Internet celebrity Grumpy Cat, the face that launched a thousand memes, makes a surprise appearance on Friskies Will Kitty Play With It?

IT PROBABLY won't affect her sour mood, but Grumpy Cat now has an endorsement deal.

Nestle Purina PetCare said Tuesday that the frown-faced internet sensation - real name Tardar Sauce - is now the "spokescat" for a Friskies brand of cat food. The US-based company didn't release terms of the deal.

Grumpy Cat, whose brown and white face wears a constant scowl, has become an online sensation.

Her photos are a constant presence on Facebook and other social media, and she's among the biggest stars of the peculiar trend of cat dominance on web videos and postings.

Grumpy Cat's own Facebook page has 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 Ms Catron isn't kidding. The feline will receive the award on October 15 in New York as Friskies honours the best cat videos of the year as chosen through an online vote.

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