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STV News
6 days ago
- General
- STV News
Cat who walks children to school shortlisted for national award
A cat from Glasgow who accompanies children on their daily walk to school has been named a finalist in the Cats Protection National Cat Awards 2025. Two-year-old Kiki has been shortlisted in the Connected Cats category, which recognises cats that bring people together and make a positive impact in their communities. Kiki was nominated for her daily routine of following ten-year-old Sonny and his friends to Kelvindale Primary, waiting in the playground, and then walking home with them. Her presence has become well known among pupils, parents, and staff, with the headteacher noting her '100% attendance'. Kiki's owner Michelle Scott said: 'She's really sociable. She really loves children and has done so from the moment we got her. 'She follows Sonny and his friends to school every day, waits in the playground, then follows them home again. 'Everyone loves it – they get so excited to see a cat in the playground.' STV News Sonny Scott, ten While she isn't the cuddliest cat, Kiki shows her affection for her humans in other ways. 'She's not the kind of cat who'll come and sit on your knee, but she likes to sleep at the bottom of Sonny's bed, almost to protect him. 'She enjoys being outside and around people. She's very trusting.' Sometimes, her curiosity takes her one step too far, including walking right into the classroom. 'She goes in and sits and looks at people – Sonny's had to go in and get her out!' Michelle added. Social worker Michelle, 51, says Kiki is part of the family – and practically 'one of the children'. 'She's often still half asleep when Sonny gets ready for school, but once she hears him leave, she jumps off the bed and runs downstairs to catch up. 'If the children stop or get distracted, she'll run ahead as if to say, 'Come on.'' Michelle says Kiki has become an 'unofficial school cat,' bringing the community together and offering a way to teach children about kindness to animals. 'The staff have been so positive and lovely about it. I was worried about the cat in the school, but they've really embraced her as their unofficial mascot. 'The children are really excited about her nomination – it shows how popular she is.' STV News Purr-fect attendance: Kiki walks to school every day with her owner, Sonny Kiki is one of three finalists in her category and will now go through to a public vote, open from 9am on 16 June until 31 July, at Winners in each of the four award categories – Connected Cats, Family Cats, Incredible Cats, and Senior Cats – will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on September 24, hosted by writer and presenter Dawn O'Porter. Category winners will receive a trophy, a £200 pet store voucher, and a year's subscription to Cats Protection's The Cat magazine. One cat will also be named National Cat of the Year 2025, receiving an additional overall winner's trophy. Last year's title went to Marley, who was recognised for supporting women recovering from trafficking and exploitation at Caritas Bakhita House in London. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cat from Staines among contenders for National Cat of the Year
A cat from Surrey who has saved her owner's life on multiple occasions is a finalist in this year's National Cat event, organised by charity Cats Protection, highlights the impact cats have on people's Void is one of three contenders in the Incredible Cats category which recognises those who have raised the alarm in an emergency or prevented a is able to alert owner Laura Welch when she is about to have a medical episode linked to her heart condition, Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia. Ms Welch, from Staines, said: "The cardiac episodes can flare up multiple times a week – I get a lot of pain, a really high heart rate and get dizzy like I'm going to pass out. "I don't know where he learnt it but Void knows to alert me before it happens. He sprints over at full speed and gently taps me over and over again until he sees that I'm listening."She recalls one occasion when she was in bed and Void "sprinted up the stairs at full speed" to alert her to an episode. "I woke up 10 minutes later and he was sat right by my head and I realised I'd had a seizure. I trust him, I really do," Ms Welch for the National Cat Awards is open and will run until 31 July. Category winners and the overall National Cat of the Year will be announced during a ceremony in London on 24 September.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Is troublemaker Rocky the UK's top cat?
A house cat from Derby is in the running to be named Cat of the Year for doting on almost all of his cat Rocky is a companion to Abbie Evans, loyal pet to children Thomas and Lucie - and constant agitator to her husband Thomas."He's exceptionally good at winding up my husband," said florist Abbie, from Chellaston. "If Rocky knows there is something he can do, he will do it."Abbie and her children will be heading to London in September to find out how Rocky has done in the Family Cats category of the Cats Protection National Cat Awards, and if he's in the grand final - while Martin will be staying at home, cat-sitting. Seven-year-old Rocky's nomination alongside two other rivals comes for his loyalty to Thomas and Lucie, supervising their homework, making sure they eat breakfast, and greeting them from Abbie, 48, said: "He's just a very big, large moggy - there's no make and model for our cat. We do spoil him, probably a bit too much."But Rocky's affectionate side does not extend to all members of the family equally. Abbie said: "He's exceptionally good at winding up my husband. He likes to lie in the drive when my husband's trying to park his car, he likes to jump in my husband's seat when he's having dinner, walk over his head when he's watching TV."He just likes to wind him up constantly."Rocky will find out his fate, decided by a public vote, at an awards ceremony in London on 24 September, hosted by writer Dawn O'Porter. Abbie said: "We were quite shocked we'd got to the finals but Rocky has brought so much fun, love and laughter to our family, to win would be the icing on the cake."There's four different categories so if we win Family Cat of the Year he goes into the Grand Final of National Cat of the Year."Rocky doesn't go to the awards ceremony - he's got to stay at home with Martin while we're in London having a great time."Martin thinks it's a little bit crazy to be honest."
