Joanna Szymanska (1st L), the winner of the "Vet of the Year" award of the National Cat Awards 2025, speaks at an awarding ceremony in London, Britain, Sept. 24, 2025. Tales of extraordinary cats and their owners' journeys of hope and healing took center stage in London on Wednesday night, at a ceremony hosted by the century-old British charity Cats Protection for the 17th National Cat Awards. (Xinhua/Zhao Jiasong)
by Xinhua writer Zhao Jiasong
LONDON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tales of extraordinary cats and their owners' journeys of hope and healing took center stage in London on Wednesday night, at a ceremony hosted by the century-old British charity Cats Protection for the 17th National Cat Awards.
The event attracted around 180 attendees, including the feline finalists' owners, who shared their heartwarming stories with the audience. They also highlighted the importance of protecting cats' welfare, their often-fragile nature and the need for responsible care and adoption.
The finalists were shortlisted into four categories: Connected Cats, recognizing pets that have made an impact on social media or in their local communities; Incredible Cats, for those credited with extraordinary feats; Senior Cats, honoring older cats that continue to excel in later years; and Family Cats, celebrating pets that provide comfort and support at home.
CAT OF THE YEAR
Fizz, a four-year-old ginger tom from Powys, Wales, who has become known for his travel exploits, beat thousands of other entries to claim the top trophy of "Cat of the Year 2025" after being named the winner of Connected Cats.
"He has been a constant presence strolling around town since he was nine months old, and has been spotted in the bank, job center, library, gym, bingo, newsagents and theatre. He has also got his paws on social media, with over 2,000 followers on Facebook and people taking his photo in the street," the award citation read.
Fizz was selected by a panel of celebrity judges.
"He's unique and a little star. He's loved by so many people. The whole town, not just me, will be over the moon that he's won!" said his owner Briony Loder, 58.
"The stories we hear from folks are priceless -- he once gate-crashed a wedding and ended up in the wedding photos, he put a halt to the British outdoor bowling championship semi-finals by strolling onto the green, and he's been appointed 'assistant director' by the local theatre company as he attends all their rehearsals!" she added.
Kate Bunting, associate director of communications of Cats Protection, told Xinhua that while cats may sometimes seem aloof, they are also loyal companions, sources of comfort and even lifelines during difficult times for human beings.
The ceremony is "a true celebration of cats and their owners, and it's a chance for us to really appreciate what cats bring to people's lives and really make sure that cats are the center of people's families and homes," Bunting said.
In 2024, Marley, a black and white cat that lives at a safe house in London for women who have been enslaved, exploited and trafficked, earned last year's Cat of the Year for the "gift of empathy."
PROMOTING ADOPTION AND PROTECTION
Carrot, the winner of Senior Cats, was described as "the saddest cat in the shelter" when owners Charlotte and Rob adopted her at the age of 12. Now 22, a remarkable age for a feline, Carrot lives with the couple in Ledbury, Herefordshire.
Charlotte told the ceremony when receiving the award that Carrot's age is the equivalent of over 100 human years. Charlotte has had Carrot for nearly her whole adult life.
"She (Carrot) is still fit and really well," Rob said, adding that his partner is "a fantastic advocate" for looking after and sheltering older cats.
Helping older cats, and cats in general find safe and suitable homes has been one of Cats Protection's major missions since it was founded in 1927.
The charity's 2024 report said that there are 10.6 million owned cats across the United Kingdom, with 2.4 million of these adopted from animal shelters, rescue or rehoming centers across the country.
In a speech, John May, chief executive of Cats Protection, called for greater support for adopting rescued cats waiting in shelters. More young people now own cats, he said, with one in three owners aged under 35 -- a group that is sadly more likely to buy than adopt.
Kit Sturgess, chair of trustees of the charity, voiced similar concerns, saying the challenging economic environment is taking its toll. More owners are struggling to care for their pets, and some have even faced the heartbreaking decision to give them up, or felt they had no choice but to abandon them on the streets.
"In the last three years, we've seen a 71 percent increase in the number of cats being abandoned, and we expect this issue to remain a concern," Sturgess said. The charity will strengthen rescue and rehoming and expand welfare programs, grounding its work in evidence-based studies from researchers, behaviorists and vets, he added.
UNITED FOR ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL
Insiders say that animal welfare runs on community support and volunteer time. May explained that the charity has about 1,200 employees and more than 9,000 volunteers, who in 2024 gave nearly 3.7 million hours of their time, which was valued at about 70 million pounds (around 94 million U.S. dollars).
Among these volunteers is 97-year-old Beryl Jenkins, who has been knitting comfort blankets for rescued animals for more than two decades. Taught by her mother, she once knitted for soldiers during World War II, and now donates her work to one of Cats Protection's centers in London.
