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I-5 Publishing’s most celebrated print and online publications recently enjoyed a windfall of recognition by the Cat Writers’ Association (CWA). Among the top winners at the 2014 Cat Writers’ Association Conference was Cat Fancy, winning an unprecedented 10th consecutive CWA Muse Medallion for “Best National Monthly Magazine.” Catster.com, one of the Internet’s earliest hubs for cat lovers, was recognized with a Muse Medallion for “Best Online Magazine or Newsletter.”
Along with Cat Fancy and Catster, I-5 Publishing recipients racked up 63 CWA awards, including 11 Muse Medallions. The Awards were presented at the National Pet Media Conference and Expo (affectionately named “Meow World”), on October 30 November 1, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The CWA is a journalism organization encouraging professionalism among cat writers, photographers, artists, and broadcasters. The CWA meets once a year at an exclusive awards banquet to recognize outstanding professionally published cat-associated journalism work in 50 categories. The coveted Muse Medallions are presented to best work within a category for publishing, broadcasting or graphic arts. First presented in 1994, the Muse Medallion was designed especially for CWA by founding member, the late Karen Kuykendall.
Earlier in the year, a panel of CWA judges presented over 45 Certificates of Excellence to I-5 Publishing titles, articles and websites. The requirement for winning a Certificate of Excellence award requires a score of 90 or higher from three independent judges. The highest scorers among the winners were presented with the Muse Medallion.
“To be recognized by the Cat Writers’ Association is a great honor and inspires us to reach for new challenges to help better the lives of cats and their human families,” says Susan Logan, editor of Cat Fancy. “To have Cat Fancy awarded its 10th consecutive Muse Medallion for Best Magazine on this 20-year anniversary of the award, makes it even more special and one we’ll never forget.”
The following I-5 Publishing editors, writers and contributors have been presented with the 2014 CWA awards for their work in the listed individual categories:
Catster.com Muse Medallion Winners:
1. Vicky Walker, Catster, Online Magazine or Newsletter
2. Dusty Rainbolt,“The Feline Quality of Life Scale,” Online Article: Health & General Care
3. Marilyn Krieger,“What Do You Do When Your Cat Shows Signs of Senility?” Online Article: Behavior & Training
Cat Fancy Muse Medallion Winners:
1. Susan Logan, Cat Fancy, National Monthly Magazine
2. Arnold Plotnick, DVM,“Change of Heart,” (published in Nov. 2013 Cat Fancy), Magazine Article: Health & General Care
3. Cimeron Morrissey,“Cat Champions” (bi-monthly column published from July 2013-June 2014 Cat Fancy), Magazine Column
Kittens 101 Muse Medallion Winner:
1. Susan Logan, 2015 Kittens 101, Annual or Long Publication
Cats USA Muse Medallion Winners:
1. Kim Campbell Thornton,“Protecting the Jaguars” (published in 2014 Cats USA), Magazine Article: Any Other Topic
2. Jerry Thornton,“Protecting the Jaguars” (published in 2014 Cats USA), Color Photograph Series
CatChannel.com Muse Medallion Winners:
1. Janiss Garza,“Cats Do Not Equal Children,” Opinion Piece, Essay, or Editorial
2. Janiss Garza,“10 Signs of Cat Hoarding”, Online Article: Rescue/Advocacy
Special Awards
1. Rebecca Sweat,“Happy Tails” (published in Aug. 2013 Cat Fancy), Litter-Lifter Litter Box Awareness Award
2. Fran Pennock Shaw,“New Frontier in Medicine” (published in Jan. 2014 Cat Fancy), The Dr. Jim Richards Cornell Feline Health Center Veterinary Issues Award
3. Fran Pennock Shaw,“Raw Intelligence” (published in 2014 Cats USA), The Purina Cat Chow Nutrition Award
4. Helen Jablonski,“Orphan Care” (published in 2015 Kittens 101), Purina Kitten Chow Kitten Award
5. Dusty Rainbolt,“Ask Einstein: Help, My Kitty Caretaker Is Getting Older and Forgets to Care for Me!,” The Hartz Every Day Chewable Vitamin Award
Regular Catster.com contributor and renowned cat journalist Dusty Rainbolt was recognized for her prolific body of work throughout 2014 by being awarded The Friskies® Writer of the Year Award, sponsored by Purina. This award is for the writer who has done the most during the contest-year to promote the welfare, health, and proper care of cats.
With the presentation of the over 60 awards, including the Muse Medallions, the CWA recognizes I-5 Publishing’s ongoing commitment to excellence in writing and content, as well as a continual celebration of the feline spirit.
“We at Catster HQ are thrilled at our Muse Medallion for Best Online Magazine,” says Vicky Walker, executive editor at Catster. “We spend our working days sharing interesting and informative news about all aspects of life with cats, so it's great to be honored for our work. We've been part of the Cat Writers' Association for a couple of years now, and many of the group's members write for Catster. We're honored to be recognized with this award and look forward to many more fruitful years.”
CWA Certificate of Excellence winners are judged by CWA professional members and contest committee volunteers. This year’s contest ran from June 16, 2013 to June 15, 2014. Catster.com led the way in total amount of 2014 Certificates of Excellence awards with 18. Here’s how the rest of the I-5 Publishing titles stacked up: Cat Fancy 17; Cats USA 6; CatChannel.com 3; Kittens 101 2; Ready, Set, Rescue 1.
Judges’ Comments:
On Cat Fancy: “A really good mix of professional information and practical advice regarding health care and behavior. This magazine continues to be the gold standard for popular cat journalism.”
On Catster.com: “Broad-ranging and interesting content covering many aspects of cat care and ownership, with good level of quality.”
On “Ask Einstein: Help, My Kitty Caretaker Is Getting Older and Forgets to Care for Me!,” by Dusty Rainbolt: “This uniquely written and entertaining piece addresses an important but often overlooked aspect of pet care. Reminding caregivers, family and friends of older people or others that may need assistance that such help should include their pets is an important message. This article provided useful suggestions and important messages, all within a humorous presentation.”
About Cat Fancy®
The world’s leading cat publication, Cat Fancy has been the authority for cat lovers for 50 years. Celebrating the human-feline bond, the magazine informs responsible cat owners with the information they need to help their cats live long, healthy, happy lives.
About Caster.com
Catster.com collects helpful and hilarious information for the worldly but still infatuated cat aficionado. A resource for real cat owners who passionately argue the merits of catnip at dinner, have very real opinions on vet costs, and are willing to devote their time and financial resources to please the creature that really runs their households. Originally founded in 2004, Catster is owned by I-5 Publishing and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
For more information or to interview the recipients contact:
Lisa MacDonald, Marketing Director
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plabella[.]i5publishing.com 
