Winners of MUSE Medallions and Special Awards have been Announced!

MUSE Medallions and Special Awards were presented at the gala CWA Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, May 19, 2017, during the CWA/BlogPaws Conference in Myrtle Beach SC.

Please join all our award winners in celebrating their achievements!

Amy Shojai, winner of the Fear Free Pets Award (center) and CWA President Marci Kladnik (right) show off Amy’s special award: a custom-made mirror called “Peeping Toms.”

 

2016 CWA Communication Contest – MUSE© WINNERS
Awarded May 19, 2017
=============================================

I.1 Magazine – National Circulation
MUSE© WINNER: Cat Talk, editor Teresa Keiger

I.2 Magazine Article – Health and General Care
Dusty Rainbolt, Litter Box Basics
Denise Fleck, Torn Nails, Limping and High-Rise Syndrome
MUSE© WINNER: Denise Fleck, Water: A Cat’s Best Friend

I.3 Magazine Article –Behavior and Training
Sally Mullen, Training An Aggressive Kitten
Phillip Mlynar, Ooh, It’s a Box!
MUSE© WINNER: Susan Logan-McCracken, Kitty Quirks

I.4 Magazine Article – Rescue/Advocacy
MUSE© WINNER: Phillip Mlynar, Adventures in Giving Back

I.5 Magazine Article – Any Other Topic
MUSE© WINNER: Deborah Barnes, Kitten Introduction
Ramona Marek, One Health and The Human-Animal Bond
Ramona Marek, The Human-Animal Bond: A Biological Imperative
Shery Clark, Holidays and Heartbreak

I.6 Magazine Column
Mollie Shutt, Su-PURR-Stitions
Anthony Nichols, Showtime
MUSE© WINNER: JaneA Kelley, Keep It Clean

II. 1 Newspaper Article – Health and General Care – no entries

II. 2 Newspaper Article – Behavior and Training – no entries

II.3 Newspaper Article – Rescue/Advocacy – no entries

II.4 Newspaper Article – Any Other Topic
MUSE© WINNER: Jen Reeder, Back in Black

II.5 Newspaper Column
Deborah Camp, The Best of the Pet World
MUSE© WINNER: Amy Shojai, PETiQuette

III.1 Newsletter – Breed Specific – no entries

III.2 Newsletter – National Circulation
MUSE© WINNER: Alley Cat Mews, editor Louise Holton

III.3 Newsletter – Regional or Membership Circulation – no entries

III. 4 Newsletter Article – Health and General Care
Ramona Marek, Cancer Treatments for Cats
Ramona Marek, Hospice Care for Our Pets
Kim Thornton, When Compounding IS Right for Your Cat
MUSE© WINNER: Kim Thornton, Fewer Heartworm Cases, More Severe Signs

III.5 Newsletter Article – Behavior and Training
MUSE© WINNER: Kim Thornton, They Climb Curtains, Scratch the Sofa

III.6 Newsletter Article – Rescue/Advocacy – no entries

III.7 Newsletter Article – Any Other Topic – no entries

III.8 Newsletter Column
MUSE© WINNER: Lyn T. Garson, Technically Speaking

IV.1 Short Story – no Certificate finalists

IV.2 Poem
MUSE© WINNER: Susan Willett, Haiku by Cat: Attraction
Susan Willett, Haiku by Cat: Yoga

IV.3 Humor
Heather Marcoux, 5 Father’s Day Gifts from My Unemployed, Moneyless Cats
MUSE© WINNER: Jeremy Greenberg, Sorry I Slept on Your Face

IV.4 Brochure, Pamphlet or Short Publication
Amy Shojai, My Cat Hates My Vet!
MUSE© WINNER: Matt Carl of Alley Cat Mews, Saving Cats’ Lives Through Trap-Neuter-Return

IV.5 Annual or Long Publication
MUSE© WINNER: Dusty Rainbolt, The Healthy Cat 2017 Calendar

IV.6 Opinion Piece, Essay or Editorial
Amy Shojai, Eight Common Aging Cat Conditions and What to Do
MUSE© WINNER: Deborah Barnes, Break Out of Your Blogging Niche to Make Strides in Cat Welfare

IV.7 PR/Humane Education/Press Kits
MUSE© WINNER: Bernadette Kazmarski, Making Life Better for Every Day of the Year

