Athens Area Cat Named Finalist in National Contest

Deena Parham knew Marsha was extraordinary.

The tabby mix cat has been a part of the life of Deena's daughter Emily since Deena and her husband brought Emily home from the hospital to their Colbert home. The cat was born exactly two years before the daughter, and cat and girl have been soulmates since that first meeting in May 17 years ago.

So Deena wrote up a little narrative about the cat and submitted it to a contest run by Purina Cat Chow. And now Marsha is one of 10 finalists in a national online contest that could, if she wins, net the Parham family a year's worth of cat food.

"I didn't write it to win, I wrote it to share my story," said Deena. "When Marsha met Emily, it was as if she thought of her as her kitten. And now that Marsha is older, Emily takes care of her."

Now 17, Emily is preparing to go to Athens Tech, the first of many steps toward her goal of becoming a clinical social worker. She gives the aging Marsha various medications to keep her going, and Marsha still picks up on Emily's moods and tries to comfort her if need be.

"Marsha is an important part of our lives," said Deena. "I believe pets aren't toys, they're living breathing creatures, you have a responsibility to them."

The Purina Cat Chow Real Stories Project has selected its top 10 finalists. Readers can help to select the Grand Prize winners by visiting this website and clicking on the finalists' button.

The deadline is September 18. You may vote more than once but only once per day.