Cat from Odisha ranked second runner-up in PETA’s Cutest Rescued Cat Alive Contest

Cuttack: After careful deliberation by judges from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India and hundreds of votes from members of the public to help them decide, Jhumu, whose guardian is Simran Karmakar of Cuttack in Odisha, has been named the second runner-up in PETA’s Cutest Rescued Cat Alive contest.

Jhumu had earlier edged out hundreds of other lovable rescued cats to become one of 10 finalists. The winner of the contest is Licky, whose guardian is Urshita Das of Kolkata. And the first runner-up is Candy, whose guardian is Aishwarya Patil of Pune.

“Jhumu proves that adopting a cat from the streets or an animal shelter can fill your life with joy and love that words can’t express,” PETA CEO Dr Manilal Valliyate says. “Although only one cat could win PETA’s contest, all rescued cats are winners because they have found loving homes.”

Karmakar found the hungry and shivering kitten in her backyard. “I already had a dog … and she … made my dog her best friend! She goes for walk[s] with him [and] sleeps with him,” Karmakar says.

PETA points out that pet shops and breeders often keep animals in dismal conditions and contribute to the companion-animal overpopulation crisis by continually churning out more to sell. Many animals purchased from pet shops are bought on impulse and discarded when buyers tire of them. PETA created the contest to show that the kindest thing that a prospective guardian can do is adopt a lovable cat from the streets or an animal shelter.

Karmakar will receive a certificate, a cute cat toy for Jhumu, and a copy of PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk and Jane Ratcliffe’s book, One Can Make a Difference. The top three cats will appear in an upcoming issue of Animal Times, PETA’s magazine for members. The winner and runners-up were selected by PETA based on several factors, including vote count.