Meet Willow, the Life-Saving Cat Among the Finalists at the National Cat Awards

Willow, the life-saving cat, is among the 12 finalists at this year’s National Cat Awards, which celebrate the incredible contributions of our feline friends. Organized by Cats Protection, the UK’s largest feline welfare charity, the awards feature four categories: Cat Colleagues, Family Fur-ever, Moggy Marvels, and Social Star.

Source: Mark 1333/Youtube

The finalists include a cat that offers companionship to Hampton Court Palace gardeners, a moggy that was rescued after being stranded in a river, and Willow, the cat that saved her diabetic human, Amanda Jameson. Amanda, a 51-year-old woman from Liverpool, lost consciousness one night due to dangerously low blood sugar levels. Willow’s actions were critical in alerting Amanda’s partner, Ray Sherwood, who had fallen asleep in front of the television. Willow bit Ray’s leg and paced around to wake him up, then led him upstairs to Amanda, who was unresponsive. Ray called an ambulance, and Amanda was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Amanda credits Willow with saving her life, as she was close to falling into a diabetic coma. Since returning home from the hospital, Willow has become very protective of Amanda and often checks if she’s breathing by putting her nose to her mouth.

Other Moggy Marvels category finalists are Dali, a cat that was lost for a month before being discovered on a small patch of rocks in the Bradford Beck river, and Beau, who supports her human David, diagnosed with incurable blood cancer.

The public can vote for their favorite cat in each category until June 30th. Winners will receive a trophy, a £200 pet store voucher, and a year’s subscription to Cats Protection’s The Cat magazine. The winners, along with the National Cat of the Year, will be announced at Wilton’s Music Hall on July 17, hosted by writer and TV presenter Dawn O’Porter.

O’Porter expressed her excitement for hosting the National Cat Awards and helping Cats Protection raise awareness of the incredible bond between humans and their feline friends. Cats Protection’s awards organizer, Ashley Fryer, highlighted the significant impact cats can have on mental health and well-being and is eager to see who the public chooses as their winners.

We encourage everyone thinking of getting a pet to only adopt instead of shopping. Read more resources about adopting animals on One Green Planet, including 7 Reasons to Adopt Your Next Furry Best Friend, 5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Adopt a Pet, and These Heartwarming Before and After Pictures of Adopted Rescue Animals Will Make Your Day! Read tips for pet adoptions and what to consider before adopting an animal. We recommend using these apps to find shelter dogs near you!

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