THE WINNERS!

The votes are in .... and EVERYONE'S a winner. More or less. Cat owners know all about that. Our judges have spent hours going through the entries and decided to give a special "category" for every cat. And after more than a few heated discussions, the judges were able to pin down our top choices ... they even liked our People's Choice Award! Thank you to everyone who entered their wonderful felines in our photo contest. And now, without further ado, THE WINNERS:

Best in Show

Lady Tula

Tula lives with Stephen and Claudia

Second Place

Junior

Junior lives with AJ

Third Place

Macabee

Macabee lives with Janice and Joe

People’s Choice Award

Brinkley

Brinkley lives with Jim and Ina

and The Furry Love Winners

All entries receive a special gift coupon from Look What The Cat Dragged In, our resale store at 2570 Camino Entrada. Stop by the store and pick up your $5 gift coupon!

Mojo -Mozart Award

Mojo lives with Charlotte

Ginger - Phoenix Rising Award

Ginger lives with Mary

Hankie – Vanity Fair Award

Hankie lives with Charlotte

Gypsy – Teenage Dream Award

Gypsy lives with Jaquie

Tosca – Sleeping Beauty Award

Tosca lives with Jaye

Dulce de Leche – Best In Sink Award

Dulce De Leche lives with Jane and Bob

Ambrocious – Most Companionable Award

Ambrocious lives with Sophia

Tiger – Best Impressionist Award

Tiger lives with Kim

Jimmie – Class Clown Award

Jimmie lives with Paula and Neal

Misha – Contortionist Award

Misha lives with Janice and Joe

Jasmine – Best Stand-Up Routine

Jasmine lives with Lisa

Metta – Best Blackbeard Routine

Metta lives with Lorraine

Kali and Milo – Most Dependable Award

Kali and Milo were Inge’s foster kitties

Harry and Chester – Cosmetology Award

Harry and Chester live with Ellen

Sophie and George – The Yin-Yang Award

Sophie and George live with Jane

George – Best Dog Impression Award

George lives with Jane

Jayne – Best Narcolepsy Award

Jayne lives with Jenna

Zoey – Best Traveler Award

Zoey lives with Jenna

Edie – Most Down to Earth Award

Edie lives with Andrea

Everett – The Groucho Award for Best Mustache

Everett lives with Julie

Amon – Best Grin Award

Amon lives with Inge

O’Keeffe and Alfred – Most Loving Embrace Award

O’Keefee and Alfred live with Jane

Margo Mangrove Sailcat – Best Centerfold Award

Margo lives with Adrienne

Mudita – Most Romantic Award

Mudita lives with Lorraine

Caddie – The Razz Award

Caddie lives with Charlotte

Lucky – Most Helpful Award

Lucky lives with Adrianna

Smudge – Most Balanced Award

Smudge lives with Jeanne

Carmel – Best Glamour Shot

Carmel lives with Kristi

Monster – Grooviest Award

Monster lives with Lyndi

Hi everyone! Make sure to cast your vote for People's Choice by commenting on the photo or by sending an email to TopCats@sfhumanesociety.org! Thanks to everyone for such wonderful photos and heartwarming stories. What was that saying? Cats Rule, Dogs Drool!

Dulce de Leche

Meet Dulce de Leche, who has lived with Jane and Bob since July 2004.

“I was rescued from the acequia near a Buddhist retreat, a terrified white kitten with orange-tabby points. My ancestry includes Siamese temple princesses and a marauding barn cat. Eight years later, true to my heritage, I have bright blue eyes, caramel markings and a noisy meow. Also, I love napping in sinks and drinking from faucets.”

Monster

Meet Monster. He lives with Lyndi.

“I rescued Monster when I was living in Denver from a woman who was going to take him and his brother to the shelter. I couldn't resist that little face, and just knew he was going to fit right in with my other rescue, Daisy, from the Denver Dumb Friends League. We didn't name him right away, and I tried out all the typical ‘white cat’ names such as Snowball and Marshmallow. But we discovered very quickly that he was a little ‘monster!’ He got into everything, including cabinets, drawers and bags, and climbed on top of the fridge, counter tops and everything. He was super naughty, but oh so silly – so the name Monster fit him perfectly! He continues to be a naughty little guy, but as the sun sets, he is also my cuddle bear. Oh how I love him so!”

