We are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s CWA Communications Contest Muse and Special Awards. For a full description of each award, please go to 2025 Muse Awards Category Descriptions.
Congratulations to the 2025 award winners!
MUSE MEDALLION WINNERS
The MUSE™ Medallion is awarded to the entry in each category receiving the highest average score from three independent judges. Each Muse category is judged by three Professional-level CWA members. To become eligible for a MUSE™ Medallion, each entry listed here has received an average score of at least 90, and has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence.
A.1 WRITTEN ARTICLE: FELINE HEALTH – LONG
Winner: Arna Cohen
Article: A Future for Felines With FIP
Appearing 3/9/2024 in Humane Pro
https://humanepro.org/magazine/articles/future-felines-fip
A.1 WRITTEN ARTICLE: FELINE HEALTH – SHORT
Winner: Nancy Kerr
Article: “Perineal Urethrostomy “
Appearing June, 2024 in Cat Talk Magazine
https://cfa.org/cat-talk/perineal-urethrostomy
A.2 WRITTEN ARTICLE: GENERAL CAT CARE AND WELLBEING – LONG
Winner: Candilee Jackson
Article: “Fluffy’s Sixteen and Still Plays Like a Kitten: Enrichment for Senior Cats”
Appearing April, 2024 in Cat Talk Magazine
https://cfa.org/cat-talk/enrichment-for-senior-cats
A.2 WRITTEN ARTICLE: GENERAL CAT CARE AND WELLBEING – SHORT
Winner: Jen Reeder
Article: “Happy Check the Chip Day! This heartwarming reunion story is one more reason to celebrate”
Appearing August 15, 2024 on the American Animal Hospital Association website.
https://www.aaha.org/newstat/publications/happy-check-the-chip-day
A.3 WRITTEN ARTICLE: FELINE BEHAVIOR/TRAINING
Winner: Dr. Mikel Delgado
Article: “Olfactory Enrichment for Cats: How to Use Scent to Engage Your Cat”
Appearing Fall, 2024 in Modern Cat Magazine
https://moderncat.com/articles/olfactory-enrichment-for-cats
A.4 WRITTEN ARTICLE: FELINE-HUMAN BOND STORIES – LONG
Winner: Jane A Kelley
Article: “WTF Is Up With Autistic People and Cats?”
September 20, 2024 in the Paws and Effect blog
(Page not yet available.)
A.4 WRITTEN ARTICLE: FELINE-HUMAN BOND STORIES – SHORT
Winner: T.J. (Tammy) Banks
Article: “Talking With Magwitch”
December 1, 2024 in laJoie
(Page not yet available.)
A.5 WRITTEN ARTICLE: FELINE VETERINARY MEDICINE & RESEARCH
Winner: Dr. Mikel Delgado
Article: “Cats and dogs both like to play fetch– it’s rooted in their hunting instincts”
9/4/2024 in The Conversation
A.6 WRITTEN ARTICLE: ENTERTAINMENT – LONG
Winner: Jonathan Holden
Article: “The True Story of Aunt Mabel’s Dead Cat”
June, 2024 in Festoon Publishing
https://www.festoonpublishing.com.au/product/the-true-story-of-aunt-mabels-dead-cat/
A.6 WRITTEN ARTICLE: ENTERTAINMENT – SHORT
Winner: Janet Buickerood Blue
Article: “The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky: Part CCXXII – National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day”
1/23/2024 on The Cat On My Head blog
A.7 WRITTEN ARTICLE: FELINE RESCUE & ADVOCACY – LONG
Winner: Jen Reeder
Article: “The Case for Adopting Seniors”
12/27/2024 on Inside Your Cat’s Mind
(Page not yet available.)
A.7 WRITTEN ARTICLE: FELINE RESCUE & ADVOCACY – SHORT
(tie):
Winner: Louise Holton
Article: “Letter to the Editor: Vox”
1/26/2024 on Alley Cat Rescue
https://www.saveacat.org/blog/letter-to-the-editor-vox
and
Winner: Louise Holton
Article: “Rebuttal to NY Times Article “In Australia, ‘Cats Are Just Catastrophic'”
4/22/2024 on Alley Cat Rescue
https://www.saveacat.org/blog/rebuttal-to-ny-times-article-in-australia-cats-are-just-catastrophic
A.8 WRITTEN ARTICLE: FELINE PRODUCT REVIEW
Winner: Janet Buickerood Blue
Article: “Best Cat Toy for All Ages”
6/7/2024 on The Cat On My Head blog
https://thecatonmyhead.com/best-cat-toy-for-all-ages/
A.9 WRITTEN ARTICLE: GENERAL – LONG
Winner: Sierra Koester
Article: “A Complete Guide to Feline Pregnancy”
8/7/2024 on The Cat Blogosphere blog
https://blog.catblogosphere.com/a-complete-guide-to-cat-pregnancy/
A.9 WRITTEN ARTICLE: GENERAL – SHORT
Winner: Teresa Keiger
Article: “Who’s That Kitten?”
