CatCon Celebrates tenth Anniversary of Feline Fun

Put 13,000 cat lovers beneath one roof for 2 days and what do you get? Since its quirky debut in 2015, CatCon, typically described as “Comic-Con for cat people,” has developed from a fringe feline gathering right into a full-blown cultural phenomenon.

Think joyful cat lovers dressed up in elaborate costumes, 200 ecstatic cat product distributors having fun with a profitable weekend, many new cat dad and mom, a vogue present, a parade of Instagram-famous cats and an entire lot of catnip-fueled fanfare.

One of many costumes seen at CatCon

Held once more on the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California on August 2–3, CatCon celebrated its birthday in type — and for the primary time in its historical past, it offered out each days. From 10 a.m. to five p.m., the Pasadena Convention Center buzzed with exercise, with traces nonetheless curling across the constructing mid-afternoon.

Not Just Catnip and Selfies

But CatCon isn’t all fluff. Over the previous decade, it has facilitated greater than 1,500 adoptions and raised over $400,000 for cat welfare organizations. This 12 months topped all adoption data — 210 cats and kittens went dwelling with new households, due to the Pasadena Humane Society’s on-site Adoption Village. Every time a cat discovered a endlessly dwelling, a bell rang, and the group cheered. Some of those whiskered adoptees had been survivors of the close by Altadena fires, making the celebrations even sweeter.

10 years and 1500+ adopted cats and kittens from CatCon

As a persistent softie for cats, I respect the occasion’s clever resolution to maintain Adoption Village in its personal area. It prevents impulse adoptions — and retains individuals like me from out of the blue “accidentally” coming dwelling with three extra cats.

Seven Years of CatCon (and counting)

My sister-in-law from Arizona and I’ve attended seven CatCons (with a two-year Covid hole), and yearly tops the final. With press credentials and reporting for 2 shops this time, I discovered the organizers and distributors as gracious as ever. “Talent” handlers beamed for the cameras, although a few of the feline celebrities had been divas in fur coats. Case in level: Calvin the Cat, who wanted somewhat coaxing earlier than agreeing to pose.

Phoenix and Knoxville reporters coaxing Calvin the Cat

No Cats Allowed (Mostly)

Ironically, extraordinary cats aren’t welcome — until they’re “talent.” The official CatCon publicity says it finest: “For the safety of our guests and your pet, leave your cats at home!” Anyone who’s tried to get a cat to play good in a crowd understands why.

The Feline “Talent”

Celebrity meet-and-greets are reserved for Instagram-famous cats, whose foremost trick is tolerating hundreds of strangers petting them. This 12 months’s roster included Nathan the Cat Lady, Angela Hadnagy, Dr. Matt McGlasson, Maple Cat, Cat Named Calvin, and others. No flaming hoops or tightrope acts — simply typical cat habits staring into the space whereas trying lovely.

Calvin the Cat (Photo-official CatCon photographer)

From Meow to Wow

The mastermind behind all that is Susan Michals, a former TV producer who as soon as checked out Comic-Con and thought, “Why not cats?” Her first occasion in 2015 drew a couple of thousand curious guests. In the ten years since, CatCon has attracted greater than 113,000 attendees from all 50 states and 33 nations.

Ticket Prices

General admission is $35 per day. There are further costs for “Meet and Greets” with well-known influencers, a non-public night get together and extra. We selected the final admission. One greenback of each ticket value this 12 months was donated to the Pasadena Humane Society’s persevering with efforts to offer care to the pets impacted by the Altadena (simply north of Pasadena) fires.

Sold out each days with traces wrapped across the Pasadena Convention Center

Two Convention Halls stuffed with Feline Fun

The two enormous conference halls host extra than simply the feline-loving attendees, the distributors and the “talent.” There are well-attended lectures by outstanding feline well being consultants, contests and drawings.

Merch, Freebies, and Temptation

Over 200 distributors hawked all the pieces from luxurious cat beds ($200 plus— which your cat will ignore in favor of the Amazon field it got here in) to AI-powered litter bins with a digital camera ($800). For people, there have been cat-themed shirts, attire, jewellery, and extra. Cat meals and kitty litter distributors handed out freebies — I do know as a result of I collected all of them. Of course, my “free” haul got here after paying $35 for the ticket, a aircraft fare to Burbank, a Pasadena lodge invoice, and $48 to UPS all of it again to Knoxville.

Interesting People and their Stories

Every 12 months we meet up with Adrienne and Jae, University of Tennessee alums initially from Knoxville. They are referred to as The Two Crazy Cat Ladies, house owners of Feline Essential. Their pure cat well being merchandise have made them rock stars within the feline wellness world. More on them in a future Knox TN Today piece.

This 12 months we met a pair who had simply appeared on Shark Tank with their cat-related invention, tales from the ASPCA who assisted the Pasadena Human Society with the Pacific Palisades and Altadena fires, a vendor who claimed his kitty litter was the most well-liked in Eastern Europe and so many extra.

The Last Word and Purr

Yes, it’s commercialized, however CatCon delivers what it guarantees: a festivity of the human-cat bond. The environment is pleasant, new cat dad and mom are over the moon with their purrfect new relations, and the distributors are joyful. I’ve at all times maintained that even non-cat individuals would have a unbelievable day on the occasion.

And as for my husband? He stayed dwelling — on cat responsibility, naturally — nonetheless skeptical about this complete CatCon factor. Maybe subsequent 12 months I’ll convey him again a memento. Or a cat.

Melanie Staten is a public relations advisor along with her husband, Vince.

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