Caddie

Meet Caddie. She lives with Charlotte.

“Caddie (-waddie) was adopted from the old Shelter on Cerrillos Road about
six years ago. She started out as a foster, having been in a cage at the
Shelter for some six or seven months, but soon found her way into
permanent status in my household. She's a beautiful green-eyed calico. Of
all my cats, she is the only one who can sit and watch the cat-sitter videos
for hours on end. Caddie is about 17 years old now and is slowing down,
but still maintains her status as the matriarch – being toothless doesn't
have any effect. Here, she is expressing her opinion of her newest
housemate, Sasha, my fifth feline in the house (and final one for
a while). Caddie was not pleased by Sasha's arrival, and they had plenty of
tousles as evidenced by the cut on Caddie's face here, but finally time
and Feliway sorted it all out!”

Mojo

Meet Mojo. He lives with Charlotte.

“Mojo is a purebred black Bengal, who was originally from a breeder in California, and then adopted through Santa Fe Cats. As with all Bengals, he has personality traits that are unlike my other 'ordinary' cats. He's sleek, incredibly athletic, and would rather be on top of the highest object in a room (whether he fits or not). He seems particularly drawn to the piano and likes nothing better than to 'help' me practice, walking up and down the keys then finally settling in as you see here. Mojo is about 7 years old. After many years of trying unsuccessfully to identify and solve his intestinal difficulties, I've finally found that he can really only eat rabbit. Which means the other four cats also only eat rabbit. It's expensive but cheaper than veterinary bills and he is thriving on this diet, as are all my others.”

Hankie

Meet Hankie. He lives with Charlotte.

“Hankie is a 7-year-old orange tabby who was adopted from the old Shelter
on Cerrillos Road about six years ago. His Shelter name was Woody. He's turned out to be a smallish cat but is big on personality. Confident of his own charm, he is far from shy and always makes himself the center of attention during parties, insinuating himself onto every lap in turn (without waiting to be invited). Hank had a terrible episode with an oral infection and was mauled by a dog just when he was beginning to recover. I thought I was going to lose him but meticulous care has brought him back to his robust, cheerful stinker self. He lords it over my other cats, and wakes me up in the morning by biting my nose. He loves licking cooking oil and his preferred toy is an empty grape stem.”

Jimmie

Meet Jimmie. He lives with Paula and Neal.

"My husband, Neal, and I adopted Jimmie from Felines & Friends New Mexico. He's named after my deceased father, Jimmie Bertino. Jimmie thinks he's a snow leopard and hunter, but he's never been outside because of the danger of coyotes in our neighborhood. His favorite thing in the world is to help Neal make a salad. Jimmie gets his own bowl of lettuce to gnaw on – it has to be butter lettuce – while Neal prepares the rest of the salad. Once he's done, Jimmie has been known to fall asleep right in his salad bowl!”

Gypsy

Meet Gypsy. He lives with Jaquie.

“Gypsy, a stray feral cat at the time, adopted us about 5 1/2 years ago. Abused, terrified and starving, I could leave food for him, but only at a distance as he was too frightened to tolerate my touching him – well, unless I wanted to get clawed! With a lot of patience and love, Gypsy now follows me everywhere, loves to be cuddled, sleeps on my feet, walks on a leash, naps on his favorite teddy bear, and never fails to put a smile in our day. Love truly makes a house a home! I'm so glad this wild little kitty chose us.”

Junior

Meet Junior. He lives with AJ.

“I have owned Junior since the second he was born eight years ago. We have been bonded ever since. He ‘helps’ me feed the horses and checks on them as I toss the hay. He gives kitty kisses and hugs to all of our dogs. And he is the first cat to welcome anyone into our home and will keep their lap warm while they are there. He's the best cat – Period!”

George

Meet George. He lives with Jane.

“I fostered George for the Buddy Center/Denver Dumb Friends League in 2003. George was a 2-year-old stray who had major eye problems. We adopted him when the money ran out for his treatment and had him treated by our own veterinarian. George never complained during all his discomfort and treatments and has been such a good ‘Dad’ to all my foster kittens!”

