Four felines take their spot in the final of the National Cat Awards

Four devoted pets have taken their places in the final of this year’s National Cat Awards, held by charity Cats Protection.

The moggies will now be judged by a panel of celebrities before the winner is crowned on Thursday August 12.

The organiser highlighted that this year’s competition is particularly “special” as due to coronavirus many Brits have “appreciated the presence of a pet cat in the home”.

The four contenders include three-legged cat Minty, who helps six-year-old Connor Raven cope with severe learning difficulties and medical conditions; rescue cat Mikey, who helped his owner cope after her baby was stillborn; Penelope Farthing, who can sense when her owner is about to have a seizure; and Boris who recovered from his own injuries to be a companion to 80-year-old Alex Tullis.

The cats come from across the UK, from London, to Essex to Wales.

Kate Bunting, Cats Protection’s award organiser, said: “The National Cat Awards is all about celebrating everything we love about cats, from their fun-loving antics to the comfort and companionship they bring to so many people.

“Over the past 18 months, many of us have appreciated the presence of a pet cat in the home, so this year’s National Cat Awards is particularly special.”

The winning cat will be chosen by a panel of celebrity judges including The Chase’s Jenny ‘The Vixen’ Ryan, BBC weather presenters Owain Wyn Evans and Elizabeth Rizzini, journalist Camilla Tominey, singer/songwriter Laura White, and regular National Cat Awards judges, David and Frankie Seaman.

Ms Bunting said: “Our final four cats have all made a huge impact on their owners’ lives and we know our judges are going to have a tricky job to select the overall winner.”