You all know that I have a special place in my heart for senior cats, so when I heard about Gizmo’s rise to stardom, I just melted from joy.

Gizmo, a 16-year-old cat nearly blind from cataracts, came into the care of the National Cat Protection Society in Spring Valley, Calif., late last year after her caretaker was placed into hospice care. Because of her age and disability she wasn’t considered adoptable — but from the outset, NatCat staff saw something special in her.

When the shelter was offered a booth at the Cat Fanciers Association show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, where they hoped to find homes for some of their cats, staff figured they’d bring Gizmo along. She’s friendly and outgoing, and they knew she could tolerate the noise and chaos of a competition that the CFA bills as the largest annual cat show west of the Mississippi.

Little did they know that when they entered this sweet old lady into the competition’s Household Pet division, she’d come out a winner.

Apparently her delightful personality won over the judges, who saw past her creaky body and cataract-clouded eyes when she started nuzzling their hands, giving them lots of special kitty kisses and gently nibbling noses.

Not only did Gizmo make the finals, but she actually placed — taking 14th in the Household Pet division.

Gizmo’s show ribbon, and a photo of the celebri-kitty with the label “Gizmo, Cat Show Diva,” is now on display in the shelter’s lobby. And although Gizmo herself normally lives in the shelter’s clinic, she too is spending a week in the lobby where she can visit with her adoring fans.

We hope this reminds people that the old and broken kitties are special too, said shelter operations manager Cindy Williams.

Darn right they are!

Congratulations (and nose kisses and head-bonks from my own elderkitty diva, Siouxsie Mew) to sweet Gizmo and her caretakers at NatCat.