Sophie and George

Meet Sophie and George. They live with Jane and her family.

“We adopted Sophie, who is probably around 13 years old, from the Denver Dumb Friends League in 1998. I fostered and then adopted George, who is probably around 10 years old, from the Buddy Center/Denver Dumb Friends League in 2003. They are, obviously, pretty good buddies!”

O’Keeffe and Alfred

Meet O’Keeffe and Alfred. They live with Jane.

“I fostered brothers O’Keeffe and Alfred – who were born on the roof of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum! – for Felines & Friends New Mexico beginning in 2004. As they remained semi-feral, we ended up adopting them. I guess you could call us ‘foster flunkies!’ Sadly, we learned this year that they both have heart disease, so we are treasuring every moment with them!”

Macabee

Meet Macabee, who lives with Janice and Joe.

“My name is Macabee. My original owner died 14 months ago. At 16, my health was very poor. I was not expected to live more than a few months, and I was designated a hospice foster cat. With my spectacular lovability and charm, I remind everyone that the rumors of my demise were greatly exaggerated.”

Misha

Meet Misha, who lives with Janice and Joe.

“My name is Misha. I’m 11 years old. After living outdoors as a stray for many months I was adopted one year ago. I was understandably cautious at first, so it took me a while to trust my surroundings and to learn to relax. But I think I have it down now!”

Jayne

Meet Jayne. She lives with Jenna.

“Jayne came to us through a friend who found him lost outside. We brought him home and fell in love with this hyper kitty. He is named after a character in ‘Firefly,’ because his fur matches the color of the character’s hat. His favorite activity is to jump in and out of bags and has a love of falling asleep in any position.”

Zoey

Meet Zoey. She lives with Jenna.

“Zoey Christmas Tree chose her owners in February 2009. Her middle name, Christmas Tree, was chosen because of her love of sleeping under the tree at Christmas. She enjoys running down hallways, chasing and catching jingle balls in the air and sleeping on top of her people.”

Everett

Meet Everett. He lives with Julie.

“Here is Everett right before Christmas. He was a tiny starving stray who I found in September and he is thriving now. He fit right in with
the other four much older cats and the dog. And yes, Santa brought him
lots of treats.”

Lucky

Meet Lucky. She lives with Adrianna.

“Lucky is my biggest blessing in a very small package. Lucky is 5 years old, and the best friend a girl could have in the whole world. She has been there for me since the age of 12 – before her little eyes were open – and she is now in the process of preparing to go to college with me after I graduate this year! Lucky is a very unique cat and has a pretty uncommon nervous system disorder known as Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome, which makes her hallucinate and attack herself. There's no known cause or cure for it, so I've had to develop my own special ways to handle her over the years when she gets into one of her ‘episodes.’ I love my cat dearly and I would do anything to keep her happy. I hope you judges love her too!”

Brinkley

Meet Brinkley. He lives with Jim and Ina.

“This is our jolly cat Brinkley. He was brought in to the Shelter with a severe head injury and it was feared he wouldn't survive. He was called Bobbles at the Shelter and has since made a complete recovery from the ‘brink.’ He is a happy, playful boy and we couldn't be more thrilled with him.”

Margo Mangrove Sailcat

Meet Margo Mangrove Sailcat. She lives with Adrienne.

“My cat's name is Margo Mangrove Sailcat. We call her Mango for short. We adopted Mango when l was 3 years old and she was only 1 year old. That makes her almost 7 years old. I got her from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. Mango is a tabby tortoise-shell, with some orange on her. That's why Mango is a good nickname for her. And the more we call her Mango, the more orange she gets! She is an indoor cat, and loves to watch the birds through the window, just like I do. She is sometimes a fat slob, but I love her dearly.”

Amon

Meet Amon. He lives with Inge.

“Look at how guilty he looks. Amon, the big uncle for my foster kittens, sits in a spot that is normally not his.”

Kali and Milo

Meet Kali and Milo, Inge’s foster kittens.

