This Contest CLOSED in July, 2009
Please do not submit photos for this contest after that date. If you wish to submit photos for one of the Show and Tell galleries for cats, please check this list. It will be updated regularly.

Cutest Cat Picture Contest Rules

1. Employees and Guides of About.com are not eligible to participate.
2. Length of Contest
   Photo submittals will be accepted for three weeks, starting on Sunday, June 14, 2009, and Ending Sunday, July 5, 2009. A panel of judges (TBA) will review all submitted cat photos and will select 12 Semi-Finalists.

1. Photo Submittals
   Please select your very best photo of your adult cat or cats.
   
   In order to keep a "level playing field," kitten photos will not be accepted for this contest. NOTE: Adult Cat = 12 months old or older.
   
   One cat per picture, please. All photos submitted will be screened by Franny Syufy, About.com Guide to Cats. Check my Ways to Optimize Acceptance of Your Cat's Photo for helpful tips. Also see two photo examples at right.
   
2. Voting
   Once the judges panel has selected the 12 Semi-Finalists, the voting will start, and the first six cat contestants will move on into the final voting. Approximately 10 days will be allowed for each of the two voting polls.
3. Announcements
   Although it is not a requirement for entry, it is strongly suggested that you subscribe to the About.com Cats Weekly Newsletter. All announcements about the Cutest Cat Contest will be made in the newsletter before they are made on the About.com Cats GuideSite.

How to Send Photos

To submit a photo, please email me at cats@aboutguide.com.

By sending me a photo you are acknowledging that you understand and accept the terms of the About.com User Agreement.

• Use "Cutest Cat Picture Contest" as the subject of your email
• Use JPG Format
  The photos should be saved as .jpg files, and *should be a minimum of 1000 pixels by 1000 pixels, and I can accept larger, up to 2 MB in size. *The minimum size is not a hard and fast requirement. If you do not have photos to fit the 1000 pixel miimum, please let me know in your email, and I'll make allowances for it.
• Send as an Attachment
  This is very important. Please do not embed your photo in the email, but send it as an attachment. Our Email Guide has instructions for attaching files to emails for most email clients.
• Entering More Than One Cat?
  Please send separate emails for each cat entered.

What to Include Along with Photos:

Please copy and paste the form below and be sure to include all the information requested. (To C/P, just highlight the form with your cursor, then right click your mouse and choose "Copy". In your email right click again and choose "Paste.")
Sorry, but I cannot use photos submitted without ALL the following information:

Entry Form

1. Your Full Name (first and last)
2. Alias, if Applicable
   (such as your forum login name):
3. Photo Credit/Copyright Attribution
   Tell me if you want me to use your full name, first name only, or an alias for your copyrightPlease note that you may jeopardize your copyright protection if you use anything other than your full name. Unless instructed otherwise, I will use your full name.
4. Email Address for Notifications
   Your email address will not be published. However I will notify the 12 semi-finalists and the three winners by email, so please provide an address you monitor regularly.
5. Your Cat's Name
   You may optionally include one "pet name" you use for your cat

I'm sorry, but due to the expected volume of submittals, I will not be able to tell you if your photo has been accepted.

However, if you want to include a "read receipt" in your email's configuration, I will be happy to send a receipt back to acknowledge that I have received it. Your best bet is to watch the About.com Weekly Newsletter announcements and check the Cutest Cat Picture Contest Gallery as it develops.