For The Contest Year: 01/01/2023 – 12/31/2023
- Entrants must be the authors or creators (in the case of art) of the entered work. An editor may not be listed as an entrant in any category. An entry may be submitted by someone other than the author or creator, as long as the author or creator is listed as the entrant.
- AI-generated content is ineligible for entry into the contest.
- Entries in the Special Awards must contain at least two-thirds cat-specific content. Applicability to cats IS NOT sufficient.
- All Entries must be newly published or broadcast (or, for Fine Arts, created) between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, and NOT previously published in any medium.
- No entry limits exist in the special categories.
- All entry materials in the special categories must be in a digital format.
- Please note that the Contest Chair will not extend the entry period past May 4th under any circumstances.
- To contact the Contest Chair, please email her at contest@catwriters.com.
HARTZ NEWCOMER CAT COMMUNICATIONS AWARD
This award is presented to a new CWA member (who joined CWA in 2023) whose submitted piece best inspires, educates, informs, and/or entertains the audience on any range of cat-related topics. Topics include, but are not limited to, the feline-human bond, cat and kitten rescue, cat care and 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, wild cats – and can be fictional or non-fictional in nature.
Qualifying entries:
Qualified entrants must be new members of CWA, having joined the organization between January 1 – December 31, 2023. 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, a drawing or painting, or more. The entry should represent what the new member considers their best cat-related piece published for the current contest period (2023).
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
DR. JIM RICHARDS CORNELL FELINE HEALTH CENTER VETERINARY ISSUES AWARD
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 designed to educate the general cat-owning public about new developments.
Qualifying entries:
Qualifying entries include single newspaper, magazine, or newsletter articles; columns or series of articles (print or online); books; videos; or radio/television broadcasts.
Award: $500
GOODNEWSFORPETS.COM
HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND AWARD
This award is presented for the entry that best reflects and promotes the strengthening of the human-animal bond and highlights the bond between a cat and human. Entries will be judged for exceptional quality and ability to convey this concept and connect with the audience.
Qualifying entries:
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.
ZYMOX FELINE SKIN AND EAR CARE AWARD
This award honors the best single entry on the topic of feline skin and ear 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, coat, and ears, and feline skin/coat disorders.
Qualifying entries:
Written, video, and audio works in all media are acceptable, including articles (online or in print), books, online magazines, online newsletters, and online columns.
Award: $750 and a commemorative item.
TICA KARI WINTERS RESCUE AND REHABILITATION AWARD
This award is presented for the best written work on rescuing and rehabilitating 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.
Qualifying entries:
Entries include written work, including articles (published in a newspaper, magazine, newsletter, or professional blog/website online or single radio or television broadcast), books, columns, and videos.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
CATIT KITTEN CARE AND RESCUE/ADOPTION AWARD
This award is presented for the best entry promoting kitten care, rescue, and adoption. Qualifying entries include, but are not limited to, “how-to’s,” feral kitten rescue, early spay and neuter, orphaned kittens, and kitten adoption.
Qualifying entries:
Written and pictorial works in all media are acceptable, including articles (online or print), books, columns, and video broadcasts.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
HARTZ KUYKENDALL IMAGE AWARD
This award is presented for the outstanding “image” entry featuring cats.
Qualifying entries:
Entries may be a single or series of photograph(s), illustration(s), drawing(s), painting(s), or graphic art published in a magazine, newspaper, newsletter, book, pamphlet, calendar, poster, greeting card, or online publication. For Fine Art entries that are not published, such works must have been 1) created and 2) displayed, offered for sale, or sold (including online) during the Contest year.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
LORIE HUSTON HEALTH AWARD
This award, sponsored by Cat Watch/Belvoir Marketing Group, is presented for outstanding reporting on feline healthcare issues. Entries are judged on writing excellence and technical accuracy; the topic’s significance and public educational impact on feline health is also considered.
Qualifying entries:
Entries may include a single print or online article, column, or book.
Award: $500
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. It is named in honor of longtime CWA member Nancy Marano, who served in many leadership roles with CWA during her lifetime.
Qualifying entries:
Written and pictorial pieces from all media (print or online) are acceptable, including articles, books, columns, and video broadcasts.
Award: $1000 and a commemorative item.
SLEEPYPOD CAT SAFETY AWARD
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.
Qualifying entries:
Written, audio, and pictorial works in all media, such as from online columns or blogs, newsletter articles, books, photographs, radio/TV broadcasts, and videos, will be accepted.
Award: $750 and a commemorative item.
PIONEER PET BEHAVIORAL
TRAINING AWARD
This award is presented for the best entry on training techniques. Entries should have a “how-to” focus 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), trick training, or training cats to stay off counter-tops, tables, or other forbidden places.
Qualifying entries:
Appropriate entries are series or single articles (traditional print or online formats) published from columns, blogs, websites, magazines, or newsletters; books with a singular focus on a particular training topic; or television, radio broadcast, or video presentations.
Award: $1000, a commemorative certificate, and three 20lb bags of SmartCat All Natural Litter.
WORLD’S BEST CAT LITTER-ARY AWARD
This award is presented for an outstanding work of fiction portraying cats and cat ownership in a positive way. 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.
Qualifying entries:
Eligible books, short stories, poems, or radio/ television dramatic scripts may be published in print or electronic media; any scripts or videos must also provide proof of production. All fiction genres are eligible.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
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.
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. Referral to specific publications, articles, websites, etc., is not required but can help the judges in making their decision. The CWA Council reviews nominations and selects a recipient.
Qualifying nominees:
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. 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.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
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 success. The recipient shall exemplify the highest ideals of the CWA vision, promoting communal support, networking, and mutual respect between colleagues. Nominations may be submitted by any individual (member or nonmember). The “Submitter” must be the direct beneficiary in the mentor relationship. The “Nominee” contribution must go beyond that individual’s required duties as defined by his/her employment — in other words, 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. The CWA Council reviews nominations and selects a recipient.
Qualifying nominees:
Only CWA members are eligible for the award. You may not nominate yourself.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Sponsored by CFA, 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.”
Qualifying entries:
All Muse Medallion winners are automatically entered and considered for the President’s Award. Other than by submitting an entry in a Regular Category, there is no separate entry process for this Award.
Award: $500 and a commemorative item.
To access these Special Category Descriptions in Google Doc (and printable) form, please visit: 2024 CWA Communications Contest Special Award Descriptions.