THE search is on in the north west for the UK’s most marvellous moggy

Cats Protection is asking cat owners in St Helens to nominate their furry friends in this year’s National Cat Awards.

For more than a decade, the awards have celebrated the difference cats make to owners’ lives by highlighting heart-warming stories of devotion, companionship and courage.

Could your cat follow in the paw prints of successful entrants Arthur, from Sandbach, Awol, from Barnsley and Lucky, from Greater Manchester?

 

Arthur was the winner of Cats Protection’s Most Caring Cat Award 2018.

Suffering with serious mental health issues, Emily Hatton spent much of the past eight years receiving care at specialist hospitals. Having Arthur has helped Emily adjust to everyday life and live independently for the longest period in her adult life.

 

Awol was shortlisted for Cats Protection’s Most Caring Cat Award 2018.

The tragic loss of Nicola Hamblett’s grandmother was the beginning of a terrible few months for her, during which she lost five other relatives and friends.

Sinking into depression and developing alopecia, Nicola’s lifeline came with the arrival of Awol, who turned up on her doorstep and refused to leave.

 

Lucky was shortlisted for Cats Protection’s Furr-ever Friends Award 2018.

Ten-year-old Graham Hudson had severe learning difficulties, making it difficult for him to communicate his feelings and form friendships. Fortunately, he had a best friend in the form of Lucky, the family’s four-year-old cat.

Cats do not need to have been adopted from Cats Protection to be nominated for an award and owners have until noon on Friday, March 8 to enter one of five categories:

• Hero Cat – cats that save the day

• Most Caring Cat – cats that positively impact a person’s health or wellbeing

• Furr-ever Friends – tales of friendship between children and cats

• Outstanding Rescue Cat – fabulous felines adopted from animal charities

• PURINA® Better Together - celebrating the special bond that has transformed and enriched the lives of both a feline and human

The National Cat Awards is sponsored by PURINA® and a panel of celebrity cat-lovers will select the winners. The winning cats’ owners will then be presented with their trophies at a star-studded ceremony at London’s Savoy Hotel on Thursday, August 8 – coinciding with International Cat Day.

Cats Protection’s Awards organiser Kate Bunting said: “This event is the highlight of the feline calendar and gives us the chance to celebrate everything we love about cats.

“Every year, the entries we receive go to show why cats make such great pets – whether it’s for helping their owners through times of sadness or loss, heroic moggies who come to the rescue or brave felines who survive against the odds.”

The overall winner will inherit the title of National Cat of the Year from Theo, who helped his owner Charlotte Dixon survive a potentially fatal blood clot.

For more information about the awards email nationalcatawards@cats.org.uk or call 03000 121212.

Anyone wishing to nominate their cat should visit cats.org.uk/national-cat-awards