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

  • Spot

    He is a Russian Blue kitty, named after Lt. Data’s cat in Star Trek Next Generation.

  • Frankie

    This is Frankie. She’s 9 years old and her favorite hobbies include watching birds from her favorite chair, singing at t...

  • Winston

    Winston

  • LokiMochi

    A real sweetie princess of a fluff ball who knows how to give you the most earnest face. She just wants all of your mone...

  • Junie

    Junie is the sweetest, cuddliest, most playful 2 year old! She was rescued from the streets of Cairo, Egypt where she wa...

  • Monty

    Monty (a.k.a. Bubba) is missing his upper left fang, so he’s always wearing a smirk that happens to fit any mood he’s in...

  • The Triplets

    Three kittens that we were fostering.

  • Scooter

    Scooter is a ball of energy! He loves the pursuit of tiny mice, his toy of choice. He also enjoys a game of chase with...

  • Pootie

    We love to rub her buddha belly she brings us good luck and she is our little bestie 🤩

  • Erik

    Erik cleans out all the old cat toys on his first day in his adopted home. His eyes are sometimes indistinguishable from...

  • Sunchip

    The cutest most curious Scottish fold you’ll ever meet

  • Pepper

    In her favorite spot - in bed with mom and dad

  • Pooky

    Amazing cuddly friendly cat.

  • Tokiga

    Tokiga (Toki) is a big cat with an even bigger personality. Even at 13, he’s still young at heart. He loves playing in h...

  • Tango Anderson-Fineberg

    Tango is a rescue domestic shorthair originally hailing from Tallahassee, Florida. Tango is mostly white, with orange sp...

  • Oberon

    Meet Oberon, named for Shakespeare’s mischievous fairy king. A City Kitties rescue, he loves being held, but only on you...

  • Patsy

    Patsy in her favorite spot, under the covers.

  • Calvin

    Our lovely boy Calvin enjoying an open window and the sounds of the city.

  • Monsieur Cheddar Bay Biscuit

    Cheddar embodies the finest traits of his questionable lineage: a striking marmalade coat, a heart of unmatched tenderne...

  • Linus

    The cutest kitty boy from Qatar, his favorite thing to do is yap and yell all day long!

  • Gertie

    Gertie is a silly, sassy, cuddly tortie!!! She loves sitting on laps, walking across the screen during Zooms, and turnin...

  • Jeff

    This is Jeff, a very sophisticated and cultured boy. Jeff enjoys chin scratches, chasing his parents’ feet, and good con...

  • Coco Simon

    Here is my Persin and Maine coon female kitty as the star of the show of our wedding held at the Willard intercontinenta...

  • Azizi

    Sitting on his favorite throne, Azizi lounges comfortably, ensuring his toy owl is right beside him. As a striking, long...

  • Rico

    Rico, a bicolor munchkin Ragdoll, says it's time to stop working for the day.

  • Archie

    Himalayan Rescue. He has found the good life after wandering the streets of Frederick, MD.

  • Lilly Meredith

    Sweet 10 year old cutie rescued from the Animal Welfare League of Arlington 8 years ago has brought extreme joy to our l...

  • George Washington

    No taxation without re-paw-sentation! 6 month old Georgie enjoys fighting tyranny, crossing the Delaware, and naps. He’s...

  • Eleanor

    Eleanor is a spunky Persian kitty with a big personality and affinity for crinkle balls and barbecue chips. She loves to...

  • Pepper

    Meet Pepper, the cutest calico kitty in Woodley Park! When she's not staring down mean black squirrels through the windo...

  • Rockette

    Rockette, a four year old Tuxedo, likes to look at the world from different angles!f

  • Maximilian the Manx Cat

    Maximilian the Manx is a kuriously kool kitty in the city. Max spends his days playing, catching rays, enjoying his view...

  • Papaya

    Pic of our cat Papaya

  • Maya

    Maya, a seal bicolor Ragdoll, sitting on her throne.

  • Finnegan

    Finnegan (aka “Finn in the City” on Instagram) is a cat about town whose mission is to spread pawsitivity and joy. He’s...

  • Moni

    Eternal girl; Sun breaks o’er your fluffiness and I bask in it

  • Mimosa

    Mimosa (“Mimo”) is a 5 year old female orange cat with a huge personality! She’s super social, loves people and loves ge...

  • Vinny the cat, caught in the act

    Vinny loves playing on the railing and the occasional pole dance. We were surprised when our cat sitter sent us this pho...

  • Luna

    Luna, a black cat, looking up from inside a box.