“In September, these two stayed with us for some weeks. After a lot of roughhousing, they always ended up like this. Although it doesn't show, I noticed that Milo’s eyesight was poor and he relied on his sister to help him a bit in new situations. After getting to know the new surroundings, he was often bossing her around again. He was a great little guy and very social.”

Mudita

Meet Mudita, who lives with Lorraine.

“Even though I just turned 15, everyone who meets me thinks I’m much younger. I still love to hunt and can leap straight up to catch a bird at the feeder or climb the 6-foot fence to roam in our yard. You’d never know that I’m really shy.”

Metta

 

Meet Metta, who lives with Lorraine.

“I’m a Maine coon — a gentle giant — who just turned 15. Having reached this ripe age, my face is grizzled with white and my hips don’t work as well as they did. I’ve retired from an active life outdoors to relax in the warmth of the sun.”

Tiger

Meet Tiger. Tiger lives with Kim.

“Here is Tiger watching TV with Arly. Tiger is our 2-year-old bundle of fuzz. Tiger was a stray who found his way to our yard. He loves doing anything that involves his humans. He is curious, loving and funny. He is truly the top cat in our house.”

Ginger

Meet Ginger. She lives with Mary.

“On a Saturday morning more than three years ago, my partner Tim and I visited the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society in search of a kitty.  Karma, my precious feline companion for over 18 years, had died several months before. We walked past the dozens of beautiful cats and adorable kittens, hoping to find that “special” kitty that would like to join our family.  I admit I was leaning towards adopting a kitten.

I lost sight of Tim, and finally heard him calling from a room down the hall, the one with the rabbit cages.  “What about this one? She’s very pretty,” pointing to a longhaired black adult cat looking out from the row of bunnies.  The shelter staff person said, ‘Ginger came in with her litter of four kittens and is about a year old. We put her in with the rabbits because she is a little “crazy” and can’t be with other animals. She bites people, too.’ ‘Not exactly what I am looking for,’ I said to myself. Tim insisted on taking her out of the cage, and she snuggled in his arms. But everyone loved Tim. As a case manager at a local program that helps homeless people with mental illness, he had a heart for anyone with serious problems. ‘She needs a home, and I really think she’ll be fine once she feels safe,’ he said hopefully.  I finally agreed, and Ginger came home with us.

It was a difficult initial adjustment. Ginger hissed if we approached her or even looked at her. She ran from one end of the house to the other meowing loudly. By that afternoon I had nicknamed her ‘Ginger Snap.’  But that night she jumped on the bed and slept between us. ‘She may never be a lap kitty, but she’s smart, playful and seems to be very happy,’ Tim observed. Boxes and golf balls were her favorite toys, and we laughed at her antics. Gradually her biting changed to licking as we spoke softly to her. She let me brush her long coat and came running when she was called. And one day she curled up on Tim’s lap while he was reading. We were a happy family thanks to Tim’s belief in everyone’s inner goodness.

Our story, however, is bittersweet. Tim became seriously ill and passed away last year. Ginger is my dearest comfort. She jumps into my lap (yes!), purrs constantly, and makes me laugh on days when nothing else can. I send Tim gratitude every day for choosing Ginger. He knew what a difference a good home and lots of love can make in a troubled life. And I do have my ‘special’ kitty thanks to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society.”

Jasmine

Meet Jasmine. She lives with Lisa.

“Jasmine, a silver tabby, is just over 13 months old. A year ago in January, I had to help my dearest companion, a 13-year-old Russian blue, who was adopted from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, pass from lymphoma. I was devastated. So my husband at the time took me to Albuquerque for the day.

While we were down there, I asked if we could go by the animal shelter just to look, as I'd remembered a few days before about a hoarder turning in many kitties. So we went. I went to the kitten side to see if any kitties would bond with me.

Jasmine was tiny and hiding in the corner of her kennel, hissing at everyone who passed by. However, she did not hiss at me. I asked the shelter workers about her. They told me she was a feral kitten and that they were working to socialize her. I asked if I could please hold her. They handed her to me, and, as a TellingtonTouch practitioner, I held her and did some bodywork on her and talked with her. About four or five minutes later she sighed and stretched out, then decided to move up by my neck and tuck her head under my chin. She purred, and purred loudly! The shelter staff was amazed as they had never heard her purr or seen her snuggle with anyone! We adopted her that day after she was spayed.

