The latest Natchez-Adams County Humane Society fundraiser has cats in the spotlight.

The humane society kicked off their latest fundraising effort at the beginning of January with the hopes of finding the Miss-Lou’s “most purrfect” cat.

The organization is having a photo contest for cat lovers to submit their furry friend’s glamour shot for a chance of being crowned Most Purrfect Cat 2009 by the NACHS.

The fundraiser is a photo contest in which cat owners submit their cat’s photo along with a $5 donation to the humane society. The photos will then be on display at the Natchez Mall for the public to cast their vote for the perfect cat.

Event organizer Susan Mingee said that many of the humane society’s events are centered around dogs but that cats were just as deserving.

“We have Bark in the Park and photos with Santa that are mainly for the dogs,” she said. “We have had many requests over the years to do something special for the cats,”

Mingee said the lack of attention for the cats wasn’t because there was a lack of love for the felines. The group just didn’t have a proper way to recognize cats.

“Cats don’t travel or socialize as well as dogs,” she said. “They aren’t dogs so they don’t act like dogs.

“In the several years that I have worked with the humane society, we’ve only had one cat come to photos with Santa, and I held my breath the entire time.”

But now, with the inception of the most purrfect cat contest, Mingee has come up with a way to pamper cats without having them leave their home. Mingee said she is excited about creating a chance for cats to shine since she herself is a cat owner.

“I love dogs too, but cats have that special place in my heart,” she said.

Photos, no larger than 4 inches by 6 inches, should be mailed to Most Purrfect Cat Contest, 570 John R. Junkin Drive, Suite C, Box 277, Natchez, MS 39120. Entries should include the cat’s name, owner’s name and a phone number written on the back of each photo. The $5 donation should also be included with checks being made payable to the NACHS.

Entries can also be dropped off at the NACHS animal shelter on Liberty Road by Jan. 31. Mailed entries must also be postmarked by Jan. 31.

Voting will take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Feb. 14 at the mall. Votes can be placed for a $1 donation each.

The cat who raises the most money for the humane society by collecting the most votes will receive a crown and a cat goody basket.

The money raised during the fundraiser will go directly to the NACHS general fund that is used to cover day-to-day costs of running the shelter. And those costs add up quickly when taking care of the large number of animals in the shelter.

“Ever since Katrina we have been very overcrowded at the shelter,” Mingee said. “A lot of times there are slower times of the year, but that has not been the case over the past few years. We are almost always at maximum capacity.”

Mingee said she hopes to turn the feline photo contest into a yearly event, but that depends on the success of this year’s contest.

“Right now, the response has been kind of slow. I have about 10 entries so far,” she said. “But there are a lot of people still trying to get the perfect picture.”

For animal lovers who want to enter the contest but don’t have a cat at home, Mingee said the shelter is currently home to many cats and kittens ready for adoption for a $35 fee.