Bhubaneswar, July 11: After sifting through hundreds of photographs of lovable cats as well as their rescue stories, Jhumu, whose guardian is Cuttack resident Simran Karmakar, is set to become the country's cutest rescued cat.

Jhumu has been selected from among the top 10 finalists of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India's Cutest Rescued Cat Alive contest.

Simran found the hungry and shivering kitten in her backyard. After receiving some warmth and love, Jhumu now has a special place in the family and behaves like a queen.

"She was just about a week old. I could not bear to see her like that and brought her in," she said. "I already had a pet dog and she made my dog her best friend. She now goes for walks with him and sleeps with him."

Peta India is holding the contest to encourage prospective guardians to adopt animals from the streets or shelters instead of buying them from pet shops or breeders, as these facilities often keep animals in dismal conditions and contribute to the overpopulation of homeless animals.

"Jhumu is a lucky cat, indeed, and she has returned the favour of being rescued by bringing much love and joy into her guardian's life," said Peta India CEO Manilal Valliyate. "All rescued cats are already winners, because their lives were saved by people who love them for who they are."

The guardian of the cat named the Cutest Rescued Cat Alive will receive a number of goodies from Peta.

The second-place winner's guardian will receive a certificate, a copy of the book, a My Cat Is a Rescue T-shirt and a cat toy. The third-place winner will receive a certificate, a copy of the book, and a cat toy. The top three cats will appear in an upcoming issue of Animal Times, Peta India's magazine for members.

Peta selected the winner and runners-up based on several factors, including vote count. This contest ended today and the winners will be announced on July 13.

A group of youngsters in the city has started an animal adoption campaign for street dogs. Under the banner Animal Welfare Trust Ekamra, the group began the campaign to raise awareness on the merits of adopting a street animal. The initiative has garnered the attention of canine lovers.