Our sixth photo contest was just as much fun as the primary five! We received nearly 2,000 entries, and we loved taking a look at every certainly one of them. With our readers’ help, we narrowed it all the way down to these three winners:
Grade Prize Winner (Cat Nap): Charley
While 4-month-old Charley is a sweet and loving boy, he’s also a kitty thief in training. Anything he can carry in his mouth (irrespective of how big or small) finds its strategy to one other a part of the home. Any items left on countertops, tables or dressers are fair game. His human mom, Debra Lynn Ross, knows all of his hiding places, so when something is missing, she’ll go there first to search out his treasure trove of goodies. Charley is especially keen on “relocating” clothes from the laundry basket.
In November 2022, Debra, who’s a change management and internal communications consultant, had adopted two kittens named Sammy and Benji. Sadly, Benji soon died from FIP. Sammy mourned his brother for months, and Debra eventually decided he needed a playmate. Enter Charley, who was adopted from Animal House Shelter in Huntley, Illinois. When Debra brought Charley home, Sammy sniffed the carrier and when Charley was let loose of the carrier, Sammy followed him across the house. Three hours later they were running after one another and playing. Five days later, Debra caught Sammy grooming Charley, and so they haven’t left one another’s side since.
How did she capture this shot?
“Charley had just been adopted days earlier and was having a little bit of difficulty getting used to his recent “sleeping” arrangement. Nevertheless, when Sammy jumped onto the bed and snuggled up on the blanket, Charley followed and, after that, it was Charley’s place. I had walked into the bedroom after a piece Zoom meeting and saw Charley snoozing away, and I grabbed my phone to take the photo.”
Best feline friends and siblings Frankie and Grace are 2 years old and like to play fetch. While Frankie’s toy preferences vary, Grace’s adores little spring toys, and he or she may be very vocal when she desires to play with one, talking to her human mom, Erin Monahan, and tilting her head and rolling over.
Frankie and Grace were born on Erin’s sister-in-law’s farm. As soon as Erin met them, she fell in love and brought them home. It’s the primary time she had ever brought home a pair of kittens together, and he or she’s all the time touched by their sweet sibling bond.
Frankie and Grace’s household includes Erin’s son, her fianceé, 13-year-old mixed breed dog Lucy (who may be very tolerant of cats and even tries to play with them every now and then) and 5-year-old cat Luna, who holds her own when Frankie and Grace occasionally gang up to select on her. Because of a disability, Erin needed to stop working in 2020. She says it could actually be lonely not having the ability to work anymore, but her 4 pets bring her much joy and a way of purpose.
How did she capture this shot?
“I’m consistently snapping photos each time I catch them looking cute. I need to all the time have these memories and to share the sweetness to brighten others’ days, especially given how tough the past few pandemic years have been.”
2nd Place Winner (Friends Fur Ever): Frankie & Grace
Erin and Frankie & Grace will receive a six-month supply of Ultra Cat litter, one bag of cleanprotein kibble and 6 cans of cleanprotein paté from Dr. Elsey’s.
Best feline friends and siblings Frankie and Grace are 2 years old and like to play fetch. While Frankie’s toy preferences vary, Grace’s adores little spring toys, and he or she may be very vocal when she desires to play with one, talking to her human mom, Erin Monahan, and tilting her head and rolling over.
Frankie and Grace were born on Erin’s sister-in-law’s farm. As soon as Erin met them, she fell in love and brought them home. It’s the primary time she had ever brought home a pair of kittens together, and he or she’s all the time touched by their sweet sibling bond.
Frankie and Grace’s household includes Erin’s son, her fianceé, 13-year-old mixed breed dog Lucy (who may be very tolerant of cats and even tries to play with them every now and then) and 5-year-old cat Luna, who holds her own when Frankie and Grace occasionally gang up to select on her. Because of a disability, Erin needed to stop working in 2020. She says it could actually be lonely not having the ability to work anymore, but her 4 pets bring her much joy and a way of purpose.
How did she capture this shot?
“I’m consistently snapping photos each time I catch them looking cute. I need to all the time have these memories and to share the sweetness to brighten others’ days, especially given how tough the past few pandemic years have been.”
third Place Winner (I Matches, I Sits): Oliver
Oliver and his family will receive a six-month supply of Ultra Cat litter, one bag of cleanprotein kibble and 6 cans of cleanprotein paté from Dr. Elsey’s.
Adopted from a neighborhood humane society as a kitten, 5-year-old Oliver may be very laid-back and likes to explore. This quirky kitty doesn’t wish to drink water from his bowl — he prefers lapping up water that’s dripping or flowing from the tap, waking up his humans early within the morning when he wants a drink. And despite his long hair, Oliver likes to lie directly in front of the fireside when it’s cold outside.
His human dad, Ben Duecker, works in law enforcement and lives in Indiana along with his family. Oliver also shares his home along with his feline sister, Darla, who’s a few 12 months older. They each wish to pester and chase one another infrequently. Darla was not a fan of Oliver when he was adopted, but they’ve learned to get along.
The family enjoys visiting the Cat Café on the Kokomo Humane Society in addition to the Black Forest Cat Café in Fort Wayne, saying that they’re each great ways to support an excellent cause focused on rehoming cats.
How did he capture this shot?
“Oliver is a really curious cat who likes to go inside empty boxes and bags. This was the right shot to indicate him lounging around in a makeshift hideout.”
| Dropped at you by Dr. Elsey’s:
About Dr. Elsey’s Products (Veterinarian-Formulated Litters and cleanprotein Cat Food) |
