Pet Rock Fest Photo Contest 2026: “Oh, Were You Using This?” 

 

CONTEST CLOSES SEPT. 25, WHEN THE VOTING BEGINS! DON'T DELAY AND GET YOUR ENTRIES IN.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT PET ROCK FEST

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Trying to finish a jigsaw puzzle? Your cat is on it. Reading the newspaper? Not anymore. Working on your laptop? Apparently you bought your cat a very expensive heated bed. Folding laundry, wrapping a present, reading a book or playing a board game? You know what happens next.

 

For the 2026 Pet Rock Fest Cat Photo Contest, we’re celebrating one of the great universal truths of cat ownership: Whatever you're doing, your cat would prefer to be sitting directly on it.

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This year’s theme is “Oh, Were You Using This?”

 

Send us your funniest, cutest or most ridiculous photo of your cat inserting themselves into whatever you were attempting to accomplish. Maybe they're sprawled across a half-finished puzzle. Parked on your keyboard during a Zoom meeting. Sitting squarely on the newspaper you're reading. Occupying the board game. Supervising your paperwork. Or perhaps they’ve simply planted themselves on the one object in the entire house you need at that exact moment.

If your cat has ever looked at your plans and thought, Absolutely not, we want the photographic evidence.

How it works

Submit your best photo fitting this year’s theme. We’re looking for personality, creativity, cuteness and, naturally, the particular brand of feline entitlement that makes cats cats.

Prizes

First-, second- and third-place winners will be selected by the judges at Ellie’s Pet Barn.

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Winning photos will be displayed at Pet Rock Fest 2026 on Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Lancaster Fairgrounds, featured on Pet Rock Fest’s social media and turned into custom memes.

 

And there’s actual loot involved: Ellie’s Pet Barn gift cards of $100, $50 and $25, plus fancy trophies and, most importantly, bragging rights.

 

Your cat already thinks they own everything in your house.

 

Now they can own a trophy, too.

 

Entries close Sept. 25.

 

Email petrockfest@gmail.com if you have any problems entering the contest.

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