A pair of rescue cats who spend their days comforting sufferers, households and employees at a hospice have been named joint National Cat of the Year 2022.
Jasper and Willow beat lots of of different entries to be named general winners within the nation’s greatest celebration of pet cats, organised by Cats Protection and held at London’s Savoy Hotel on Thursday 4 August.
The pair have been honoured in recognition of the position they play at St Peter & St James Hospice in Haywards Heath, Sussex, the place they’ve lived since they have been adopted from Cats Protection in 2018.
Front of home supervisor on the hospice Jackie Manville, stated: “We are over the moon that Jasper and Willow have been celebrated for the vital position they play on the hospice. Since they’ve been with us, they’ve purchased consolation to so many individuals, whether or not it’s sufferers, household and associates, or employees. Jasper and Willow actually go to indicate how particular rescue cats are, and we’re so pleased with them each.”
Jasper and Willow first gained the Outstanding Rescue Cat class – which celebrates cats adopted from animal charities – earlier than being chosen as general joint National Cat of the Year by a panel of celeb judges which included Manchester City footballer and England Lioness Ellen White, actress Gaynor Faye, TV and radio broadcaster Riyadh Khalaf, BBC climate presenter Elizabeth Rizzini and drag artist Ginny Lemon.
As the primary ever joint winners of the title, the feline pair will share a trophy and a prize package deal which features a £200 pet retailer voucher. They comply with within the paw prints of final 12 months’s winner Minty, a three-legged cat from Holywell, Wales, who helped six-year-old Connor Raven address extreme studying difficulties and medical situations.
Celebrity choose and Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden had despatched Jasper and Willow on their method to victory after she selected them as winners of the Outstanding Rescue Cat Category. She stated: “It’s wonderful to see how two rescue cats at the moment are so completely happy and comfy of their position of comforting others who’re going by means of very troublesome instances. If ever cats can present empathy, these two do.”
Actress Gaynor Faye, who was on the panel to pick the general winner, stated: “I selected Jasper and Willow due to how a lot consolation and help they carry to individuals on the finish of their life when it could be all they’ve bought, and since there’s two of them. I’ve a brother and sister cat and know the way a lot consolation they carry to me and in addition to one another.”
Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards organiser Cat Jarvis stated: “No-one can fail to be moved by how a lot solace Jasper and Willow convey to sufferers, household and employees on the hospice. They are unbelievable ambassadors for rescue cats, completely highlighting how pleasant, caring and mild they are often when they’re given a second likelihood in life.”
Other class winners have been:
- Misty – Winner of the Most Caring Cat class, who helped a young person cope after an sickness left her unable to stroll for 2 years.
- Marley – Winner of the Cat Colleagues class, who’s a part of the staff at a day centre for adults with studying disabilities.
- Chicken – Winner of the Furr-ever Friends class, who shares an unbelievable bond with an 11-year-old autistic boy who suffers with anxiousness.
Cats Protection, the UK’s main feline welfare charity, has helped a mean of 166,000 cats and kittens a 12 months during the last 5 years by means of its nationwide community which incorporates round 210 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres.
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