In the spirit of "All Creatures Great and Small," such acts of kindness come from a range of sources, from devoted volunteers to vets, whose role in protecting cats was also recognized on Wednesday night.
The ceremony unveiled its "Vet of the Year" award, which went to Joanna Szymanska, a vet working at Graylands Cat Clinic in West Sussex.
Szymanska said the cat-only clinic was established in 2023, and when she and her colleagues built their clinic, they designed it with cats' needs in mind, avoiding loud noises and harsh lights, adopting non-invasive approaches wherever possible and striving for zero pain. The aim, she said, is to create a space where feline patients feel safe, respected and properly cared for.
"Cats are often misunderstood. People think that they are self-sufficient and take care of themselves, but actually cats suffer in silence, and it's up to us to advocate for them, because it's our duty, and it's a privilege as well," Szymanska said. For a long time, most veterinary research and clinical care has been dog-centered, but the vet wants to ensure that cats receive equal attention and professional focus.
She told Xinhua that cats play an important role in providing emotional support, and many reports suggest they can sense changes in the human body, including signs of illness. One such example is Void, winner of this year's Incredible Cats, who would place a paw and give a quiet meow when his owner Laura was about to have a seizure or cardiac episode.
Szymanska said she and her colleagues invite cat owners to their clinic to raise awareness of feline disease prevention and welfare. With the award, she plans to expand that outreach in the months ahead.
For now, she added with a smile, the priority was to get a good night's sleep, ready for an early start helping more cats the next morning. (1 pound = 1.33 U.S. dollar) ■
Owners and representatives of the winning cats of the National Cat Awards 2025 pose for photos at an awarding ceremony in London, Britain, on Sept. 24, 2025. Tales of extraordinary cats and their owners' journeys of hope and healing took center stage in London on Wednesday night, at a ceremony hosted by the century-old British charity Cats Protection for the 17th National Cat Awards.
The event attracted around 180 attendees, including the feline finalists' owners, who shared their heartwarming stories with the audience. They also highlighted the importance of protecting cats' welfare, their often-fragile nature and the need for responsible care and adoption.(Xinhua/Zhao Jiasong)
Owners of Carrot, the winning cat of Senior Cats category of the National Cat Awards 2025, deliver speeches at an awarding ceremony in London, Britain, Sept. 24, 2025. Tales of extraordinary cats and their owners' journeys of hope and healing took center stage in London on Wednesday night, at a ceremony hosted by the century-old British charity Cats Protection for the 17th National Cat Awards.
The event attracted around 180 attendees, including the feline finalists' owners, who shared their heartwarming stories with the audience. They also highlighted the importance of protecting cats' welfare, their often-fragile nature and the need for responsible care and adoption.(Xinhua/Zhao Jiasong)
Presenters reveal the image of Void, the winning cat of the Incredible Cats category of the National Cat Awards 2025, at an awarding ceremony in London, Britain, Sept. 24, 2025. Tales of extraordinary cats and their owners' journeys of hope and healing took center stage in London on Wednesday night, at a ceremony hosted by the century-old British charity Cats Protection for the 17th National Cat Awards.
The event attracted around 180 attendees, including the feline finalists' owners, who shared their heartwarming stories with the audience. They also highlighted the importance of protecting cats' welfare, their often-fragile nature and the need for responsible care and adoption.(Xinhua/Zhao Jiasong)
Images of the winning cats in four categories of the National Cat Awards 2025 are displayed at an awarding ceremony in London, Britain, on Sept. 24, 2025. Tales of extraordinary cats and their owners' journeys of hope and healing took center stage in London on Wednesday night, at a ceremony hosted by the century-old British charity Cats Protection for the 17th National Cat Awards.
The event attracted around 180 attendees, including the feline finalists' owners, who shared their heartwarming stories with the audience. They also highlighted the importance of protecting cats' welfare, their often-fragile nature and the need for responsible care and adoption.(Xinhua/Zhao Jiasong)
Representatives collect an award as Fizz, a four-year-old ginger tom from Powys, Wales, wins the "Cat of the Year 2025" award of the National Cat Awards 2025 at an awarding ceremony in London, Britain, Sept. 24, 2025. Tales of extraordinary cats and their owners' journeys of hope and healing took center stage in London on Wednesday night, at a ceremony hosted by the century-old British charity Cats Protection for the 17th National Cat Awards.
The event attracted around 180 attendees, including the feline finalists' owners, who shared their heartwarming stories with the audience. They also highlighted the importance of protecting cats' welfare, their often-fragile nature and the need for responsible care and adoption.(Xinhua/Zhao Jiasong)
