CAT lovers with the most purr-fect pets are being invited to nominate their furry friends for the biggest event in the feline year – the National Cat Awards 2020.

The annual event is run by the charity Cats Protection and celebrates the nation’s most marvellous moggies with heart-warming tales of devotion, courage and companionship.

Cats can be nominated in five categories, including Hero Cat for those which saved the day, and Most Caring Cat, which seeks to celebrate tabbies that positively impact a person’s health or wellbeing.

The Furr-ever Friends award celebrates tales of friendship between children and cats, while Outstanding Rescue Cat is awarded to fabulous felines adopted from animal charities.

Entries opened earlier this week and owners have until noon on March 12 to enter.

Kate Bunting, Cats Protection’s Awards organiser, said: “Cats have a unique take on life, capable of bringing a sense of calm and comfort while also being endlessly entertaining.

“Their sense of fun and devotion for their owners makes them much-loved pets in millions of homes.

“We’re proud to once again be hosting these Awards to celebrate everything we love about cats and we can’t wait to hear about the UK’s most fabulous felines.”

The overall winner - the National Cat of the Year 2020 - will inherit the title from Jeffree, a life-changing moggy from Coventry that helped teenager Finn Hackeson, who has Asperger syndrome, cope with the death of his father.

The awards, which are sponsored by Purina, will see the owners of the winning cats presented with their trophies at a star-studded daytime ceremony at London’s Savoy Hotel on August 6.

The Purina Better Together category will also celebrate the special bond that has transformed and enriched the lives of both a feline and human.

The difficult task of choosing the winners will be down to a panel of celebrity cat-lovers, including broadcaster, writer and cat lover Andrew Collins, who will be one of the judges selecting the National Cat of the Year.

Entrants to the National Cat Awards 2020 will have five categories to choose from:

• Hero Cat – Cats that save the day

• Most Caring Cat – Cats that positively impact a person’s health or wellbeing

• Furr-ever Friends – Tales of friendship between children and cats

• Outstanding Rescue Cat – Fabulous felines adopted from animal charities

• Purina Better Together - Celebrating the special bond that has transformed and enriched the lives of both a feline and human.

You can nominate your cat by visiting: www.cats.org.uk/national-cat-awards