V.1 Books – Fiction
Clea Simon, The Ninth Life
Shirley Rousseau Murphy, Cat Shout for Joy
Stephen Chensue, The Nine Lives of Ichiban
MUSE© WINNER: Carole Nelson Douglas, Cat In An Alphabet Endgame

V.2 Books – For Children – no entries

V.3 Books – Health and General Care
MUSE© WINNER: Ramona Marek, Cats for the Genius

V.4 Books – Behavior and Training
MUSE© WINNER: Dusty Rainbolt, Cat Scene Investigator

V.5 Books – Gift
MUSE© WINNER: Tamar Arslanian, Shop Cats of New York

V.6 Books – Poetry – no entries

V.7 Books – Other
Lonnie Hull DuPont, Kit Kat & Lucy
MUSE© WINNER: Deborah Barnes, Makin’ Biscuits
Laurren Darr, CatDala Coloring Book

VI.1 Video, CD, DVD or Television Production
Matt Carl, TNR Video
MUSE© WINNER: Susan Willett, Elsa Clair’s Gold-Medal Purr-formance

VI.2 Broadcast – Audio
MUSE© WINNER: Denise Fleck, Pet Safety Crusader Radio

VII.1 Online Magazine or Newsletter – no entries

VII.2 Online Article – Health and General Care      TIE!
JaneA Kelley, When a Horse is Really a Zebra
Kim Thornton, Lethal Lillies
MUSE© WINNER: Kim Thornton, Survival Guide to Traveling Cross-Country with Cats
Kim Thornton, Travels with Felix
Kim Thornton, Fat Cats
Kim Thornton, Feline Mammary Cancer
Jen Reeder, Kidney Transplants for Cats
Lisa Richman, Kidney Transplants for Cats? Yes!
Dawn White, Stressed by the Vet?
Julie McAlee, Anal Glands and Happy Cats
MUSE© WINNER: Jacqueline Munera, Behavior Consulting and Declawed Cats
Susan Willett, My Cat Suddenly Started Drooling

VII.3 Online Article – Behavior and Training
Janiss Garza, Cat Tricks
MUSE© WINNER: Janiss Garza, A Step-by-Step Guide for Harness and Leash Training for Your Cat
Janiss Garza, 10 Tips to Trounce Kitty Troublemaking

VII.4 Online Article – Rescue/Advocacy
Jen Reeder, Oskar the Blind Cat Rallies for Special-Needs Pets
Dawn White: Tabby’s Place
Jonathon Scott Payne, To Sterling with Love
MUSE© WINNER: Susan Willett, A #ClearTheShelters Cat Adoption Story

VII.5 Online Article – Any Other Topic
Deborah Barnes, Living in Comfort with Cats
Janiss Garza, Driving Miss Kitty
Janiss Garza, Five of the Biggest Cat Show Misconceptions
Heather Marcoux, Senior Rescued Cat Saved Her Diabetic Human
MUSE© WINNER: JaneA Kelley, Give Me the Old, Creaky Cats
Tracy Ahrens, Whiskers Stir Up Senses, Luck and Memories
Bernadette Kazmarski, Buddy Gets A Miracle

VII.6 Online Column            TIE!
Phillip Mlynar, Monday Miracles
MUSE© WINNER: Phillip Mlynar, Social Cat of the Week
MUSE© WINNER: Kim Thornton, Dr, Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker, Pet Connections

VIII.1 Blog – Health and General Care
MUSE© WINNER: Mollie Hunt, Life Stages
Marc-Andre Runcie-Unger, Katzenworld Blog
BJ Bangs, Paws for Reflection

VIII.2 Blog – Behavior and Training
MUSE© WINNER: Amy Shojai, The Paw Print Blog
Amy Shojai, Amy Shojai’s Bling, Bitches and Blood Blog

VIII.3 Blog: Rescue/Advocacy – no entries

VIII.4 Blog – Entertainment        TIE!
MUSE© WINNER: Lisa Richman, A Tonk’s Tail
MUSE© WINNER: Bernadette Kazmarski, The Creative Cat

VIII.5 Blog – Any Other Topic
MUSE© WINNER: JaneA Kelley, Paws and Effect

VIII.6 Website – no entries

IX.1 Black and White Photograph – Single – no entries

IX.2 Black and White Photography Series – no entries

IX.3 Color Photograph – Single
Andrew Mattila, Catster Cover Photo
Susan Willett, Double Trouble: Cat Reflection
MUSE© WINNER: Janiss Garza, Vancouver Portrait
Weems Hutto, Cat Scene Investigator

