Attention Cat Lovers...the Meow Mix Acatemy(TM), the World's First Feline-Centric School, Opens in New York City to Teach People How to Think Like a Cat.

The "Cat's Out of the Bag" as The Meow Mix Acatemy[TM] Offers Classes and Guest Speakers to Help Pet Parents Connect with their Felines, while Raising Money for Animal Shelters Across America

NEW YORK -- First it was the Meow Mix Cafe([R]), then The Meow Mix House[TM] reality show, and today, the Meow Mix([R]) cat food brand announces that classes are in-session at The Meow Mix Acatemy[TM] - the world's first feline-centric school that is dedicated to teaching pet parents how to think like a cat. The Meow Mix Acatemy, which is located in New York City at Union Square East and 15thStreet (the Daryl Roth Theatre) opens its doors today at 11:00 a.m. with a Pet Rally - complete with a marching band and cheerleaders.

The Acatemy will remain open through Saturday, August 25, and will feature an all-star faculty of some of the world's top authorities on cats--including feline behaviorists, cat therapists, veterinarians and pet psychics--and a curriculum that will educate students about everything cat-related, including how they think, eat, play, sleep and exercise, and most importantly, what they're trying to tell us.

"At Meow Mix, we are passionate about keeping cats happy, and we believe that you can't truly know your cat until you understand how to think like a cat. The Meow Mix Acatemy, the world's first cat-centric school, gives cat lovers a unique opportunity to enhance the emotional connection with their feline family member by empowering pet parents to think, and act, more like a cat," said Joe Tuza, Vice President, Del Monte Pet Products. "From studying the fine art of the catnap to cooking demonstrations featuring celebrity Chef Cat Cora, who knows something about creating food for the finicky gourmet -- The Acatemy will help translate the 'meows and purrs' into opportunities for pet parents to gain a greater understanding of their furry family members."

Students at The Meow Mix Acatemy will be able to take part in a wide range of interactive courses that will simulate different aspects of a cat's behavior, such as scaling a climbing wall; replicating a cat's swatting motion by playing tether ball with a ball of yarn; and, receiving expert instruction from deejays on how to scratch. Pet parents are invited to bring their cats with them to The Acatemy to share in the experience.

Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow...The Meow Mix Acatemy Advisory Board

Heading up The Meow Mix Acatemy is Chef Cat Cora, the star of the Food Network's Iron Chef America and author of a new cookbook, Cooking From the Hip (Houghton Mifflin, 2007). She has more in common with cats than just her first name. As a world-class chef, she can tell pet parents what every finicky feline knows - that fresh, high-quality ingredients are the key to a great culinary experience. Cat will be giving cooking demonstrations at The Acatemy on Tuesday, August 21 at 1:00 p.m. to show students how to make healthy dishes for themselves using the foods that their cats crave, including beef, tuna, shrimp and crab.

"Food is not only my profession - it is my passion. From an early age I have been obsessed with combining the freshest meats, poultry, fish, and vegetables to create delicious meals," said Cora. "I've always been a cat lover and as a chef and member of The Meow Mix Acatemy Advisory Board, I thought that this would be a fun opportunity to create healthy recipes. I was inspired by some of the wonderful flavors that Meow Mix[R] Market Select(TM) cat food offers - everything from Tuna & Shrimp to Salmon & Ocean Fish, and while the recipes that I'm creating are for pet parents, I think that they help send an important message. Humans should know that feline family members understand that freshness is the key to good eating, and cats can be as finicky as any gourmet when it comes to their meals."

Joining Chef Cora on The Acatemy Advisory Board is an all-star faculty of some of the world's top authorities on cats--including feline behaviorists, cat therapists, veterinarians and pet psychics, as well as deejays (to instruct on scratching), models (experts on the catwalk), and actors who have portrayed cats on the big screen and Broadway.

