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Furry Tales Children’s Story Competition

Entry to our Furry Tales Children’s Story Writing Competition is now closed for 2022; thank you to everyone who shared their unique stories. We will now review each story and select the story that we feel is well written, unique, and engaging, generates an emotional response and has the potential to educate preschool aged children on responsible cat ownership or how amazing cats are as pets. We look forward to confirming our competition winner in early November. Stay tuned.

Are you a cat lover with a passion for writing who would love to support the work of The Cat Protection Society in caring for and rehoming cats and kittens in need?

For the second year, The Cat Protection Society of Victoria are inviting budding authors to write and share a story for preschool aged children (3-5 years of age) that helps to educate children on responsible cat ownership or promote just how amazing cats are as companion pets.

Your short story may be focussed on a cat who has found themselves seeking refuge at our adoption shelter; about a cat who is adopted into their purrfect furever home; about the challenges faced by a cat living on the street without a home to call its own; about your own family cat or about a cat that has had a profound impact on your life.

We can’t wait to read your stories.

Our winning story will be illustrated by the wonderfully talented Artist and Photographer Leah Lux (leahlux.com) and published into a Children’s Book that will be available for purchase from our Society retail and online store in early 2023. All sale proceeds from the Book will help to ensure that we can continue to provide the highest levels of care and rehome cats and kittens in need.

The book will also form a key part of our Cat Protection Society Community Outreach Program.

Prizes

Our winning author will receive a $150 Visa Gift Card, a private shelter tour  with plenty of opportunities for cat and kitten cuddling with x3 friends and x3 copies of their very own Furry Tales Children’s Book.

Judging Criteria

All short stories received will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Is the story well written, unique and engaging?
  • Does reading the story generate an emotional response; whether it be a smile, a laugh, a tear or a warm, happy feeling inside?
  • Does the story help to educate the community on responsible cat ownership?
  • Does the story help to promote how amazing cats are as companion pets?

We have also engaged some expert guest judges to help us identify the short story that should be developed into our Children’s Story Book. Our judging panel for our 2022 Furry Tales Writing Competition including the teaching team at Watsonia Preschool (watsoniapreschool.com.au) and our Cat Protection Society Volunteer and Community Outreach Manager and Marketing and Communications Manager.

Illustrator

Our winning stories will be illustrated and bought to life by in the incredibly talented Leah Lux; Artist and Photographer, Educator and Cat-Mum. You can view Leah’s illustrations @luxleah on Instagram or on her website at Leahlux.com

“I have always had pets including dogs, cats, fish, yabbies, mice, birds and even a hamster while I lived in Japan.

And I have been making art since she could hold a crayon. I have now made and exhibited art in Japan, Spain, Sydney and Melbourne.

About 10 years ago, I discovered a way to share and keep the joy of owning a pet, through painting pet portraits. I try to represent very personal memories within the portraits by including meaningful objects and ephemera along with the pet.

The world is full of beauty but many of Life’s events can turn us away from things that can sooth and heal us. Bringing joyful ideas, memories and smiles to people is the greatest gift.  I hope, with this Furry Tails Children’s Story project, I can bring a smile to people in this time of turmoil”

Read More

Key Dates

Entry to our Furry Tales Children’s Story Competition is open until Sunday 2nd of October and our winners will be announced at the beginning of November.

  • A little more on The Cat Protection Society of Victoria

    Every year, more than 1500 surrendered and abandoned cats and kittens come into our care seeking refuge at our shelter. As a dedicated team of cat-lovers, we work to ensure that every one of these cats and kittens are provided with every opportunity to find their happily furever after.

    When a cat comes into the care of the Society, our teams spring into action, not only showing them love and care, but making sure they are happy, healthy and ready to find a new home.

    Our feline friendly vet team give each cat a health check, ensuring they are vaccinated, desexed and not suffering from any illness or injury. For some, a little extra TLC may be needed, so they’ll spend time with a dedicated Foster Carer who is able to provide around the clock care as they recover from illness or surgery, or just learn to trust humans again. On average, a cat will spend 20 days in our care before they find their new home. But for some, it can be months.

    Once they are ready, they will enter our adoption program where our team of expert match-makers get to work on finding them their perfect home.

    As a not for profit animal welfare charity, The Cat Protection Society of Victoria receives no government funding to support our work. We rely solely on the generosity of the cat-loving community to provide care for cats in need and to run our adoption program.

    In addition to our work within our adoption shelter itself, our Society also works closely with local community groups and local and state government bodies to promote responsible cat ownership and to help identify proactive solutions to tackle the issue of cat overpopulation.