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

  • Azizi

    Azizi is staging a full-scale vocal protest against the injustice of a partially visible food bowl. With his mouth wide...

  • Phineas

    Phineas is a very talkative orange tabby. His favorite activities are being brushed, being pet, eating, and napping on e...

  • Finn aka “Big Man”

    Big Man is a 4-year-old polydactyl Norwegian Forest cat. He loves Greenies, drinks from the faucet like it’s a luxury s...

  • Misty

    Misty is a 3-year-old tabby who loves meeting new people. She started life at the Richmond SPCA and now enjoys walks aro...

  • Pistachio

    It’s Pistachio’s world, we’re just in it.

  • Alfredo Bucatini

    Alfredo (Freddy) enjoys curling up in the bathroom sink!

  • Jerry! aka The Jer Bear

    The one-time Mayor of City Ridge / McLean Gardens now lives and hunts in Arlington. He delights his new groupies as The...

  • Bailey

    Bailey, a gray cat with blue eyes, gazed upward in contemplation.

  • Mulligan

    Mulligan is a one-year-old Scottish Fold rescue from Kuwait. Quite possibly the chillest cat ever, he spends his time n...

  • Simba

    Grace in every whisker, personality in every glance

  • Castiel

    Castiel, a Marlee's Misfits rescue cat, supurrvising trivia (Carlyle House in the background). This lovable guy lives at...

  • Pepper Pot

    Pepper is our 4Paws Merrifield foster rescued from the DC streets so matted that she required a lion shave and removal o...

  • Dobby the House Cat

    Dobby is a free elf and spends her time letting everyone, including her stuffed animals, know it. While she refuses to w...

  • Paul

    Meet Paul, a professional goober with a talent for sitting like a tiny human and demanding “uppies” on command. A proud...

  • Wesley Cogar

    Gray Domestic Shorthair

  • Magda

    Magda is #1 in our household! She's a sunshine‑loving sweetheart who could nap for hours in a warm sunbeam. When not coz...

  • Zooey

    Zooey, who is 17 years old and only weighs 7 pounds, sitting where she loves best: On the stairs, looking down at us mer...

  • Snooby

    We adopted our cat Snooby, from the Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe in Alexandria Va in 2024. She has been our joy from the day w...

  • Mazzy

    Mazzy, Capitol Hill native who enjoys rendezvous around the Supreme Court, chasing joggers, and stealing whipped cream....

  • Wagyu

    Wagyu has her eyes on the prize!

  • Charlotte

    Charlotte’s mother was a diplomat and her father was a tycoon. She performs at a jazz bar where she is known for her mys...

  • Tallulah

    Tallulah is a CDCK adoptee herself! She likes posting up next to you, being cradled like a baby sunbathing on her human'...

  • Whitley Walton

    Whitley is a sweet, five-year old exotic shorthair who loves squeezies, baby carrots, and mint.

  • Caroline

    Caroline is a Russian Blue darling of a girl. she is standing in a bathtub in this picture.

  • Ziva "The Diva"

    Meet Ziva, a Bethesda Diva. She enjoys slaying the catwalk, striking a pose in the sun, and chasing her birdie teaser fr...

  • Barney

    11 year old orange tabby who loves to stick out his tongue when I ask him questions.

  • Silas

    Golden eyes and velvety silver curls, this little window sitting observer looks like they just paused mid-mission to mak...

  • Peggy

    Respect the paw.

  • Lulu

    Described by our vet as “very stubby”, Lulu is a voracious eater who spends most of her time bird-watching from our 7th-...

  • Giannis Montgomery III

    To Giannis, the bathroom is an arena and the curtain his battleground. He rises, falls, and conquers with the intensity...

  • Ghost

    A sweet and loving little lady, Ghost loves to jump on tall spots, play fetch with her toy mice, and cuddle with her Mam...

  • Teaspoon

    This is Teaspoon! He’s about to turn two years old! He lost his eye as a kitten but that’s never slowed down his zoomies...

  • Fluff

    Our 18 year old cat believes enjoying a churu is a full body experience

  • Mini relaxing in the yard

    Mini loves to spend time in my backyard each day

  • Meredith Morris

    Pepper Kitty The Cats in the Bag

  • Zane

    Cute, feisty, somewhat cuddly orange tabby cat. Prefers love on his own time. Don’t rub his belly if you value your han...

  • EARTHA KITTen

    I live in a retirement community where I am the only feline allowed in the dining room.

  • Clyde

    Clyde savors the vibe of a low-lit room.

  • Cloud

    Cloud is guarding his egg.