The 2026 CWA Communications Contest Awards Gala took place on November 7, celebrating excellence in cat-centered journalism, fiction, photography, art, broadcasting, social media, and more.
Earning the highest marks across multiple creative disciplines, this year’s CWA Muse Medallion recipients represent the pinnacle of feline-focused talent. Big congratulations to the following creators for earning top honors!
* For the full title and description of each award category, please go to 2026 Muse Awards Category Descriptions.
ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS…
| A.2 Newsletters Alley Cat Rescue 2025 Cat Report Deborah Holzer & Louse Holten B1 Article Health Long Cats Get A Paw Up on Heart Disease Kim Campbell Thornton B.2 Article Health Short Why Cats Have Slit Pupils and Green Eyes Ann Hofenhaus B.3 Article Gen Care Long A Kitten Makes Two Jen Reeder B. 5 Article Feline Behavior Training Long Training Cats for Successful Veterinary Visits Kristyn Vitale B.6 Article Feline Behavior Training Short When Senior Cats Change Ann Hofenhaus B.7 Article Feline-Human Bond Long Farewell My Sweet Zoey Deb Barnes B.8 Article Feline-Human Bond Short Dear Mudpie Melissa Lapierre B.9 Entertainment Long The Cat Station Master of Kishi Suzanne Kumata B.10 Entertainment Short Trimming Your Cat’s Nails from Home? Karin Spicer B.11 Article Rescue & Advocacy Long Why We Don’t Just Adopt the Peach Kitty Janiss Garza B.12 Article Rescue & Advocacy Short Mute the Volume Dusty Rainbolt B.13 Article Cats in General Pub Long Kitten Season Boosts Need for Volunteers Jen Reeder B.15 Article Product Review Stainless Steel Cat Long Litter Box Review Joey Lusvardi B.16 Column Letters to Mosi Katia Colitti B.17 Article Miscellaneous Long Cats in Egypt Heike Hagenguth B.18 Article Miscellaneous Short Why Are My Cat’s Eyes Red? Ann Hofenhaus C.1 Poetry Haiku from a Feline Purrspective Janine Hennis C.2 Humor Can My Cat Pass the Canadian Citizenship Test? Joey Lusvardi C.3 Short Form Fiction The Flame Beneath the Snow Ellen M Laura C.4 Book Fiction: Mystery Thriller You Only Live Nine Times Gwen Cooper C.9 Book Fiction: Children’s Illust. Finding Harmony: The Kitten Who Taught Friends Kindness Allia Zobel Nolan C.10: Book Fiction: Children’s Word Focused Gaffle O’Feral: The Life and Tail of An Alley Cat Jennifer Rohrbach D.4 Book Nonfiction: General Whiskers in the Wild Debra Blaine E.1 Podcast or Audio Broadcast Tails and Tassels Podcast with Guest Sterling TrapKing Davis Gemma Smith E.2 Video, Film or Television Production Winnie, Tigger, Athena, McKenzie, Percy and Katniss Beverly Garland E.3 Blog/Website Class Act Cats’ Blog Joey Lusvardi E.4 Audiobook – Fiction Trick or Treat Amy Shojai F.1 Photography: Single Image Summer, Victorian Style Janiss Garza F.2 Photography: Series Feline Jonathon Losos & Tim Flach F.3 Photographic Art Lisbeth’s in the Pink Janet Buickerood Blue F.4 Cartoon Lap Comfy Stephanie Piro Nolan F.5 Illustration: Single Sakura Stephanie Piro Nolan F.6 Illustration Series Bling’s on the Trail of a Fluffy Puffy Tail Dawn Secord |
Congratulations to all our winners!
~ Return to Main Contest Page ~
~View the 2026 Special Awards Winners~
