The latest press release from CATS PROTECTION.

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The rescue cats that got the cream!

The winners of Cats Protection’s Rescue Cat of the Year Awards 2006 have just been announced at a ceremony held this afternoon at the Copthorne Effingham Park Hotel in West Sussex.
The winners are:
ö The overall Rescue Cat of the Year 2006: Tee Cee from Sheffield. His ability to sense when his owner is about to have an epileptic seizure makes him a true lifesaver! Announced by Helen Ralston, Cats Protection’s Chief Executive.
ö ‘Best Friend’ winner: Magic from Reading. Magic’s owner suffers with a muscle disorder which confines her to bed for long periods. Magic dutifully stays by her side, makes her laugh and even encourages her to walk around the garden for exercise! Announced by actor, Anthony Head, and his partner, Sarah Fisher.
ö ‘Hero Cat’ winner: Tee Cee from Sheffield – Details as above. Announced by TV presenter Wendy Turner-Webster and actress Julie Peasgood.
ö ‘Most Incredible Story’ winner: Munchie from Northampton – At just two weeks old, Munchie escaped from a car that was about to be crushed by meowing loudly for help! Announced by author Lynne Truss and editor of Your Cat magazine Sue Parslow.
ö ‘Ultimate Survivor’ winner: Daisy from Leeds – Daisy suffered but managed to overcome horrific injuries after being used as bait in an organised dog fight. Remarkably she still trusts people and will charge at passing dogs given the chance! Announced by TV presenter Kim Woodburn and Chairman of Cats Protection Heather McCann.
Tee Cee’s owners, Michael and Jean Edmonds, and Jean’s daughter Samantha Laidler who nominated him for the Awards, were fe-line very special when Tee Cee scooped the overall Rescue Cat of the Year Award title for 2006!
TV presenter Wendy Turner-Webster was clearly touched by Tee Cee’s story. “His uncanny ability to sense Michael’s seizures and alert the family is amazing. This is a cat whose contribution to the family is incredible.”
Cats Protection’s Chief Executive, Helen Ralston, agreed. “Tee Cee goes beyond what we would expect from a pet. What he does for the family is priceless and for that truly amazing gift he deserves to be the Rescue Cat of the Year.”

Now in its third year, Cats Protection’s Rescue Cat of the Year Awards honour those felines whose stories of survival, fate, bravery and heroism have inspired the humans who love and care for them.

The Awards struck a chord with cat lovers everywhere, according to Helen Ralston. “We felt that if the stories of some of the cats that come into our care are anything to go by, then there had to be some pretty inspiring tales out there of cats overcoming the odds and making a real difference to people’s lives,” she explained.
“Judging by the quality of entries we received, we were right. We think the winning stories capture the true spirit of the Awards and demonstrate what wonderful pets rescue cats are – well done to all the winners from everyone at Cats Protection.”

Cats Protection received around 400 entries from throughout the UK for this year’s Rescue Cat of the Year Awards. Each year, the charity rehomes 60,000 cats and kittens through its nationwide network of 29 Adoption Centres and 260 voluntary-run Branches.

For media enquiries please contact Cats Protection’s Media Office on 01825 741278 or 01825 741273

Notes to editors:

1. The Rescue Cat of the Year Awards 2006 is kindly sponsored by: Evonprint, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Frontline Spot-on, Lindee Lu, Medichem International Ltd and Petplan

2. Video footage and digital images of all the winning cats and their owners are available on request

3. Various spokespeople for Cats Protection’s Rescue Cat of the Year Awards are available for interview, including the owners of the winning felines as well as Cats Protection’s Chief Executive Helen Ralston and leading companion animal researcher Dr June McNicholas. Please check availability with Zahir White or Kate Bunting.

4. Separate press releases on each of the winners and the various shortlisted entries are also available – please contact Zahir or Kate.

5. Founded as the Cats Protection League in 1927, the charity adopted the name Cats Protection in 1998. We ask that you use the name Cats Protection when referring to the charity in all published material

6. More information about the work of the charity can be found at www.cats.org.uk

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Cats Protection is the UKs leading cat welfare charity, rehoming around 60,000 cats and kittens a year through its nationwide network of 29 Adoption Centres and 260 voluntary-run Branches. We also promote responsible cat ownership through education and information and run comprehensive neutering programmes involving approximately 100,000 cats every year.
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