 among a sample of 338 adult cat owners (18+ years of age - male and female).

SOURCE Purina Fancy Feast Gourmet Cat Food