Time running out to vote in National Cat Awards

From sociable cats that spread cheer wherever they go, to caring cats who provide comfort in times of need, 11 marvellous moggies are in the running to be named Cats Protection's National Cat of the Year 2024.

Voting for the winners of each of four categories closes at midday on 30 August – then a panel of distinguished judges will choose the overall National Cat of the Year, to be announced at a ceremony hosted by best-selling author and television presenter Dawn O'Porter at London's One Marylebone on 18 September.

This year's top cat will follow in the pawprints of previous winner Zebby who was crowned National Cat of the Year 2023 in honour of the support he gives his deaf owner Genevieve Moss, alerting her to sounds around their home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Cats Protection's National Cat Awards, organised by the UK's largest feline welfare charity, recognises the incredible bond between cats and people, proving that life is better with cats. The four categories in the 2024 Awards are Connected Cats, Family Cats, Senior Cats and Incredible Cats. Now, cat lovers have until noon on 30 August to vote for their favourite finalist by visiting www.cats.org.uk/nca.  

Finalists in this year's Awards include:

Marley – the fluffy heart of the home at a safehouse for women fleeing modern slavery.

Cilla – a stray who moved into a primary school, calming pupils before their SATs and raising £5,000 to restock the library. Cilla is looking forward to being reunited with all her friends when the schools go back in September.

Marmaduke – a big ginger softie, he helped his owner recover from the trauma of working as an emergency ambulance technician at the Manchester Arena on the night of the 2017 attack.

Seth – at 16 years old, this plucky pensioner refused to slow down when a vicious dog attack left him with a dislocated hip.

Self-confessed cat lady Dawn O'Porter said: "I'm so pleased to be back to present the National Cat Awards again this year. I love hearing the amazing stories about the nominated cats and learning how these incredible animals have made lives better for their families. It really is the ultimate event for cat people."  

Cats Protection's Marketing and Income Generation Director Catherine Cottrell said: "The National Cat Awards is an annual celebration of the nation's love of cats and this year we received over 1,500 entries. Some of our finalists have shown incredible intuition in understanding their owners' needs; others are total extroverts, becoming local celebrities. Then there are the plucky pusses like William, undaunted by losing a leg, and Miss Dave Mittens who is (nearly) as sprightly as a kitten at the grand old age of 21. The central message of all the stories is that cats are cherished family members who add so much love to their owners' lives. I can't wait to see who the public chooses as their winners."

Category winners will each win a prize package of a trophy, a £200 pet store voucher and a year's subscription to Cats Protection's The Cat magazine, with the National Cat of the Year also receiving an overall winner trophy.