An “intuitive” cat who assists his deaf owner by informing her to noises around your home has actually won a nationwide award.
Zebby was called Cats Protection’s National Cat of the Year 2023 in acknowledgment of the method he supports owner Genevieve Moss, 66, by informing her to sounds like the phone ringing or a visitor at the door.
Ms Moss, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, said: “I am so proud of Zebby for showing the world how intuitive and caring cats can be, and what a positive effect they can have on people’s lives.”
She detailed the methods which he helps her, stating: “Without my hearing aid, I can’t hear anything, but now I have Zebby to help me.
“He’ll come and tap me when the phone is ringing, and then I can pop my hearing aid and speaker on and take the call.
“In the night, if there’s an unusual noise he will bat me on my head to wake me up and let me know.
“If someone is at the door, he’ll pace about in front of me until I get the message.”
She continued: “He is very helpful and likes to bring me things – he’ll get the post from the doormat and pick it up in his mouth before dropping it in the bedroom.
“He even brings me my slippers if he finds them somewhere other than my feet!”
Zebby beat countless other animals to be called total winner in the country’s greatest event of cats, which was arranged by animal well-being charity Cats Protection.
Ms Moss said she “can’t imagine life without Zebby” and included: “I’m over the moon that he’s been honoured in the National Cat Awards.
“Living on my own and being deaf means life could be lonely, but not with Zebby around – he’s my hero.”
Zebby turned into one of 4 finalists in the National Cat Awards after he won the competitors’s Family Fur-ever classification – which commemorates cats that make a family total – in a public vote.
The choice to crown Zebby the total winner was made by a panel of stars and specialists, consisting of previous footballer David Seaman and vet and television character Dr Scott Miller.
Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards organiser Ashley Fryer said: “From the moment we read his entry form, we knew Zebby was something special.
“Zebby is clearly devoted to Genevieve, and their story highlights the powerful bond that exists between people and their cats.”
Zebby was granted a prize and reward package, that included a £200 family pet store coupon.
Previous winners consist of were Jasper and Willow, who were collectively called National Cat of the Year 2022 in acknowledgment of the friendship they provided at St Peter & St James Hospice in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
In other classifications, the 2023 award for Social Star went to Eric, who has actually gone from a badly roaming kitten to generating a number of thousand fans throughout Instagram and TikTok.
Henry IX won the Cat Colleagues classification as he invests his days supplying friendship to the gardening group at Hampton Court Palace in south-west London, and Willow took the title in the Moggy Marvels classification after raising the alarm when her diabetic owner ended up being unconscious.
