What started as a pool of 1,400 has now been whittled down to one. Thanks to The Friskies, the world finally has an answer to the burning question: What’s the greatest cat video of 2012?
The Friskies, a contest and awards show celebrating the magic that is cats on YouTube, premiered last week, running a full hour and a half of furry, frisky glory. Held in Los Angeles, the celebration featured laughter, tears, and, of course, YouTube’s Michael Buckley.
In the end—and despite our endorsements—no cat could win over the judges’ hearts like Oskar, the adopted blind cat who couldn’t stop playing with his green ball. That video received more than 117,000 views in just over three weeks and netted Oskar and his overseers $15,000.
Category winners—Cole’s “Black Cat Stick ’em Up,” Boo’s “Cat Alarm Clock,” Milo’s “Cardboard Dreams,” and Nylah’s “Kitty Plays Fetch”—netted contestants a solid $2,500 in consolation prize money.
The ceremony also included a number of gag gifts, musical performances, and imitation awards, like the Lifetime Achievement award Michael Buckley bestowed upon Will Braden, creator of Henri, Le Chat Noir. Held for the first time this year, The Friskies is, of course, an promotion from Purina’s Friskies brand cat food.
Nice to see these cats are finally getting their time in the sun.
Photo via PurinaFriskies/YouTube
