Common Entry Form Mistakes: About Cutest Cat Picture Contest

Is your cat the cutest cat in the world? You may send his or her picture by following the Contest Entry Guidelines. (Contest entries will be accepted until July 5, 2009)

The rules are quite simple and specific. However I've had to disappoint several readers who misunderstood or failed to follow the guidelines. Avoid these common mistakes and chances are good that your cat's picture will make the cut.

1. Kitten Photo Submitted
   Kittens are so outrageously cute that they have an advantage in this kind of contest. That is why the contest is restricted to adult cats only. (We may have a kitten contest in the future.)
2. Two or More Cats in a Photo
   This is a "cutest cat" contest. If you have more than one cat, feel free to send more than one photo, but keep it one cat per photo.
3. Photo Embedded in Email Body
   This is not an arbitrary rule. My PC clipboard simply will not accept a copy of an embedded photo. If I can't download it, I simply can't use it. Photos must be sent as attachments. Our Email Guide has instructions for attaching files to emails for most email clients.
4. Minuscule Photo
   You are hurting your cat's chances of making the semi-finalist round by sending overly-small photos. Photos should be at least 1000 pixels at the narrowest side. Although I can resize larger photos, I can't enlarge the tiny ones.
5. Huge Photo
   I actually received one photo that was 8 MBs, and it clogged my download for over 15 minutes. A maximum of 2 MBs per photo please, and if you're sending several of these, please break them up into different emails.
6. Multiple Photos of One Cat
   You are requested to choose your very best photo in your opinion. I just can't do it for you.

This is a fun contest and I'm really enjoying the photos coming it. But it's no fun for you or for me, if I have to reject a photo you proudly sent. I'm always sad when I can't accept a photo, and I try to work with my readers all I can, but it has to be a 50-50 arrangement. So do your best with it, show off your cat, and let's all have fun with this contest.