April, 2024 in Cat Talk Magazine
https://cfa.org/cat-talk/whos-that-kitten
B. POETRY
Winner: T.J. (Tammy) Banks
Poem: “Solstice, Light & Dark”
11/18/2024 in laJoie
(Page not yet available.)
C.2 SHORT STORY OR FLASH FICTION
Winner: Marjorie Dawson
Story: “Harvey’s View from the Bridge”
April, 2024 in Purrseverance: Inspiring Stories of Cat Resilience and Hope
https://www.amazon.com/Purrseverance-Inspiring-Stories-Resilience-Hope/dp/B0CVRXJ6K1
D.1 PODCAST OR AUDIO BROADCAST
Winner: Arden Moore
Broadcast: “Dr. Mikel Delgado on Cat Behavior”
11/11/2024 in Oh, Behave on Pet Life Radio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwwRr9rTtqI
D.2 AUDIOBOOK
Winner: Amy Shojai
Audiobook: “Play or Pay”
12/4/2024 in Furry Muse Publications
https://www.amazon.com/Play-Pay-September-Day-Book/dp/B0DM37JXWQ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0
E. PERIODICAL / NATIONAL CIRCULATION PUBLICATIONS
Winner: Louise Holton
Periodical: “Alley Cat Rescue Winter Newsletter”
12/6/2024 in Alley Cat Rescue
https://www.alleycat.org/newsletter_winter_2025
F.1 BOOK: FICTION – MYSTERY
Winner: Mollie Hunt
Book: “Ghost Cat at the Mystery Hotel”
5/30/2024, Independently published
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Mystery-Hotel-Tenth-Life-ebook/dp/B0CW3DGRK3
F.2 BOOK: FICTION – GENERAL
Winner: T.J. (Tammy) Banks
Book: “Moonlight & Grace”
4/20/2024 at Booklocker.com
https://assets.booklocker.com/pdfs/13294s.pdf
F.4 BOOK: NONFICTION – HEALTH, BEHAVIOR, WELLNESS
Winner: Mollie Hunt
Book: “Creating Comfort for Your Senior Cat: Stories, Poems, and Illustrations of Cats in Their Golden Years”
12/30/2024, Independently published
https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Comfort-Your-Senior-Illustrations/dp/B0DR5YP4YH
F.5 BOOK: NONFICTION – GENERAL
Winner: Arden Moore
Book: “How to Speak Cat Wall Calendar”
8/6/2024 by Workman Publishing
https://www.amazon.com/Speak-Wall-Calendar-2025-Understanding/dp/1523526653
F.6 BOOK: CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK
Winner: Allia Zobel Nolan
Book: “Why Can’t My Brother Be More Like My Cat?
11/24/2024 by Allia Writes
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Cant-Brother-More-Like/dp/B0DM682XSS
G.1 VIDEO, FILM OR TELEVISION PRODUCTION: EDUCATIONAL / INFORMATIVE – MINI OR SHORT
Winner: Dr. Rachel Geller
“Your Cat & Your New Baby with Dr. Rachel”
12/19/2024 in Dr. Rachel Geller channel on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRAkmKIwE5Y
G.2 VIDEO, FILM OR TELEVISION PRODUCTION: ENTERTAIMENT
Winner: Arden Moore
“Pet Safety Cat Casey Interviews Dr. Ken Lembrecht”
1/13/2024 on the Four Legged Life channel on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa-dG694MpU
H.1 BLOG/WEBSITE: EDUCATIONAL / INFORMATIVE
Winner: Joey Lusvardi
“Class Act Cats Blog”
Throughout 2024 on the Class Act Cats blog
https://classactcats.com/blog/#
I. COLUMN / SERIES
Winner: Arden Moore
Paws Up for Pets column
May, June, and September, 2024 in The Coastal Star
https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/list/tag/paws+up+for+pets
M.1 PHOTOGRAPHY (SINGLE IMAGE)
Winner: Janiss Garza
“Cat Friends”
6/27/2024 in Summer’s Fabulous Cat Life / FitCat Enterprises
(Page not yet available.)
M.3 PHOTOGRAPHIC ART
Winner: Christy Doherty
“Petra Bella Luna”
4/30/2024 on Facebook and Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/C6UxixIPIx0
M.4 CARTOON
Winner: Stephanie Piro Nolan
“Eaten”
9/14/2024 in King Features
(Page not yet available.)
M.5 ILLUSTRATION (SINGLE)
Winner: Rachel Stern
“Cat Vomit 101”
8/13/2024 in All Animals Magazine
(Page not yet available.)
M.7 GRAPHIC DESIGN
Winner: Teresa Keiger
“CFA’s Top Breeds for 2023”
February, 2024 on The Cat Fanciers’ Association
(Page not yet available.)
SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS
Special Awards are sponsored and come with cash prizes to the winners. Each is judged by one individual who is not affiliated with the Cat Writers’ Association or the sponsor. All judges are outstanding professionals in their fields who volunteer their time and expertise to judge the awards.
