For The Contest Year: 01/01/2021 – 12/31/2021
01 AAFP CAT FRIENDLY PRACTICE® AWARD
Sponsored by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), this award is presented for the entry that best educates cat owners about the benefits of going to a Cat Friendly Practice®. Appropriate topics include why it is beneficial to the cat and owner to visit a practice that is cat friendly, including, but not limited to, staff understanding of feline-friendly handling, decreased stress associated with the visit, increase in the quality of care and medicine provided, and communication to cat owners of the importance of routine veterinary care. Qualifying entries include series or single articles (traditional print or online formats) such as from columns, blogs, websites, magazines, or newsletters; books with a singular focus on the benefits of going to a cat-friendly practice; or television, radio broadcast, or video presentations.
Award: $500 and a commemorative, framed certificate.
02 CATALYST COUNCIL CONNECT TO CARE AWARD
This award, sponsored by the Catalyst Council, celebrates both the writer and subject of a true story depicting an experience of a kitten or cat adopted from a shelter which results in a profound connection between the cat and its adoptive pet parent. The relationship described will be equally beneficial to the cat and the person; special consideration will be given to those pieces showing a positive community-wide connection involving both the shelter and a local veterinarian. The story may be written in first purr or first-person if appropriate. Entries may include a single book or short story, poem, article (print or online), newsletter, editorial, blog, commercial radio/TV/internet recording, or a photograph with the corresponding copy. Entries will be judged on the ability of the reader/viewer to reach the conclusion that cats are valuable members of our families, they enrich our lives, and they deserve our love and our care.
Award: $500 and a special gift.
03 CWA COUNCIL OF DIRECTORS NEWCOMER CAT COMMUNICATIONS AWARD
This award, sponsored by the CWA is presented to a CWA member only; new to the organization 12 months or less during the current contest year, whose submitted piece best communicates on any range of cat-related topics, including, but not limited to the feline-human bond, cat and kitten rescue, cat care and cat health issues, cat environmental enrichment, cat behavior, cat trends and more. Cats are defined in an all-inclusive manner – domestic cats, feral cats, stray, outdoor community cats, pedigree/show cats, big/jungle cats – and can be fictional or non-fictional in nature. Entries may be any communications medium, such as a single article from a blog, website, magazine, column, newspaper, or newsletter, a book, a photograph (single or series), a video, an illustration, a poem, a graphic design, or more and should represent what the new member considers their best cat-related piece that was published (no manuscripts, etc.) for the current contest period (2021). If the work portrays cats in a positive manner and is appropriate to the intended audience, it could be award-worthy. Qualified entrants must be new members of CWA, having joined the organization between January 1 – December 31, 2021. The winning entry must demonstrate a written/visual/audio presentation that either inspires, educates, informs, or entertains the audience (or any combination thereof).
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
04 DR. JIM RICHARDS CORNELL FELINE HEALTH CENTER VETERINARY ISSUES AWARD
Sponsored by Cornell University’s Feline Health Center, this award is presented for the highest-quality entry on the topic of technological advances, research, new medical developments, or innovations in feline veterinary medicine. Qualifying entries include single newspaper, magazine, or newsletter articles; columns or series of articles (print or online); blogs, a website, single books, videos, or radio/television broadcasts, designed to educate the general cat-owning public about new developments.
Award: $500.
05 FEAR FREE PETS AWARD
Sponsored by Fear Free Pets, this award is for the best article (print or online), book, blog/website, TV segment, radio spot, video, column, or other creative media format that best educates, promotes, or demonstrates the importance of how a cat’s emotional well-being can play a role in all aspects of its life and health, including veterinary care. Topics may include how decreasing fear, anxiety, and stress is beneficial to the patient and owner both during the veterinary visit and at home, a focus on Fear Free applications pre- and post-veterinary visit, or how going to a Fear Free certified professional is beneficial to staff, patients, and clients.
Award: $2,000 and a one-of-a-kind commemorative award.
06 GOODNEWSFORPETS.COM HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND AWARD
Sponsored by Goodnewsforpets.com, a digital publishing platform of Germinder + Associates, this award is presented for the entry that best reflects and promotes the strengthening of the human-animal bond, highlighting the bond between a cat and owner, as well as their relationship with their veterinarian as another direct caregiver. Entries will be judged for exceptional quality and on the ability to convey this concept and connect with the reader. Qualified entries include single articles (print or online), features, columns, short stories, books, and poetry.
