Save Our Cats and Kittens (SOCKS), a nonprofit cat shelter in Fort Walton Beach, has launched a creative new fundraiser called the “Show Us Your Kitties” calendar contest.

The contest allows people to submit photos of their cats to compete for a spot in the SOCKS 2024 calendar. Participants upload a picture of their cat to the contest website and ask friends and family to vote. Each $1 vote goes towards SOCKS’ efforts to care for homeless cats in the community.

• The cat receiving the most votes will be featured on the calendar cover. 
• The next top 12 vote-getters will each be “cat of the month.”

So far there are 86 entries, with participant-submitted bios telling heartwarming and amusing stories about their cats. For a $10 donation, people can also reserve a specific calendar date to feature their cat’s adoption day, birthday, or other special occasion.

All entries receiving at least 25 votes will be included in a collage on the calendar’s back cover. The contest is open to pets, foster cats, and community cats from anywhere in the world.

• Submissions are open through 9 p.m. on September 8. People can vote and enter their cats on the SOCKS Facebook page or by clicking here.

The calendar contest is a creative way for SOCKS to raise money to care for homeless cats while showcasing feline friends. As SOCKS Executive Director Nancy Schimmer says, participants can “Make your cat famous while raising money to help other cats!”