She picked me, and she is my shadow. She knows when I need her loving, and cuddles up close over my heart. She sleeps with me constantly, helps in the kitchen, stalks the doggies (she's not keen on the dogs even a year later), and rules the roost. Anything and everything is a toy, and she's a toy fiend. She loves to play, talk, and keep my granddaughters in line.

This picture of her is in the kitchen and she is giving me the “what-for.” I am so happy she chose to share her wonderful life and personality with me. All of my pets are rescues or adopted, and I wouldn't have them any other way.”

Eddie

Meet Edie. She lives with Andrea.

“Edie is a 12-year-old tabby. The saying that the third time’s the charm is quite true for Edie — who found her forever family after spending time in two other homes. A difficult early life (Edie’s missing one toe) has now transitioned into her life as queen of the house. Once an outdoor cat, she now rests regally on cushy pillows and soft throws. Although she’s now a woman of a certain age, she still enjoys wrestling cat toys, chasing strings, hiding under covers, and basically being a rascal. She is pure love and joy.”

Harry and Chester

Meet Harry and Chester. They live with Ellen.

“Harry (the orange boy getting his face licked) is an alumnus of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. I adopted him in 2004 when he was about a year old. He generally submits to Chester, who is the top cat. Harry's a cuddler. He favors stretching out on my chest and burrowing into my neck, and he never says “no” to a belly rub. Chester is the boss as far as Harry's concerned. He was the runt of his litter, with a twisted leg that prevented him from walking on it. I thought it would be permanent when I adopted him as a kitten, but several weeks later he stood up and strutted around like the top cat that he is. He's 9 years old now and likes to sleep with me on my pillow and sit on my lap and get scratches under his chin.”

Carmel

 Meet Carmel. She lives with Kristi.

“Carmel is a 2-1/2-year-old female orange tabby. A feral kitten, she was adopted by our family at about 4 months of age. Carmel lets us know the outdoors is still her territory. On her frequent visits indoors, she is a gentle, well-behaved, and cuddly (on her terms only – of course!) cat. Heartfelt thanks go to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society for the low-cost spaying.”

Tosca

Meet Tosca. She lives with Jaye.

“This is Tosca napping on the beautiful new couch bought from Look What The Cat Dragged In. She was adopted from the old Shelter on Cerrillos Road. She put up with an old guy cat when she was new to the household, then had her neck ripped open by a rather over-rambunctious male cat. But she survived to become the sweetest, most mellow cat ever! Tosca is a talented lap-sitter and has a friendly greeting for everyone who comes to the house. She likes to play with her many toys and has the most melodic purr you ever heard! She enjoys watching the birds at the feeders out the window and once kissed our very large greyhound neighbor on his doggie lips. What a cat!”

Smudge

Meet Smudge. She lives with Jeanne.

“Smudge came to us from Felines & Friends New Mexico. We thought we were just going to foster, but after 10 minutes with her, we adopted. Smudge is about 5 years old and loves to go on road trips. We just got back from a 12-day trip and Smudge was the perfect guest everywhere we stayed.”

Ambrocious

Meet Ambrocioius. He lives with Sophia.

“This picture is not only of my cat but of the love of my life. He is 12 years young and is my ‘mountain Kitty!’ His name is Ambrocious, from the resemblance of the big white dog on the movie “Labyrinth.” Being that there are two young children in our family, he is the only animal who likes to play with the kids. He doesn’t mind ear or hair pulling or anything. He’s wonderfully lazy and loves the outdoors. He’s also a strange dog lover as his BFF are always dogs. I unconditionally love this fat and very large cat and will be devastated when he’s gone. He’s a Persian mix with big, blue dreamy eyes.”

Lady Tula

Meet Lady Tula. She lives with Stephen and Claudia.

“Lady Tula is a SFASHS alumnus, adopted from the shelter in April of 2009. She is a 9-year-old longhaired calico and rules our household of two humans, two dogs and one other cat with an iron paw. When Lady Tula speaks, everyone listens!”