An orange rescue cat with a fluffy neck, a tail nearly as long as her body and the habit of hopping onto her owner’s back is gaining attention beyond its apartment walls. 

Waffle, owned by Grand Valley State University student Kendyle Laesch, recently advanced to the quarterfinals of the national “America’s Favorite Pet” contest. Laesch adopted Waffle from the Humane Society of West Michigan after what she described as an instant connection. 

“I randomly decided to go look at cats,” Laesch said. “She was the first cat I saw. When I walked up to her, she put her paw on the glass. It was like love at first sight.” 

Born May 1 and now nearly 10 months old, Waffle is a rare female orange cat. Over the past several months, Laesch has watched her personality develop into what she calls “diva” energy. 

“She’s very funny,” Laesch said. “Definitely has that orange cat in her. She’s very sassy at times. I like to call her my diva.” 

Waffle balances independence with affection. She sleeps beside Laesch, “makes biscuits” with her paws and occasionally drools when especially relaxed. In addition to jumping on her owner’s back, Waffle “plops” instead of gradually sitting, and takes playtime seriously, crouching low with her ears back as if hunting. Laesch believes these traits, along with Waffle’s expressive face and fluffy coat, make her a strong contender in the contest.

“She hops on my back,” Laesch said. “She wasn’t taught it. She just did it one day, and that suddenly became a thing. I may be biased, but I think she’s just really, really cute. I’ve never come across a cat like her.”

Laesch discovered “America’s Favorite Pet” over winter break while scrolling on Instagram. After submitting photos and answering questions about Waffle, she received confirmation that her pet had been accepted to compete.

The contest spans multiple rounds. During the initial grouping phase, cats are placed into random groups, and the top vote-getter in each group advances. Waffle finished No. 1 in her group, moving on to the quarterfinal round alongside other group winners. According to contest terminology, Laesch said, this ranking places Waffle among the top 1% of competing cats. The final winners, one cat and one dog, will be announced on or before March 27.

Voting is conducted daily. Supporters can cast one free vote every 24 hours after verifying through Facebook. Additional votes can be purchased through donations, with each dollar equaling one vote. 

“It’s definitely taken a lot of social media promotion and word of mouth,” Laesch said. “Every day I say, ‘Did you vote for Waffle?’” 

Flyers approved through the University’s Promotions Office have also helped raise awareness on campus. Each includes a QR code linking directly to Waffle’s voting page. With the additional advertising, Laesch noted a rise in both support and stress as the competition tightens.

“I have noticed an increase in attention and support since she reached the quarterfinals,” Laesch said. “(But) this round has been way more competitive. It’s felt more like a money game.” 

Sophomore Sidney Marshall said she was surprised to learn a campus pet had advanced so far in a national contest. 

“I think it’s really cool that cats are being recognized for this and that they made it to the quarterfinals,” Marshall said. “I have my own cat, so this is exciting. I’d definitely vote just to support a fellow Laker.” 

As a college student, Laesch said matching large donation totals from other competitors can be challenging. Still, she considers reaching the quarterfinals a significant accomplishment. 

The contest’s grand prize includes $10,000 and a feature on the cover of “Modern Cat.” While Laesch said the prize money “would help with tuition,” she added that she is already satisfied with Waffle’s progress and her own effort. 

“Regardless of what happens next, I’m pretty content,” Laesch said. “I kind of just felt like my hard work paid off. I really wanted her to be seen. I wanted other people to love her as much as I do.” ” 

For now, Waffle continues to plop, pounce and pose as one of the University’s most recognizable feline faces — one daily vote at a time.