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Scottish cat who walks boy to school every day could be UK's 'cat of the year'
The sociable feline joins 10-year-old Sonny on his daily walks to school and then waits for him to finish. A Scottish cat with a love for the school runs has become a local sensation and is hunting down a national award. Two-year-old Kiki has reached the final of the Cats Protection National Cat Awards 2025. The sociable feline from the south side of Glasgow has made it to the final three in the Connected Cats category, a prize celebrating moggies who bring people together and spread joy in their communities. She beat hundreds of entries from across the UK to land her place among the top cats, Glasgow Live reports. And she is in with a chance of winning the overall Cat of the Year award for 2025. Kiki has become a familiar face at her local primary school, following 10-year-old Sonny and his classmates to the gates every morning. She then waits patiently in the playground until home time, ready to escort them back home again. Kiki's owner, 51-year-old Michelle Scott, said: "She's brought a lot of joy to the children, staff and school community. She's given the teachers an opportunity to teach children how to treat cats and respect them." Social worker Michelle added: "She's often sleeping or half awake when Sonny is getting ready for school. But as soon as she hears him leave, she'll jump off the bed and run downstairs to go after them. "Then, if they stop and faff about, she'll run on in front as if to say, 'Come on!'" If Kiki is crowned the UK's most connected cat it won't be her first gong. She previously received a special award from Sonny's headteacher for her 100 per cent attendance at school. Michelle explained how the much-loved Kiki joined the family as a kitten for Sonny's eighth birthday and quickly became one of the gang. She said: 'I've always had cats but Kiki is like no cat I've known. Whenever Sonny had friends round, she would sit with them as if she was one of them. She's really sociable.' Now Kiki will go head-to-head with two other finalists in her category as the public votes to decide which cat will take home one of the four main titles: Connected Cats, Family Cats, Incredible Cats and Senior Cats. Winners will be announced at a ceremony hosted by author and presenter Dawn O'Porter in London on Wednesday, September 24, with the overall National Cat of the Year chosen by a panel of judges. Jeff Knott, Advocacy and Influence Director at Cats Protection, said: 'The National Cat Awards celebrates the nation's cats and the extraordinary impact they have on people's lives. "This year's finalists have shown incredible intuition, empathy and compassion. We can't wait to reveal the winners, and it's now up to the public to decide.' Voting is open from June 16 until July 31 at the Cats Protection website. Each category winner will receive a trophy, a £200 pet store voucher and a year's subscription to The Cat magazine. The overall winner will also receive a second trophy and inherit the title from Marley, who was crowned National Cat of the Year in 2024 for comforting women recovering from exploitation at Caritas Bakhita House in London. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Glasgow Times
16-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow cat in running for National Cat Awards 2025
Two-year-old Kiki, from Glasgow, is a finalist in the 2025 Cats Protection National Cat Awards in the Connected Cats category, which celebrates cats that make a big impact in their communities and bring joy to those around them. Kiki accompanies 10-year-old Sonny and his friends on their daily walk to school, waits for them in the playground, and then joins them for the journey back home. Read more: Dogs Trust Glasgow seeks volunteers to help pooches in need (Image: Supplied) So consistent is Kiki's routine that the school's headteacher jokingly praised her '100 per cent attendance', and she's now a beloved figure at the school gates. Known for her sociable nature, she has become a firm favourite among pupils, staff, and local families. Michelle Scott, 51, a social worker and Kiki's owner, said: "I've always had cats but Kiki is like no cat I've known. "We got her as a kitten for my son Sonny's eighth birthday and whenever he had friends around, she would sit with them as if she was one of them. "She's really sociable. "She follows Sonny and his friends to school every day, waits around the playground, then follows them home. She's often sleeping or half awake when Sonny is getting ready for school, but as soon as she hears him leave, she'll jump off the bed and run downstairs to go after them. "Then, if they stop and faff about, she'll run on in front as if to say, 'Come on'. "She's brought a lot of joy to the children, staff and school community and given the teachers an opportunity to teach children how to treat cats and respect them.' (Image: Supplied) Kiki was selected from hundreds of nominations and is now one of three national finalists in her category. She is now competing in a public vote running from now to July 31 on the Cats Protection website. The overall National Cat of the Year will be chosen by a panel of judges. Cat lovers can cast their votes at between June 16 and July 31. Jeff Knott, advocacy and influence director at Cats Protection, said: "The National Cat Awards celebrates the nation's cats and the extraordinary impact they have on people's lives. "This year's finalists have shown incredible intuition, empathy and compassion. "We can't wait to reveal the winners – and it's now up to the public to decide." Category winners will receive a trophy, a £200 pet store voucher, and a year's subscription to The Cat magazine. Read more: Injured rabbit and live hamster dumped in Glasgow canal (Image: Supplied) One lucky cat will also be crowned National Cat of the Year, with the overall winner announced at a London awards ceremony on September 24, hosted by writer and presenter Dawn O'Porter. The awards highlight the unique ways in which cats enrich the lives of people and communities across the UK. Last year's winner, Marley, was honoured for his role in comforting women who have been enslaved, exploited, and trafficked at Caritas Bakhita House in London.
