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Beauty expert Gina Akers to judge new national cat video competition

Beauty expert and TV presenter Gina Akers has joined forces with leading feline charity Cats Protection as a category judge for The Alternative Cat Awards 2020, a new video competition which this week.

The competition will celebrate how ‘pawsome’ cats have been during lockdown and Gina will be judging the #PurinaPurffectTeamswork category.  

From providing companionship to interrupting meetings, disrupting home schooling and getting involved in workouts, cats have made an outstanding contribution to our lives this year.  Cats Protection is asking owners to upload a video of their cat to Instagram or Twitter using #AlternativeCatAwards into one of the following categories:

- #PurinaPurrfectTeamwork - Celebrating the bond between cats and their owners working or studying during the lockdown period – judged by Gina Akers

- #MischievousMoggy – Cats with interesting and playful behaviours that may have performed challenges or been a source of entertainment during lockdown – judged by David Seaman and his wife, Dancing on Ice Star Frankie Seaman

- #SeniorKitizen - Mature cats aged 11 years and above – judged by TV presenter Anthea Turner

- #PurrfectlyImperfect – Celebrating cats living happy, healthy lives with a disability, health issue or superficial aesthetic deformity – judged by comedian and writer Jake Lambert

- #BestNewcomer – Cats adopted from an animal rescue organisation in 2020 – judged by dance choreographer and Strictly judge Arlene Phillips

Gina says: “My cats Sunny and Star sit next to me during the times when I am working. Sunny has learned to swipe through images on my laptop or phone until he finds a picture he likes while Star will steal the pens off my desk! They brighten up my working day and it’ll be interesting to see what other amusing things cats are doing to help or hinder their owners!”

Category winners will be announced on Cats Protection’s social media channels throughout the day on Thursday 17 September 2020.  At the end of the day, the public will be asked to vote in a People’s Choice for their favourite category winner, to be announced on Wednesday 23 September by cat-loving comedian Bob Mortimer.

The awards are sponsored by Cats Protection’s long-term corporate partner PURINA® and the five category winners will receive a bumper pack of Cats Protection goodies worth £100, with the People’s Choice also winning a pair of tickets to next year’s National Cat Awards at The Savoy in London.

For full terms and conditions, visit www.cats.org.uk/aca