A cat from Lincoln has been crowned overall winner in Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards 2017.
Eight–year-old Genie was chosen for helping her 12-year-old owner battle bone cancer.
The black-and-white puss was selected as a finalist in the Outstanding Rescue Cat category in recognition of the incredible support and inspiration she has provided for Evie Henderson, who was diagnosed with bone cancer in March 2016.
Evie, who lives with parents Tina and Chris in North Hykeham, has endured six grueling rounds of chemotherapy; several painful operations and lengthy hospital stay far from home.
Throughout her treatment, Evie has drawn strength from the bond she has with her beloved pet, watching videos of her from her hospital bed and telling doctors that she needed to get better so she could go home to see Genie. When Evie’s hair started to fall out, she noticed that Genie’s fur was molting and said that it helped her feel like she wasn’t alone.
Genie beat four other amazing moggies to take the overall crown after winning the Outstanding Rescue Cat category. The other category winners were:
- Mittens – winner of Furr-ever Friends – who helps a young girl with autism cope with a serious medical condition.
- Pixie – winner of Hero Cat – who alerted a sleeping couple to their toddler who was choking in her cot.
- Spike – winner of PURINA® Better Together – who helps his owner cope with a debilitating disease.
- Tilly – winner of Most Caring Cat – who helps her owner cope with an agonizing medical condition.
Genie was announced as the overall winner today by a team of celebrity judges at an awards ceremony at The Savoy Hotel in London. Receiving her second trophy from the judges, Evie said: “I’m utterly stunned. I really can’t believe it. Genie deserves this so much. I was so happy to win our category but to win again is really amazing, incredible. It’s fabulous; I’m shocked, surprised and delighted by my cat at the same time.
“Genie will be getting some extra treats tonight.”
A celebrity judging panel, made up of writer, broadcaster and journalist Andrew Collins, actress Anita Dobson, actor Paul Copley, Olympic clay pigeon shooter Charlotte Hollands, ‘The Vamps’ musician James McVey, actor Anthony Head, animal therapist Sarah Fisher and TV psychologist Jo Hemmings had the difficult task of choosing from the five category winners. Presenting the award, Anita Dobson said: said: “This year’s vote was really close, they were all such worthy category winners but one had to win. In the end, it just had to be Genie.”
Presenting the award to Genie, Anita said: “None of us could fail to be moved by the close bond that these two shares, a well-deserved win.”
Genie follows in the paw prints of a long line of feline heroes honored by Cats Protection. They include Tink, who saved their owners from a house fire, Jessi-Cat, who was celebrated for helping a seven-year-old boy cope with Selective Mutism, which is a condition which affects his ability to speak, and Nelson, a one-eyed former stray from County Durham, who survived nearly drowning and 15 years living rough.
Kate Bunting, the award’s organizer at Cats Protection, said: “Genie is a worthy winner. Cats and children frequently share a special bond, and it’s clear that Evie and Genie have always been close. But what’s so wonderful about their story is how that special relationship provided such a tower of strength and inspiration when Evie needed it most.”
Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards, organized by the UK’s largest cat charity is an annual celebration of the real-life stories of heroism, loyalty, and companionship in the feline world. Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and helps around 190,000 cats and kittens each year through its national network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 34 centers.