Eukanuba Partners With Cat Fancy(R) to Launch Cat College

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The second semester of Cat College has commenced, but it's not too late to register at http://www.CatChannel.com/catcollege. The program runs through February 28, 2010.

Cat College, sponsored by Eukanuba brand cat food, is a partnership with Cat Fancy® magazine, the world's premier cat publication, and CatChannel.com, the leading online destination for cat lovers, to provide the unique opportunity for cat lovers to earn their "Cat Applied Technology (C.A.T.) degree." Cat College is open to anyone with interest and enthusiasm for the C.A.T.-alogue course work on feline education.

The program's valedictorian will win a year's worth of Eukanuba cat food provided by PETCO and delivered by PETCO's Bottomless Bowl program (www.petco.com/bottomlessbowl), a subscription service that allows pet parents to have pet food and supplies delivered automatically right to their door.

The valedictorian will also be featured in Cat Fancy magazine. Additionally, all students who complete the course work will receive a diploma. Tippi Hedren, animal rescue advocate, founder of the non-profit wild cat preserve, Shambala, and star of The Birds, will give the graduation address. All Cat College graduates will be able to download coupons for Eukanuba brand cat food. CatChannel Club Cat members will also earn 1,000 points for participating in the program.

"We've received an enthusiastic response so far from people who have taken advantage of the free online education that Cat College provides," says Cat Fancy and CatChannel Editor Susan Logan." People who already knew a lot about cats and those who are new to felines are excited about what they're learning."

The Cat College curriculum includes courses on feline nutrition, biology, zoology, genetics, psychology, language, sociology, art history and physical education.  Each course includes a video lecture from a cat expert, as well as reading material to prepare students for the quizzes that they are required to take before receiving their C.A.T. degree. To graduate, students must complete three core classes and three "cat-lectives" – and receive a passing score in each course. To receive top honors or become the valedictorian, a student must take all courses and receive a score of 90 percent or higher in each course. To be considered for valedictorian, the student must take all classes and receive the highest score on all the tests, in addition to taking a final exam. Also, each prospective valedictorian must write a 500-word-or-less commencement speech for Cat College and we will select the one that represents Cat College the best to read at graduation.

To schedule an interview with the editor, contact Lisa MacDonald, director of marketing, at 949-855-8822, ext. 3345.

About BowTie, Inc.

BowTie, Inc. is the leader in special-interest pet magazines, trade magazines, books and websites dedicated to pet-loving consumers, pet-supply retailers, veterinarians, breeders and pet professionals worldwide. Divisions of BowTie, Inc. include BowTie Magazines, BowTie Press, BowTie News, Thoroughbred Times Company, Global Distribution Services and www.AnimalNetwork.com.

About P&G Pet Care

For more than 60 years, Procter & Gamble Pet Care (NYSE: PG), the maker of Iams, Eukanuba, and Iams Veterinary Formulas has enhanced the well-being of dogs and cats by providing world-class quality foods and pet-care products.  To learn more about Iams Veterinary Formulas or general pet care and nutrition information, call the Iams Veterinary Formulas Specialists at (800) 535-8387.  You can also visit us on the Web at www.iams.com or www.eukanuba.com. 

About PETCO

PETCO is a privately held specialty retailer that provides products, services and advice that make it easier for our customers to be great pet parents. We operate more than 1,000 stores in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading pet products and information destination at www.petco.com. Our nonprofit organization, The PETCO Foundation, has raised more than $56 million since its inception in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support approximately 6,200 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 200,000 adoptable animals every year.

SOURCE BowTie, Inc.