CWA Certificates of Excellence 2025

I am thrilled that my Certificates of Excellence have arrived from the Cat Writers’ Association in America. These include two photography Certificates; one for Harvey’s story in Purrseverance, and one for a blog post you may remember. It was from when I discovered an old printed photograph of Dash Kitten and performed a ‘digital rescue’!

I was expecting them to take many weeks but, the postal services in both countries did the CWA proud and the folder arrived almost completely unbent and with no damage.

May I sneak a little confession in here? Although I am over the moon that Harvey’s story received recognition, especially as it was written from the heart. I am disappointed that Sawyer’s tale from Kitties Blue didn’t achieve the same success.

Sawyer’s is a wonderful tension-filled adventure story and while I respect the judges decisions, Sawyer’s story is one I, and many others, will never ever forget. Anyone who was here when Sawyer went missing will remembering counting the days and the worry until he was found.

Cat Photography

The number of photographs submitted to the Cat Writers’ Communications Contest continues to increase and the standard gets higher every year. A simple portrait shines with character, poses are fun, and there is always room for a delighted smile at the simplest and most pleasing composition.

Toulouse is posing with our certificates (he only sat still for a short while but pretend both are there beside him).

The first is ‘The Brave Tabby Looks Out‘ included in the post on his recovery from a major UTI blockage. Sadly there are buildings behind where he posed now but this was such a fun photo to take.

• How To Take a Prize Winning Photo

The second is another portrait of Toulouse from earlier in the year. ‘A Tree Climbing Tabby‘. He was high up into a tree above my head exploring with great confidence so I seized the opportunity and snapped several shots. The one frustration was the very bright blue sky behind him. After many attempts to edit I added a dramatic vignette (dark border) with looks quite amazing.

Both of these are simple portraits and I encourage you to submit your best portrait to the Contest next year if you are a CWA member. It is not always the fanciest portrait from the most expensive camera that appeals to the judges.

Why Improve Your Cat Photos?

Photos make memories and, as I have found after the loss of Thomas, having good photographs means I can print off copies and have a small part of him here.

Better photographs aren’t perfect, they are often just a bit better framed, have a touch more light and be a little sharper. Yes, you can do it.

Certificates of Excellence Winners