IX.4 Color Photography Series – no entries

IX.5 Photographic Art
MUSE© WINNER: Teresa Keiger, Cat Talk October Cover

IX.6 Cartoon
Stephanie Piro, Cat Woman
MUSE© WINNER: Stephanie Piro, Great Outdoors

IX.7 Illustration – Single
MUSE© WINNER: Stephanie Piro, Makin’ Biscuits Cover

IX.8 Illustrations – Series
MUSE© WINNER: Stephanie Piro, Cat Scene Investigator
Bernadette Kazmarski, Klepto Cat Mysteries
 

2016 CWA Communication Contest – SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS
Awarded May 19, 2017
=============================================
Award #1: The AAFP Cat Friendly Award
Sponsor: American Association of Feline Practitioners.
Winner: Amy Shojai, My Cat Hates My Vet! Furry Muse Publisher

Award #2: The Barn Cats, Inc. Save-a-Feral Cat Award (new)
Sponsor: Barn Cats, Inc.
Winner: Stacey Ritz, How to Help Feral Cats and Why You Should, Advocates 4 Animals

Award #3: The CATalyst Council Connection Award
Sponsor: The CATalyst Council.
Winner: Susan Willett, A #ClearTheShelters Cat Adoption Story, Life With Dogs and Cats

Award #4: The Dr. Jim Richards Cornell Feline Health Center Veterinary Issues Award
Sponsor: Cornell University’s Feline Health Center.
Winner: Dusty Rainbolt, Cat Scene Investigator, Stupid Gravity Press

Award #5: The Fear Free Pets Award (new)
Sponsor: Fear Free, LLC.
Winner: Amy Shojai, My Cat Hates My Vet! Furry Muse Publisher

Award #6: The Fear Free Cat Enrichment Award (new)
Sponsor: Fear Free, LLC.
Winner: Dusty Rainbolt, Cat Scene Investigator

Award #7: The GoodNewsForPets.com Human-Animal Bond Award
Sponsor: Germinder & Associates.
Winner: Deborah Barnes, Makin’ Biscuits, ZZP Publishing

Award #8: The Hartz Every Day Chewable Vitamin Award
Sponsor: The Hartz Mountain Corporation.
Winner: Amy Shojai, Eight Common Aging Cat Conditions and What To Do, Herald-Democrat

Award #9: The Hartz Glamour-Puss Award
Sponsor: The Hartz Mountain Corporation.
Winner: Dusty Rainbolt, Cat Scene Investigator

Award #10: The Hartz Milk Replacement for Kittens Award
Sponsor: The Hartz Mountain Corporation.
Winner: Deborah Camp, It Happened at Big Lots, Best Times

Award #11: The Kari Winters Rescue and Rehabilitation Award
Sponsor: TICA, The International Cat Association.
Winner: Susan Willett, A #ClearTheShelters Cat Adoption Story, Life With Dogs and Cats

Award #12: The Lorie Huston Health Award
Sponsor: PetSafe.
Winner: Lisa Richman, Is Fish in Cat Food Bad for Cats? Catster

Award #13: The Sleepypod Traveler Award
Sponsor: Sleepypod.
Winner: Kim Thornton, Survival Guide to Traveling Cross-Country with Cats, VetStreet.com

Award #14: The SmartCat All Natural Litter Training Award
Sponsor: Pioneer Press.
Winner: Dusty Rainbolt, The Healthy Cat 2017 Calendar

Award #15: The World’s Best Cat Litter-Ary Award
Sponsor: World’s Best Cat Litter.
Winner: Carole Nelson Douglas, Cat in An Alphabet Endgame

The Shojai Mentor Award
Sponsor: Amy Shojai
Winner: Paul Glassner

The Michael Brim Distinguished Service Award
Sponsor: Cat Writers Association.
Winner: Arden Moore

The Kuykendall Image Award
Sponsor: Cat Writers Association.
Winner: Stephanie Piro, illustrator for Cat Scene Investigator

The CWA President’s Award
Sponsor: Cat Writers Association.
Winner: Deborah Barnes for Makin’ Biscuits

The PetSafeScholarship
Sponsor: PetSafe.
Winners, in order:

1. Rick Reichenbach
2. Dusty Rainbolt
3. Kathleen Mueller
4. Helen Fitzsimons
5. Susan Willett