A line-up of fabulous felines has been revealed as finalists in this year’s National Cat Awards, sponsored by pet food brand Purina.
From fun-loving felines who help children face major challenges to caring cats who provide comfort in times of need, the marvellous moggies are all in the running to be named Cats Protection’s National Cat of the Year 2021.
This year’s top cat will follow in the pawprints of previous winner Jeffree, a life-changing moggy from Coventry that helped teenager Finn Hackeson, who has Asperger syndrome, cope with the death of his father.
The finalists in this year’s awards include:
> Paddy, the ginger puss who spends his days comforting mourners at a burial ground before returning each evening to his owners
> Minty, a three-legged cat who is a best friend to a six-year-old boy with severe learning difficulties and a range of medical conditions
> Bruno, who was found abandoned in a cardboard box by a grieving couple and helped them cope with pain of losing their new-born daughter.
Cats Protection’s awards, sponsored by Purina, are normally an annual celebration of cats. With last year’s event postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic, this year’s awards will be hosted online.
After category winners are announced online on Thursday, August 5, an overall winner will be selected as National Cat of the Year by a celebrity panel and announced on August 12.