Award: $500 and a commemorative certificate. The winning entrant will also be featured on Goodnewsforpets.com and social media.
07 GROOMING AND FELINE SKIN CARE AWARD
This award is sponsored by CWA and honors the best single entry on the topic of feline skin and coat care. Qualifying topics include, but are not limited to, coverage of home and professional grooming, hairballs, parasite control, nail care, bone and joint care, teeth and ear care, promotion of healthy skin and coat, and feline skin/coat disorders. Written and pictorial works in all media are acceptable, including articles, books, blogs, websites, online magazines, online newsletters, online columns, and videotape broadcasts.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
08 TICA KARI WINTERS RESCUE AND REHABILITATION AWARD
This award is sponsored by TICA and presented for the best single article or column (published in a newspaper, magazine, newsletter, or professional blog/website online venue or single radio or television broadcast) on the rescue and rehabilitation of cats or kittens from shelters or rescue groups for the purpose of adoption to forever homes. Entries are judged on compelling personal accounts and the education of readers on the need for rescue.
Award: This award consists of $500 and a plaque.
09 CATIT KITTEN CARE AND RESCUE/ADOPTION AWARD
Sponsored by Catit, this award is presented for the best entry promoting kitten care, kitten rescue, and kitten adoption. Qualifying entries include “how to’s,” feral kitten rescue, early spay and neuter, orphaned kittens, and kitten adoption. Written and pictorial works in all media are acceptable, including articles, books, blogs, websites, online magazines, online newsletters, online columns, and videotape broadcasts.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
10 KUYKENDALL IMAGE AWARD
Sponsored by the CWA, this award is presented for the outstanding “image” entry featuring cats – whether photography, illustration, drawing, painting, or graphic art. This may be a single piece or series entry, including, but not limited to, photos/artwork published in a magazine, newspaper, newsletter, book, pamphlet, calendar, poster, greeting card, or commercial online publication.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
11 LORIE HUSTON HEALTH AWARD
This award, sponsored by the Catster/Belvoir Marketing Group, is presented for the outstanding single article, column, or blog (print or online) reporting on feline healthcare issues. Entries are judged on excellence of writing and technical accuracy; the significance of the topic and public education impact on feline health are also considered.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
12 PET SITTERS INTERNATIONAL (PSI) PROFESSIONAL PET CARE AWARD
Sponsored by Pet Sitters International, this award is presented for the entry that best educates cat owners about the benefits of using professional pet sitters. Topics may include how to find a qualified pet sitter, how to introduce your cat to a pet sitter, as well as the overall importance to a cat’s physical health and emotional well-being to have professional supervision when a cat guardian must leave the cat home alone for extended periods of time. Qualifying online or print entries include newspapers, magazines, blogs, or websites.
Award: $500 and a commemorative certificate.
13 NANCY MARANO SENIOR CAT WELL-BEING AWARD
Sponsored by Fran Pennock Shaw and Ray Shaw, this award is presented for the highest-quality entry on the topic of older, aging, and senior cats. Topics can include but are not limited to adoption, health, innovative and compassionate care, and senior-for-senior programs. Written and pictorial works in all media are acceptable, including articles, books, blogs, websites, online magazines, online newsletters, online columns, and videotape broadcasts. It is named in honor of a longtime CWA member who died in 2020 at age 77 and served in many leadership roles with CWA during her lifetime.
Award: $1000 and a commemorative item.
14 SLEEPYPOD® CAT SAFETY AWARD
Sponsored by Sleepypod, this award is presented for the best entry on cat safety. The entry should take a positive approach to inform and educate the readership about feline safety issues, including, but not limited to safety in the home (such as foods and plants poisonous to cats), preparedness and training for natural disasters, moving, safe travel with cats, and general cat safety. Written, audio, and pictorial works in all mediums will be accepted, such as online columns or blogs, newsletter articles, photographs, radio/TV broadcasts, and videos.
Award: $750 and a commemorative item.
