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
  • Mr. Man

    Mr. Man loves balancing toys on his head - even if it doesn’t look like if!

  • King Rex

    Rex, sitting with his paws tucked under. He's a 14 1/2 pound rescue who and is 4 1/2 years old. He is treated like a tru...

  • Ruby

    My big girl taking a power nap.

  • Boba

    Boba (Fett) is the sweetest 1yo Scottish Fold you’ll ever meet!

  • Koshi

    Koshi is big on naps and drinking water out of the sink tap.

  • Cillian

    Calm, composed, and deeply committed to rest, Cillian leads by example, mostly horizontal, always in charge.

  • Arlo

    Arlo is a spunky boy! He loves playing with colorful springs and enjoys playing chase with his brother. He’s curious a...

  • Shimmer waiting for his mistress

    Our cat, Shimmer, sitting on our stairway, waiting for my wife to carry him to bed. Or to feed him. Or to pet him. Or ge...

  • Fiona

    Tortoiseshell ragdoll cat with cuddly personality

  • Charlie

    Like any good Southern cat, Charlie, my orange tabby, is always making biscuits. Here is a photo of him washing the bisc...

  • Mochi

    Mochi trying to convince me to give her a treat.

  • Paris

    Paris is a special needs foster fail who has seizures and dietary issues. But, with medications, he has evolved into a n...

  • Aslin

    Tan and white cat who rules the house

  • Bobby

    Bobby is sitting on a bed looking up at the person behind the camera, making him look very squat and round.

  • Tucky relaxing in the yard

    Tucky loves to chase bugs and have fun in the backyard.

  • Maya

    Maya, 11½, is indoor cat, a sweet, diluted calico. She’s sociable, curious, and always exploring. Loving and smart, she...

  • Lionel Taylor

    Lionel Taylor, dressed to purr-fection in his bow tie! Catch him on stroller walks through Adams Morgan or napping on hi...

  • Peanut

    This is Peanut. She's (at the time of the photo) about 8 weeks old and 2 pounds. She's was rescued off the streets and h...

  • Moose

    A slightly less odd duck.

  • Toffy

    Toffy loves to dress up!

  • Charlotte

    Charlotte has a hotline that residents can call to speak to Charlotte directly, hear what she did today, or leave a conf...

  • Sky

    From Rubble to Royalty! This tiny gal was found near the Capitol Skyline Hotel demolition site at just two months old. P...

  • Bobby

    Bobby is an adopted kitty who has lived 8 of his 9 lives and is currently enjoying his 9th life and retirement in Capito...

  • Rhoda

    Rhoda the cat lounging on a desk chair.

  • Bella Rose Daffodil

    Bella enjoys the game with her dad!

  • Bowman

    Bowman, an orange cat, stops to smell the flowers.

  • Hobbes

    Hobbes in all his furry glory.

  • Sammy and Blanca

    Time to get up!

  • Lou

    In D.C. lives a kitty named Lou, who spends his time looking at you. He thinks it'd be neat if you gave him a treat... s...

  • Pepito

    Pepito, affectionately known as Pookie by his friends, family, and fans, is a two-year-old foster fail with a penchant f...

  • Adeline

    In this photo you can see Adeline, my little shadow, at only 7 weeks old! Her big blue eyes are always searching for the...

  • Mr. Mittens

    Mr. Mittens is an almost 15 year old booboo. Unlike his brother, Whisperdoodle, Mittens has a soft purr, but loud meow a...

  • Jeffery DeLessio-Licata

    Lauded by the vet as 'structurally gigantic', Jeffery is large and in charge. He loves to lumber around our apartment bu...

  • Jinx

    Jinx is a 2 year old bobtail tabby who was rescued from a hoarding house of over 100 cats. She’s blossomed in her new h...

  • Darcy

    Darcy (named for Mr. Darcy, since they are both gentlemen) is an adopted brown domestic long hair with a white ruff and...

  • Fiona

    The most regal 6yo Scottish Fold you’ll ever meet!

  • Poppi

    3 year old orange girl with the sweetest personality!

  • Cake

    This is Cake! She’s just under three years old, and I adopted her from Animal Allies in Virginia in August 2024. When sh...

  • Boo

    Boo is a special needs foster fail who has asthma. But that has not stopped her from being the chattiest most insistent...