Congratulations to Certificate of Excellence Winners!

Start booking your travel plans NOW to attend the CWA/BlogPaws Conference in Myrtle Beach on May 17-20. Think of this as the feline version of the Academy Awards — it is your time to shine in the spotlight!

For complete info on registering for the Conference, including info on making your hotel reservations, go to the CWA web site and click on the “2017 Conference” tab.

To earn a Certificate of Excellence, an individual needed to average 90 points or higher, based on the scoring from three judges. The field was quite competitive and there were many stellar submissions!

At the Awards Banquet, the Muse medallion winners in each category will be announced (selected from the finalists: the Certificate of Excellence winners), as well as the winners of the Special Awards provided by our wonderful sponsors. So, yes, even if you did not earn a Certificate of Excellence or win a Muse medallion, you could still win a Special Award (and a few of you did) that comes with a monetary award.

I.1 Magazine – National Circulation
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
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!
Susan Logan-McCracken, Kitty Quirks

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

I.5 Magazine Article – Any Other Topic
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
JaneA Kelley, Keep It Clean

II.4 Newspaper Article – Any Other Topic
Jen Reeder, Back in Black

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

III.2 Newsletter – National Circulation
Alley Cat Mews, editor Louise Holton

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
Kim Thornton, Fewer Heartworm Cases, More Severe Signs

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

III.8 Newsletter Column
Lyn T. Garson, Technically Speaking

IV.2 Poem
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
Jeremy Greenberg, Sorry I Slept on Your Face

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

IV.5 Annual or Long Publication
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
Deborah Barnes, Break Out of Your Blogging Niche to Make Strides in Cat Welfare

IV.7 PR/Humane Education/Press Kits
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
Carole Nelson Douglas, Cat In An Alphabet Endgame

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

V.4 Books – Behavior and Training
Dusty Rainbolt, Cat Scene Investigator

V.5 Books – Gift
Tamar Arslanian, Shop Cats of New York

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

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

VI.2 Broadcast – Audio
Denise Fleck, Pet Safety Crusader Radio

VII.2 Online Article – Health and General Care
JaneA Kelley, When a Horse is Really a Zebra
Kim Thornton, Lethal Lillies
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
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
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
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
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
Phillip Mlynar, Monday Miracles
Phillip Mlynar, Social Cat of the Week
Kim Thornton, Dr, Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker, Pet Connections

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

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

VIII.4 Blog – Entertainment
Lisa Richman, A Tonk’s Tail
Bernadette Kazmarski, The Creative Cat

VIII.5 Blog – Any Other Topic
JaneA Kelley, Paws and Effect

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

IX.5 Photographic Art
Teresa Keiger, Cat Talk October Cover

IX.6 Cartoon
Stephanie Piro, Cat Woman
Stephanie Piro, Great Outdoors

IX.7 Illustration – Single
Stephanie Piro, Makin’ Biscuits Cover

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

Paws up!
Arden Moore
CWA Contest Chair