Rare Cat From Virginia In The Running For Best Pet In The Nation

ASHBURN, VA – A bald, wrinkly lady who loves kayaking and snow tubing will represent Virginia in the 2026 Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards.

Gren, a Peterbald cat from Ashburn, was named best in state after three rounds of community voting, according to the awards’ website. The fancy feline is a breed described by the International Cat Association as rare, loyal and very social.

Gren's family appears to concur and would add "adventurous" to that list of adjectives, as Gren's Instagram account is full of outdoor activities (and outfit changes).

This is the inaugural run of the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards, which bills itself as “the first-ever fan-voted national awards show celebrating America's dogs and cats.”

Winners are selected through a voting process. Voting is free on a time-limited basis, but voters who really want their animals to win (or to give money to animal charities) can pay for more votes. More than half of the funds collected through votes and donations go to the Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare organization working to make every shelter in the United States a no-kill shelter.

In a press release, Gren’s owner Lisa Park said, “We are incredibly honored and grateful for this recognition. … This award belongs to everyone who believes that pets enrich our lives with unconditional love, joy, and companionship and reflects the amazing community of animal lovers who came together to celebrate Gren while also helping support a meaningful cause for rescues at the same time so those in shelters can find their forever families and experience that same unconditional love they all deserve."

According to a statement from Gren’s family, she came into their home after a previous beloved animal companion had passed away, and her cheerful spirit has helped the family heal after that loss.

State winners have already won cash prizes, according to the event’s website. Still, national winners will earn a $10,000 prize, a spot on the red carpet for the awards’ nationally televised event, and more.

Voting ends on July 22, and the national winners will be presented on August 9. Virginians, you have one more week to make sure the Old Dominion and its hairless avatar make the national stage. Voting can be done here.

See Gren and the other state winners here and follow Gren’s adventures on Instagram here.