The Acatemy also features special seminars where pet parents can learn what their cats are trying to tell them, from understanding what they are saying with a flick of their tail, and figuring out when kitty is telling you she is sick, to understanding their fascination with plastic bags. Guest lecturers include:

* Warren Eckstein, the Host of the syndicated radio program, "The Pet Show with Warren Eckstein";

* Carole Wilbourn, "The Cat Therapist" and author of five books, including The Total Cat;

* Dr. Alison Abramson, DVM, a veterinarian at Park East Animal Hospital in Manhattan; and

* Emerald DuCouer, pet psychic, who will be providing personal consultations.

Among the other consultants to The Acatemy include "America's Next Top Model" winner CariDee English, who is an expert on walking the catwalk; recording artist Kat Deluna, the authority on "singing like a cat"; actor Vincent Pastore, who played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on "The Sopranos"; and, the world's foremost mentalist, The Amazing Kreskin, who will be demonstrating how adept cats are at reading our minds, as well as showing the power of the mind in influencing your cat.

The Meow Mix Acatemy...Coming Soon to a Cat-Friendly City Near You

Following The Acatemy event in New York, the school will then go on an 11-city national tour, making stops in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Tampa, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco, where the tour will conclude on November 4.

People who can't make it to The Meow Mix Acatemy in person will still be able to experience many of the highlights by going to the special Acatemy page on www.MeowMix.com. The Website will include an online Cat Aptitude Test (CAT), commentary from The Acatemy faculty, and video highlights of The Acatemy events. Visitors to the Website will also be able to enter to win a cat-inspired culinary experience with Chef Cat Cora.

The Meow Mix Acatemy Helps Furry Felines in Need

For every student who visits The Meow Mix Acatemy, one pound of Meow Mix([R]) cat food will be donated to a cat shelter in that city. In addition, 100 percent of proceeds from sales at The Acatemy bookstore--where students will be able to choose from a wide array of shirts, sweatshirts, hats, backpacks, school supplies, bumper stickers, and even the official Meow Mix Acatemy textbook, The Meaning of Meow--will be donated to those shelters.

About Meow Mix[R] Brand

Meow Mix([R]) brand "Tastes So Good Cats Ask For It By Name!([R])" Meow Mix([R]) is the leading brand in cat food with a mission of keeping cats happy. The brand is proud to offer a wide range of products to suit whatever tastes your cat loves. Whether your cat eats dry food, wet food or a combination of both, Meow Mix([R]) cat food has the variety and taste that cats crave. Meow Mix([R]) brand offers a range of dry and wet cat food, premium pouch and Meow Mix([R]) cat treats.

About Del Monte Pet Products

At Del Monte, our pet products nourish and enrich the lives of pets and pet parents by providing great-tasting, high-quality and innovative products for dogs and cats and by encouraging them to enjoy an active lifestyle together. With trusted brands including Meow Mix([R]), Kibbles 'n Bits([R]), 9Lives([R]), Snausages([R]), Pup-Peroni([R]), Milk-Bone([R]), Meaty Bone([R]) and Pounce([R]), our products enrich the connection between people and the pets they love. As a premier provider of taste-oriented pet food and pet snacks, our products play a key role in the lives of millions of pet families everyday.

About Del Monte Foods 

Del Monte Foods is one of the country's largest and most well known producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded food and pet products for the U.S. retail market, generating more than $3.4 billion in net sales in fiscal 2007. With a powerful portfolio of brands including Del Monte([R]), StarKist([R]), S&W([R]), Contadina([R]), College Inn([R]), Meow Mix([R]), Kibbles 'n Bits([R]), 9Lives([R]), Milk-Bone([R]), Pup-Peroni([R]), Meaty Bone([R]), Snausages([R]) and Pounce([R]), Del Monte products are found in nine out of ten U.S. households. The Company also produces, distributes and markets private label food and pet products. For more information on Del Monte Foods Company (NYSE:DLM) visit the Company's website at www.delmonte.com.

Del Monte. Nourishing Families. Enriching Lives. Every Day.