Chennai: Whini, the rescued cat being raised by Swetha Priya of Chennai, defeated nine other finalists to win PETA’s Cutest Rescued Cat Alive contest.

After careful deliberation by judges from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, and hundreds of votes to help them decide, Whini was crowned the winner, just ahead of the International Homeless Animals’ Day (20 August). Mustard, whose guardian is Nandini Baruva of Guwahati, was the first runner-up. Baba Ghanush, whose guardian is Abhishek Prusty of Cuttack, won the second runner up title.

“Whini 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,” says PETA CEO, Poorva Joshipura. “Although Whini won the contest, all the rescued cats are winners because they have found loving homes.”

Priya found Whini in the rain, and when she realised that the mother was not around, she took her home to live with her. “I didn’t have the heart to leave her back there,” she says. “I brought her home and decided to be her mother.”

Pet shops and breeders often keep animals in dismal conditions and contribute to the companion-animal overpopulation crisis by churning out animals to sell. Animals purchased from pet shops are also often bought on impulse and are discarded when buyers get tired of them. PETA’s contest was conducted to encourage adoption strays instead of buying one from shops.

Priya will receive a certificate, a copy of PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk and Jane Ratcliffe’s book, One Can Make a Difference, a “My Cat Is a Rescue” T-shirt, a PETA T-shirt, and a cute cat toy for Whini. The top three cats will appear in the upcoming issue of Animal Times, PETA’s magazine for members.

For more information about Whini and the two runners-up, please visit PETAIndia.com