Nora the piano-playing cat named ASPCA Cat of the Year - Me-WOW!

October 23, 7:14 PMPet Training ExaminerArden Moore

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Nora begins another feline concerto to the delight of millions.
Betsy Alexander

Move over, Liberace. Give your keyboard fingers a rest, Billy Joel. The latest cool cat to wow millions for piano-playing prowess happens to be a gray shelter rescued feline named Nora.

Nora’s piano-playing talents propelled her to become a YouTube phenomenon. Her keyboard concertos have been viewed 15,645,582 times – and counting – on YouTube and ranked among the Top 10 most memorable YouTube videos in 2007. Heck, a Lithuanian composer has been so fascinated by this feline pianist that he is busy arrange a symphony in her honor.

The 5-year-old hops on the piano bench and begins to play with one paw or both – depending on when the mood strikes – much like most musicians.

And come Oct. 29, Nora, plucked from an animal shelter in Cherry Hill, NJ by Betsy Alexander and Burnell Yow, will add a new honor to her growing list of accomplishments: ASPCA Cat of the Year.

The ceremony will take place at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. In total, 10 people and animals will be recognized by the ASPCA for the impact they have made on the lives of animals this year.

"The ASPCA is proud to honor those who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion, bravery and commitment to furthering the human-animal bond,” said ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres. “The Humane Awards celebrates the important role that animals play in our lives.”

Among the others to be honored include:
 

• Archie, an 8-year-old black Labrador retriever, is the ASPCA Dog of the Year. This assistance dog serves as primary caregiver and social lifeline for Sgt. Clay Rankin, who suffered injuries while serving in Iraq.
• Monica Plumb, an 11-year-old from Powhatan County, Va., will be celebrated as the ASPCA “Tommy Monahan” Kid of the Year. Wanting to find a way to help save pets in house fires, Monica created PetMask.com. This website collects online donations to assist fire departments buy pet oxygen masks. So far, the donations have covered the cost for more than 50 masks in nine states. The award is named after Tommy Monahan, a 9-year-old New York boy who died in a 2007 house fire trying to save his pet trapped inside.

Nora serves as a wonderful example of how any pet – or person – can come from humble beginnings and develop a talent shared with millions.

To learn more about the 2009 ASPCA Heroes Awards Ceremony, please visit www.aspca.org. To watch videos of Nora the cat on the piano, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ860P4iTaM