Cat

2026 Cutest Cat Contest

We're looking for your feline friends that you’re eager to show off in our Cutest Cat Contest, sponsored by CareCredit....

Vote Now | Voting closes May 1, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Voting info

Voting ends: May 1, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Less than 24 hours left!

Time left

days hours min sec

Votes per person: 5

About this contest & rules

About this contest

We're looking for your feline friends that you’re eager to show off in our Cutest Cat Contest, sponsored by CareCredit.

Submit a high-resolution photo of your cat or kitten for a chance at stardom in Washingtonian.

Submissions will be accepted starting March 16th, and the deadline to enter is 11:59 PM EST on April 19th.

All entrants will be on display in a photo gallery on our website and will receive a personalized, digital faux Washingtonian “Cutest Cat” cover with the cat’s image and name. Voting will happen from April 27th and will close at 11:59 PM EST on April 30th. All entrants will also receive an annual subscription to Washingtonian (if you are already a subscriber, 12 months will be added on to your current term).

A “People’s Choice” favorite will be determined by most votes received during that time period.

Jonathan Wainberg, SVP and GM of Synchrony’s Pet Business, and a panel of judges at Washingtonian, will also select a “Judges’ Pick titleholder.

The two winners will be announced on our Instagram feed on @washingtonianmag, and both will be awarded a full-page feature in a future Washingtonian issue.

Each submission is $35, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue. Multiple entries of the same cat are permitted, but only one subject per photo (i.e. no multiple cats or humans in the same photo). Visit the rules tab for full details.

Key details

Entries accepted
March 16, 2026 – April 20, 2026
Voting period
April 26, 2026 – May 1, 2026
Entry fee
$35.00 per entry
Votes per person
5 vote(s) per voter

Contest Rules

2026 Cutest Cats - Washingtonian

All entries

284 entries

Voting ends
May 1, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Votes per person
5

Less than 24 hours left!

Time left
days hours min sec

  • Jinkx

    Jinkx is a Southern belle who came to us from Tennessee. She's an energetic girl who is always affectionate and always s...

  • Niblet

    Niblet is a Siamese cat. His hobbies include literature and making biscuits.

  • Juanita Dahlin

    Our beautiful boy, Gelato

  • Prince

    7 year old Ragdoll who thinks he is as regal as his name.

  • Stella

    When the DC United score can’t shock you anymore

  • Ollie

    Ollie is an orange tabby (Somali) who, like his brother Charlie is very friendly and likes to join us for dinner. If an...

  • Risotto

    Risotto was found outside a northwest D.C. Italian restaurant at just 1 lb. with an injured tail. After a tail amputatio...

  • Leroy

    Loves when you work from home or scratch his butt

  • Phoebe

    Phoebe is a 7lbs Siamese with crossed eyes. Rescued from a kill shelter, she lives in Arlington, VA. Beneath her tough-g...

  • Little Boy

    Little boy is a rescue from Puerto Rico! We adopted him 3 years ago. One of the friendliest cats in town! Loves belly ru...

  • Callie

    My sassy calico tabby, lounging mid-play with her favorite toy like she owns the place. She is turning 2 tomorrow (April...

  • Hachi

    Hachi (Hachi Tiger Mittens Ho) takes a while to come out of her shell—but once she does, she’s yours forever. She enjoys...

  • Rumpel

    Rumpel is a very fluffy Tuxedo cat. He was brought to us by Santa Clause in 2019, care of Lucky Dog Rescue. He will be t...

  • Mia

    Mia is a playful, sassy, and affectionate 5-year-old calico. In this photo, she is on top of the fireplace mantel in the...

  • Nala

    Nala is gorgeous, opinionated, and just a little mean in a way that somehow makes her even more iconic. She rules the ho...

  • Beatrice

    Beatrice is a 13 year old dilute calico who loves nothing more than a good brushing. When she's not sunning herself, Bea...

  • Prince

    Prince was rescued from the streets in Richmond, Virginia. Now he’s living the royal life.

  • Buddy

    Buddy is an adopted foster kitty who lives in Eastern Market with his sister, Kitty. He enjoys long sits in the sunshine...

  • Baboo @ The Occidental

    Baboo was abandoned by his mother and we adopted him after fostering him from the Fauquier SPCA. He made the Wall of Fa...

  • Sylvie

    Sylvie was adopted a year ago and it took her a long time to warm up to her new home and family. But now she's comfortab...

  • Silly Millie!

    Millie is both sweet & spicy: snuggler & swatter. Behind the Hey Arnold (“Football Head”) shaped face & FLUFFY belly is...

  • Lexi

    Calico cat comes out to play

  • Pipsqueak

    Pipsqueak, our new female tuxedo cat, sitting in our trash can.

  • Susuwatari

    Susuwatari (named after the soot sprites in Studio Ghibli films) is a two year-old Bombay girl whose hobbies include pla...

  • Leo

    Hi, I’m Leo! I spent all morning grooming my fluff for you. I have the best blue eyes in the DMV, but my real talent is...

  • Posey

    The most observant member of the household, Posey is both playful and refined. Complementing her adorable tuxedo are whi...

  • Gladys

    Gamer Girl Gladys (as anointed by the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue) in her natural form - laying on her side and staring the...

  • Ruto

    Ruto is our failed foster. She is 12 years old and a real love sponge.

  • Pepper

    Pepper, Chief Snuggler. Tiny tiger. Champion of Warm Laundry and Queen of the Side-Eye. Collects sunbeams, inspects soc...

  • Boris

    Boris the cat: chilling in the afternoon

  • Morris

    This is Morris’s favorite spot. Perfect outside viewing and warn sunshine. Normally camera shy, he provided the perfect...

  • Kathy Jenkins

    Eric is my shelter cat i adopted about 5 years ago! He has a twin brother, DJ. They love sitting on top of these posts

  • Maisie

    A fluffy black and white kitten smushed up against a leg while doing her favorite thing in the world - cuddling.

  • Toodles

    Toodles loves to sit in her cat tower in the sun. The tower in in front of a window overlooking our driveway, so can see...

  • Astrid

    Astrid is a 3 year old dilute tortie. Likes: greeting her humans at the door, worm on string, and pate. Dislikes: closed...

  • Tigger

    "This photo better be worth waking me up from my nap!"

  • Misto

    For Misto, every occasion calls for a tuxedo! Always the best dressed in any room he enters, this dapper boy has mastere...

  • Bella

    This is Bella, and she was born in Ecuador in July 2007. We got her when we lived there. She is a spry and happy 18 ye...

  • Kartik

    Savannah Cat. 5 yrs old . Active, beautiful and lots of joy! Always looking for adventure!