Is your purrfect friend a winner

The search is on to find the UK’s top cat in an annual National Cat Awards.

And maybe the nation’s most marvellous moggy lives in Monklands.

The competition run by Cats Protection is inviting every cat owner in the UK to enter their moggy and celebrates the achievements of the country’s fearless felines.

Now in its ninth year, the awards highlight the real-life stories of heroism, companionship and loyalty in the cat world.

Entries opened yesterday and owners have until March 31 to nominate their cat for 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 winner of each category will then be in with a chance of inheriting the title National Cat of the Year from last year’s winner Tink, who woke her owner to raise the alarm as a fire engulfed the family home.

The winning moggies, and the overall National Cat of the Year, will be announced at an awards ceremony at London’s Savoy Hotel on August 3.

Each winner will receive a trophy, a three-month supply of Purina® cat food, a year’s subscription to Cats Protection’s The Cat magazine and a voucher for cat goodies.

Those wishing to enter can visit www.cats.org.uk/ national-cat-awards

For further information about the awards, email nationalcatawards@cats.org.uk or phone 03000 12 12 12.