Cat Talk Wins Awards at Cat Writers’ Association Banquet
October 31, 2025
Including a Special Award!
Teresa Keiger
Editor, Cat Talk
The Cat Talk staff made a nice showing in the Cat Writers’ Association’s annual Communications Contest. The top awards were presented at their awards banquet, held in conjunction with their hybrid in-person/Zoom conference in Indianapolis, IN on October 25, 2025.
CWA had previously released a list of all Certificate of Merit winners (including those awarded to Cat Talk staff) whose articles which had received an average score of 90 or above from three different judges. The highest scoring entry in each category received the Muse Medallion for that category. Categories include many aspects of cats in the media: articles, stories, artwork, podcasts, etc.
Winning even a Certificate of Merit is prestigious. The total number of entries this year was 291, and only 116 earned a Certificate of Merit. Entries included work from top-selling authors, feline specialists, well-known podcasters and video-casters, and professional artists all specializing in cats and feline-themed work. Those 116 certificate winners spanned 35 categories, with only one Muse Medallion winner per category.
A.1 WRITTEN ARTICLE: FELINE HEALTH – SHORT
Winner: Nancy Kerr
Article: “Perineal Urethrostomy “
Appearing June, 2024 in Cat Talk Magazine
https://cfa.org/cat-talk/perineal-urethrostomy
A.2 WRITTEN ARTICLE: GENERAL CAT CARE AND WELLBEING – LONG
Winner: Candilee Jackson
Article: “Fluffy’s Sixteen and Still Plays Like a Kitten: Enrichment for Senior Cats”
Appearing April, 2024 in Cat Talk Magazine
https://cfa.org/cat-talk/enrichment-for-senior-cats
A.9 WRITTEN ARTICLE: GENERAL – SHORT
Winner: Teresa Keiger
Article: “Who’s That Kitten?”
April, 2024 in Cat Talk Magazine
https://cfa.org/cat-talk/whos-that-kitten
M.7 GRAPHIC DESIGN
Winner: Teresa Keiger
“CFA’s Top Breeds for 2023”
February, 2024 on The Cat Fanciers’ Association
https://cfa.org/cat-talk/most-popular-breeds-for-2023/
The Special Awards are judged independently of the other entries, and by professionals outside of the CWA community. They are sponsored by various companies and individuals, and come with a cash prize and often a physical award.
NANCY MARANO SENIOR CAT WELL-BEING AWARD, SPONSORED BY FRAN & RAY SHAW
Award: A $750 cash grant plus a plaque in honor of Nancy Marano, gifted by past CWA president and treasurer Fran Pennock Shaw and her husband, Ray Shaw.
Winner: Candilee Jackson
Article: “Fluffy’s Sixteen and Still Plays Like a Kitten: Enrichment for Senior Cats”
Appearing April, 2024 in Cat Talk Magazine
https://cfa.org/cat-talk/enrichment-for-senior-cats
A complete list of all final winners is available on the CWA website.
I would like to extend my congratulations and thanks to both Cat Talk‘s winners AND to the entire Cat Talk staff! We have the hardest-working all-volunteer staff around!! Please congratulate all or our winners and staff when you see them.