Montana Cat Competes to Be America's Favorite Pet

One-year-old rescue cat Cleopatra, known as Cleo, is currently in second place in her group for the annual competition.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Cleopatra, a one-year-old cat rescued from an abandoned house in Bozeman, Montana, is currently in the running for the America's Favorite Pet competition. The cat, now weighing 12 pounds, is owned by local resident Lisa Giroux and has already made appearances in two calendars. The annual competition invites people to vote online for their favorite pet, with the winner receiving $10,000 and a feature on the cover of a magazine.

Why it matters

The America's Favorite Pet competition helps raise funds for the nonprofit PAWS, which rehabilitates animals. Cleo's story also highlights the positive impact of pet adoption and the joy that rescue animals can bring to their owners' lives.

The details

Cleo was found in an abandoned house last year, weighing just three pounds. After being rescued and adopted by Lisa Giroux, Cleo has now grown to 12 pounds and has made appearances in two calendars. The competition invites people to vote online for their favorite pet, with the winner receiving $10,000 and a magazine cover feature.

  • Cleo was found in an abandoned house last year.
  • Cleo is currently in second place in her group for the America's Favorite Pet competition.

The players

Cleopatra (Cleo)

A one-year-old cat rescued from an abandoned house in Bozeman, Montana, who is now competing in the America's Favorite Pet competition.

Lisa Giroux

The owner of Cleo, the Bozeman resident who adopted the cat after it was rescued from an abandoned house.

PAWS

A nonprofit organization that rehabilitates animals and receives a portion of the proceeds from the America's Favorite Pet competition.

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What they’re saying

“We're happy to have her; she is a joy in my life, and I think she's happy here too. I'm just a proud mama.”

— Lisa Giroux, Owner (kpax.com)

What’s next

If Cleo continues to perform well in the competition, she could advance to the quarterfinals and potentially win the $10,000 grand prize and magazine cover feature.

The takeaway

Cleo's story highlights the joy and companionship that rescue animals can bring to their owners' lives, as well as the positive impact that pet adoption and competitions like America's Favorite Pet can have in supporting animal welfare organizations like PAWS.