For a full description of each award, please go to 2025 Special Awards Category Descriptions.
CATIT KITTEN CARE AND RESCUE / ADOPTION AWARD
Award: A $500 cash grant plus an assortment of Catit products sponsored by innovative cat product developer Catit
Winner: Amy Laird Lakeland, DVM
Work: Buddy Learns to Foster: A Letting Go Story
Appearing 8/1/2024 via independent publishing
https://www.themeowmob.com/product-page/copy-of-buddy-learns-to-foster-a-letting-go-story-paperback
CORNELL UNIVERSITY FELINE HEALTH CENTER, DR. JIM RICHARDS
Award: A $500 cash grant sponsored by the research, outreach, and education institute Cornell Feline Health Center.
Winner: Deb Eldredge, DVM
Work: “Feline Polyneuropathy”
Appearing August 2024 in Cat Watch newsletter
https://www.catwatchnewsletter.com/health/disease/feline-polyneuropathy/
GOODNEWSFORPETS.COM HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND AWARD
Award: A $500 cash grant sponsored by the digital educational news platform Good News for Pets plus a feature in GoodNewsForPets.com.
Winner: Deborah Barnes
Work: “Peach Fuzz – 2024 Pantone Color of the Year and Why it’s Connected to Cats and Your Health”
Appearing 1/8/2024 in Zee & Zoey’s Cat Chronicles blog
NANCY MARANO SENIOR CAT WELL-BEING AWARD, SPONSORED BY FRAN & RAY SHAW
Award: A $750 cash grant plus a plaque in honor of Nancy Marano, gifted by past CWA president and treasurer Fran Pennock Shaw and her husband, Ray Shaw.
Winner: Candilee Jackson
Article: “Fluffy’s Sixteen and Still Plays Like a Kitten: Enrichment for Senior Cats”
Appearing April, 2024 in Cat Talk Magazine
https://cfa.org/cat-talk/enrichment-for-senior-cats
PIONEER PET BEHAVIORAL TRAINING AWARD
Award: A $1,000 cash grant, a certificate, and SmartCat Litter from innovative cat product developer Pioneer Pet.
Winner: Joey Lusvardi
Work: “How To Stop a Cat From Eating Other Cats’ Food”
Appearing 11/1/2024 in Class Act Cats blog
https://classactcats.com/blog/stop-a-cat-from-eating-other-cats-food
SLEEPYPOD CAT SAFETY AWARD
Award: A $750 cash grant plus a commemorative item sponsored by innovative cat travel product developer Sleepypod.
Winner: Emily Hall
Work: “5 Ways to Let Your Cat Outside Safely”
Appearing 5/30/2024 in KittyCatGO blog
jhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0NuINWLLA8
TICA KARI WINTERS RESCUE AND REHABILITATION AWARD
Award: A $500 cash grant sponsored by the world’s foremost genetic registry of both pedigreed cats and household pet cats, The International Cat Association, TICA
Winner: Janiss Garza
Work: “Can a Feral Cat Be Tamed?”
Appearing 4/17/2024 in Summer’s Fabulous Cat Life / FitCat Enterprises Inc.
link not yet available.
WORLD’S BEST CAT LITTER-ARY AWARD
Award: A $500 cash grant plus a plaque sponsored by innovative cat product developer Pioneer Pet.
Winner: Mollie Hunt
Work: Crafty Cat (Crazy Cat Lady Mystery Book 11)
Appearing 10/26/2024 via independent publishing
https://www.amazon.com/Crafty-Crazy-Lady-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B0DJPYRLKH
ZYMOX FELINE SKIN AND EAR CARE AWARD
Award: A $500 cash grant + commemorative item sponsored by antibiotic-free skin and ear cat products developer Zymox.
Winner: Deb Eldredge, DVM
Work: “Monitoring Feline Acne”
Appearing July 2024 in Cat Watch newsletter
https://www.catwatchnewsletter.com/health/medicine/monitoring-feline-acne/
Service and Mentor Awards
Shojai Mentor Award – Sponsored by the Cat Writers’ Association 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 professional success. The recipient shall exemplify the highest ideals of the CWA vision, promoting communal support, networking, and mutual respect between colleagues.
2025 Winner: Deborah Barnes
Michael Brim Distinguished Service Award – Michael Brim was instrumental in his lifetime in promoting many things that benefited cats and cat creators. THE MICHAEL BRIM DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD 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.
2025 Winner: Rachel Geller
President’s Award
Sponsored by Cat Fanciers’ Association, this overall top award is presented to the best entry among all Muse Medallion winners in the regular contest categories. Chosen by the Cat Writers’ Association President, it recognizes the “Best of the Best.”
2025 Winner: Arden Moore
For her article, “Dr. Mikel Delgado on Cat Behavior”
Appearing 11/11/2024 on Oh, Behave show on Pet Life Radio
Congratulations to all our winners!
