Most Witless-Looking Cats: The Shortlist

It's actually a day earlier than I initially promised, but to be honest I was so excited by the brainlessness of the entries, I couldn't wait to upload them. It also seemed sort of appropriate to make the shortlist on the day that my own second most witless cat, Janet, formed a strong and unique attachment to what must be the world's dirtiest plastic bag (who knows? This could finally be "The One"). If anyone does come in with an amazingly dumb late entry, I'll add it to the pics below, but for now, these sixteen are the standouts. As you'll see, I've tried to avoid blatant surgical dumbhancements (or, as it's alternatively known, "photoshopping") and cat clothing (Bitty is a rare exception, since his hat has clearly been made from a stretched scouring pad, and earns his owner, Sharon, extra points for creativity) and lean more towards a naturalistic brainless beauty in my selections.

Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to send pics in and sorry if your mogwit didn't make it. I'll be announcing the top three early - all of whom will win a signed copy of Under The Paw - next week. In the meantime, please feel free to post any relevant critical analysis below and enlist friends to offer politically dubious support.

P.S. Please could Maggie get in touch to tell me the name of her cat.

Cheebee from Adriana:

Boris from Sara:

Bubbles from Sam:

Bitty from Sharon:

Bailey from Christine:

Cocoa from Ann:

Gizmo from Rachel:

Hamish from Lavinia:

Ichabod from Sharon and Mark:

Lee from Charli ("the type of cat who will bang his head on the table as he jumps off your lap and doesn't even realise he hurt himself"):

Mitchell from Jane:


Murrt from Lisa:

Percy from Laura:

Spam from Bill ("once walked into thin air three storeys up whilst not even chasing anything"):


Jelly Mitten (Russian spy name: Jelamina Mitovski) from Catherine:

Anonymous from Maggie:

Abby from Gavin ("main habits include watching the fishtank, licking plastic bags and stealing earplugs from drawers"):