Latest news with #NationalCatAwards
Daily Record
19 hours ago
- General
- Daily Record
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. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow cat in running for National Cat Awards 2025
Two-year-old Kiki, from Glasgow, is a finalist in the 2025 Cats Protection National Cat Awards in the Connected Cats category, which celebrates cats that make a big impact in their communities and bring joy to those around them. Kiki accompanies 10-year-old Sonny and his friends on their daily walk to school, waits for them in the playground, and then joins them for the journey back home. Read more: Dogs Trust Glasgow seeks volunteers to help pooches in need (Image: Supplied) So consistent is Kiki's routine that the school's headteacher jokingly praised her '100 per cent attendance', and she's now a beloved figure at the school gates. Known for her sociable nature, she has become a firm favourite among pupils, staff, and local families. Michelle Scott, 51, a social worker and Kiki's owner, said: "I've always had cats but Kiki is like no cat I've known. "We got her as a kitten for my son Sonny's eighth birthday and whenever he had friends around, she would sit with them as if she was one of them. "She's really sociable. "She follows Sonny and his friends to school every day, waits around the playground, then follows them home. 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'. "She's brought a lot of joy to the children, staff and school community and given the teachers an opportunity to teach children how to treat cats and respect them.' (Image: Supplied) Kiki was selected from hundreds of nominations and is now one of three national finalists in her category. She is now competing in a public vote running from now to July 31 on the Cats Protection website. The overall National Cat of the Year will be chosen by a panel of judges. Cat lovers can cast their votes at between June 16 and July 31. 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." Category winners will receive a trophy, a £200 pet store voucher, and a year's subscription to The Cat magazine. Read more: Injured rabbit and live hamster dumped in Glasgow canal (Image: Supplied) One lucky cat will also be crowned National Cat of the Year, with the overall winner announced at a London awards ceremony on September 24, hosted by writer and presenter Dawn O'Porter. The awards highlight the unique ways in which cats enrich the lives of people and communities across the UK. Last year's winner, Marley, was honoured for his role in comforting women who have been enslaved, exploited, and trafficked at Caritas Bakhita House in London.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
National Cat Awards: Meet some of the finalists!
The National Cat Awards are back! The awards celebrate cats across the UK that have gone above and beyond the standard furry friend, from support through tricky times to yearly event is organised by the charity Cats Protection and there are four competition categories: Connected Cats, Family Cats, Senior Cats and Incredible reading to find out more about some of this year's finalists: Carrot (senior cat category) Meet Carrot, a ginger 22-year-old cat with only three remaining teeth. Carrot belongs to Charlotte and Rob, who rehomed her from the rescue centre. Having requested the 'saddest cat', their bond with Carrot was instant. Carrot has since provided lots of joy for the couple, and has provided them with many happy owner Charlotte said: "She is feisty and speaks her mind but is so loving. If I could be an advocate for adopting older cats, I would, she has brought so much joy!" Kiki (connected cat category) Two-year-old Kiki lives in Glasgow and belongs to Michelle. Kiki loves an adventure and every day will follow Michelle's son, Sonny, and his friends on their walk to school. She then waits in the playground, before following them home again at the end of the day. Kiki has 100% attendance and is well known by the staff and pupils at the says: "She's brought a lot of joy to the children, staff and school community and given the teachers an opportunity to teach children how to treat cats and respect them." Fizz (connected cats category) Another finalist in the connected cat category of the competition is Fizz. Four-year-old Fizz lives in Wales and loves to explore his town! Fizz is such a wanderer, he has his own Facebook page with 1.6k friends watching his every move over town from the newsagents to the gym, and even on stage at the local theatre. This ginger cat loves to explore and the whole town have taken him into their hearts. Owner Briony says: "As far as Fizz is concerned, the town is his. He gets up at five in the morning, meows like mad until one of us gets up and lets him out, then he's off. He does what he wants, when he wants, I've just got to accept he's a natural born wanderer. He adores people and loves attention." Mitts (incredible cat category) Like Fizz, Mitts is also from Wales. She belongs to Louise, who describes her as 'extremely loving and quite bossy'. Mitts helped keep Louise company after she went through a difficult time and was homeless for 6 months. And now, it sounds like Mitts rules the house. Louise said: "If I haven't gone to bed by half eleven, she's standing there meowing with this look on her face"."She is just a little cat and asks for nothing but she gives so much." Rocky (family cat category) Rocky lives in Derby with his owners Abbie, Martin and their children. He was picked by Abbie's son Thomas when he was just four years old, and they have been best friends since. Whether Thomas is eating his breakfast, doing homework, having tea or watching TV, Rocky is right by his also has a bit of a cheeky side, and enjoys drinking from the tap in the downstairs toilet rather than his water bowl. Abbie said: "Rocky has brought so much fun, love and laughter to our family."
