Pawsibility Isle Of Wight Cat Could Bag National Award

A cat from Shanklin is up for a national award.

Tobi, who helped his owner cope with a traumatic childhood, has been named as a finalist in Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards 2021.

He beat hundreds of other entries to take his place as one of three contenders in the Outstanding Rescue Cat category, celebrating cats adopted from rehoming charities.

The 15-year-old was selected as a finalist in recognition of how he helped Islander Misha Hetherington, 26, cope with a traumatic childhood.

Photo from Matt Alexander/PA Wire.

Having suffered mental health issues, Misha attempted to take her own life before she was taken into foster care at 15.

Having insisted on keeping her beloved pet with her in foster care, Misha had a constant source of companionship and comfort, helping to heal her emotional scars.

Nearly sixteen years after they first met, the pair are still together living in a home of their own.

Misha said:

“Tobi has been there for me through thick and thin, he has seen me at my lowest and stuck with me. He’s got a huge personality so he is constantly making me laugh.

“When things were very bad when I was a teenager, he would always be there for me to cuddle when I was crying. Nowadays, whenever I’m upset I guarantee he’ll be by my side in five seconds.

“We have a really strong bond - Tobi has been my rock, best friend and soul mate, and I know for sure I would never have made it this far without him.

“Tobi is now nearly 16 and has been diagnosed with kidney disease, so it’s my turn to be strong for him, and it breaks my heart. Every Christmas and birthday is a blessing and I am grateful every day for the love, friendship and security he has given me for most of my life.”

After last year’s event was postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions, Misha now faces a nail-biting wait until Thursday August 5 when all four category winners will be revealed online. 

A celebrity panel will then decide which cat walks away with the coveted title of National Cat of the Year, which will be announced on Thursday August 12.

Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards, organised by the UK’s largest cat charity and sponsored by Purina, is a celebration of the real-life stories of heroism, loyalty and companionship in the feline world.

This year’s National Cat of the Year will follow in the paw prints of previous winner Jeffree, a life-changing moggy from Coventry who helped teenager Finn Hackeson, who has Asperger syndrome, cope with the death of his father.

Cats Protection’s awards organiser Kate Bunting said:

“It’s incredibly moving to hear just how important Tobi has been to Misha during the most difficult years of her life. It’s great that Misha was able to keep her best friend with her in foster care, and it’s clear how enormously beneficial that was to her. They’ve come so far together, and their story highlights the remarkable bond between people and cats.”

Each category winner will receive a trophy, a £100 pet store voucher, a year’s subscription to Cats Protection’s The Cat magazine and a three months’ supply of Purina cat food.