15 PIONEER PET BEHAVIORAL TRAINING AWARD
Sponsored by Pioneer Pet, the makers of SmartCat and Sticky Paws, this award is presented for the best article, book, video, or broadcast entry on training techniques. Entries should have a “how-to” focus. Appropriate entries are series or single articles (traditional print or online formats) such as from columns, blogs, websites, magazines, or newsletters; books with a singular focus on a particular training topic; or television, radio broadcast, or video presentations on topics such as (but not limited to) litter box training, tips and techniques for teaching cats not to scratch on furniture or other inappropriate places (focusing on providing them with alternative options to scratch on), trick training, or training cats to stay off counter-tops, tables, or other forbidden places.
Award: $1,000, a commemorative certificate, and three 20lb bags of SmartCat All Natural Litter.
16 WORLD’S BEST® CAT LITTER-ARY AWARD
Sponsored by World’s Best® Cat Litter, this award is presented for the outstanding novel, short story, poem, or radio/ television dramatic script which portrays cats and cat ownership in a positive way. All fiction genres are eligible. The highest consideration goes to those entries that include cats as an intrinsic part of the plot. Works will be judged for the exceptional, individual quality (“voice” or “vision”) of the writer/creator. Eligible works may be published in print or electronic media; any scripts or videos must also provide proof of production.
Award: $500 and a commemorative plaque.
MICHAEL BRIM DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
The Michael Brim Distinguished Service Award, sponsored by CWA, honors extraordinary achievement and communications excellence. It recognizes the person who, by word, deed, public communication, and professional excellence best promotes the ideals, mission, and best interest of the Cat Writers’ Association. Nominees can include (but are not limited to) writers, editors, or publicists whose published work or actions have had a significant impact on improving the quality of life of cats, educating the public, promoting responsible cat breeding and ownership, and/or facilitating the professional growth of cat writers.
CWA members and non-members are eligible for this award. Nominations must be made by a CWA member in good standing. You may not nominate yourself. The Submitter must explain his or her reasons for nominating the person, i.e., explain how the Nominee has published and/or performed in some extraordinary fashion to benefit cats and/or cat writers. This should include a detailed description of what the Nominee has done, whether a one-time accomplishment or a listing of publications and activities over time, for example. Referral to specific publications, articles, websites, etc., is not required but can help the judges in making their decision. Nominations shall be reviewed and a recipient selected by the CWA Council.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item. In addition, his or her name is engraved on a permanent commemorative plaque (at the offices of the Cat Fanciers’ Association Foundation).
SHOJAI MENTOR AWARD
Sponsored by the CWA, in honor of CWA Co-founder and Past President, Amy Shojai, this Award recognizes the CWA member who has offered guidance, encouraging counsel, support, or other help that has had a direct and positive influence on another’s writing/publishing success. Qualifying mentor experiences are limited to those occurring within the past three contest periods (approximately the last three years). The recipient shall exemplify the highest ideals of the CWA vision, that is, to promote communal support, networking, and mutual respect between colleagues. Only CWA members are eligible for the award. Nominations of any CWA member may be submitted by any individual (member or nonmember). The “Submitter” must be the direct beneficiary in the mentor relationship. Multiple nominations of one individual by several different people are allowed. (Impact of individual mentor experiences weighs most heavily and a “group vote/campaign” for an individual is strongly discouraged. It shall not influence the judging one way or another.) The “Nominee” contribution must go beyond that individual’s required duties as defined by his/her employment — in other words, he or she cannot be “paid” to act as a mentor (i.e., an editor’s routine purchase, editing, or publishing of a Submitter’s work does not qualify, nor does a book doctor’s revision, nor an agent’s sale. To qualify, the mentoring must reach above and beyond the “normal or routine” business relationship one would expect the agent, book doctor, editor, or other professional to extend to any of his/her other clients). You may not nominate yourself. Nominations shall be reviewed and a recipient selected by the CWA Council.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
This overall top award is presented to the best entry among all Muse Medallion winners in the regular contest categories. Chosen by the CWA President, it recognizes the “Best of the Best.” All Muse Medallion winners are automatically entered and considered for the honor.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
To access these Special Award Descriptions in Google Doc (and printable) form, please visit: 2022 CWA Communications Contest Special Award Descriptions.