Scottish cat who walks boy to school every day could be UK's 'cat of the year'
The sociable feline joins 10-year-old Sonny on his daily walks to school and then waits for him to finish.
A Scottish cat with a love for the school runs has become a local sensation and is hunting down a national award. Two-year-old Kiki has reached the final of the Cats Protection National Cat Awards 2025.
The sociable feline from the south side of Glasgow has made it to the final three in the Connected Cats category, a prize celebrating moggies who bring people together and spread joy in their communities.
She beat hundreds of entries from across the UK to land her place among the top cats, Glasgow Live reports. And she is in with a chance of winning the overall Cat of the Year award for 2025.
Kiki has become a familiar face at her local primary school, following 10-year-old Sonny and his classmates to the gates every morning. She then waits patiently in the playground until home time, ready to escort them back home again.
Kiki's owner, 51-year-old Michelle Scott, said: "She's brought a lot of joy to the children, staff and school community. She's given the teachers an opportunity to teach children how to treat cats and respect them."
Social worker Michelle added: "She's often sleeping or half awake when Sonny is getting ready for school. But as soon as she hears him leave, she'll jump off the bed and run downstairs to go after them.
"Then, if they stop and faff about, she'll run on in front as if to say, 'Come on!'"
If Kiki is crowned the UK's most connected cat it won't be her first gong. She previously received a special award from Sonny's headteacher for her 100 per cent attendance at school.
Michelle explained how the much-loved Kiki joined the family as a kitten for Sonny's eighth birthday and quickly became one of the gang.
She said: 'I've always had cats but Kiki is like no cat I've known. Whenever Sonny had friends round, she would sit with them as if she was one of them. She's really sociable.'
Now Kiki will go head-to-head with two other finalists in her category as the public votes to decide which cat will take home one of the four main titles: Connected Cats, Family Cats, Incredible Cats and Senior Cats.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony hosted by author and presenter Dawn O'Porter in London on Wednesday, September 24, with the overall National Cat of the Year chosen by a panel of judges.
Jeff Knott, Advocacy and Influence Director at Cats Protection, said: 'The National Cat Awards celebrates the nation's cats and the extraordinary impact they have on people's lives.
"This year's finalists have shown incredible intuition, empathy and compassion. We can't wait to reveal the winners, and it's now up to the public to decide.'
Voting is open from June 16 until July 31 at the Cats Protection website. Each category winner will receive a trophy, a £200 pet store voucher and a year's subscription to The Cat magazine.
The overall winner will also receive a second trophy and inherit the title from Marley, who was crowned National Cat of the Year in 2024 for comforting women recovering from exploitation at Caritas Bakhita House in London.
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