Last year cat enthusiasts from all over the globe descended on Los Angeles for the first ever CatConLA. This year the convention is back on June 25th & 26th and it plans to be an even bigger event than last year.
Last years event was visited by over 12,000 people over a weekend in June. Over $33,000 was donated from the event proceeds to FixNation and Lil BUB’s Big Fund at the ASPCA. This year $1 from every event ticket will again go towards FixNation who are a non profit organisation committed to cats and supporting trap-neuter and return.
Furthermore Best Friends Animal Society were offering cats for adoption during the event – and 73 cats found a new home!
So what were people able to do at last years event?
Well over 100 vendors were offering everything from the latest kitty gadgets, cat furniture, toys, art – in fact almost anything you could want for your feline friend. And then there were the cat themed items for the humans (robotic cats anyone?). A number of talks were also held from Photographing cats through to discussions about “You Can Be a Cat Guy and Still Be Cool” with Keith Bowers the senior Editor at Catster.
Plus celebrity cats were on hand to meet their fans. Cats such as Lil BUB and her dude, Mike Bridavasky as well as Pudge and Kady Lone. They also had a presentation about celebrity cats and how they have dealt with the publicity. Simon’s Cat writer Simon Tofield was also present.
And this years event?
Well celebrity cats will be doing Meet and Greets with their fans. And a good proportion of their ticket receipts will be donated to good causes. Lil BUB and her dude will be donating $100 from each ticket to her Lil BUB’s Big Fund at the ASPCA (a cause which has given away over half a million dollars in grants to animal welfare organisations across the US to help homeless pets with special needs.)
In addition $75 will go towards Kitten Rescue from Nala’s Meet and Greet whilst $50 of Pudge/Cats of Instagram Greet and Meet will go towards Fixnation. You will also get to meet the Cats of Instagram duo of Kady Lone and Eli Omidi.
Other presentations and speakers who will be present include Angie Bailey from “Texts From Mittens”, Keith Bowers who is senior editor at caster.com and dogster.com and William Braden the creator behind the philosophical musings of the ennui-filled philosophical cat, “Henri, le Chat Noir”.
Vendors and Sponsors
But as per all conventions there will be over 100 different vendors at this years event. You will be able to buy everything from yoga mats for your kitty from Feline Yogi (great for those people whose cats steal their yoga mat); Polydactyl cats who produce a range of unique cat toys; Urban Paw who produce a gorgeous range of cat (and dog) beds; Fin and Fur Studio, who makes incredible whimsical cat art (including steam punk cats) and many many more.
There will also be a number of good causes on hand – Paw Project who campaign against the declawing of cats will be at the event and you will also have the opportunity to give a needy kitty a new home as adoptions will again be available.
Sponsors at this years event include Modern Cat Magazine and SPCA LA is hosting an adoption village, sponsored by Hill’s and Petco.
So raise your paws in the air as this will offer a really good time for everyone whilst raising money for a very good cause.
So if you are interested in one of the best conventions to take place this year tickets the event will be held at the REEF, 1933 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007. Tickets can be purchased from CatConLA
Schedule
SATURDAY JUNE 25
10 am – 5 pm General Admission to CatConLA
10:30 am – 12:30 pm Lil BUB Meet & Greet
11 am – The Truth Revealed: You Can Train Your Cat
Marilyn Krieger (Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, The Cat Coach, LLC®)
The Cloud Room
1 pm – 2:30 pm Pudge Meet & Greet
1:30 pm – Heroic Tails: Fantastic Stories from Feline History
Dr. Paul Koudounaris (Memento Mori)
The Cloud Room
3 pm – How I Met My Cat & Other Stories
Lisa Erspamer (A Letter to My Cat) + celebrity guests
The Cloud Room
6:30 pm CatVideoFest
The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Tickets sold separately
10 pm CatVideoFest
The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Tickets sold separately
SUNDAY JUNE 26
10 am – 4 pm General Admission to CatConLA
10:30 am – 12:30 pm Lil BUB Meet & Greet
10:30 am What Separates Cute from Internet Sensation: A Discussion with BuzzFeed and Cats of Instagram
Chelsea Marshall (Buzzfeed), Eli Omidi, Kady Lone, and Pudge (Cats of Instagram). Moderated by Scott Stulen (Creator, Internet Cat Video Festival)
The Cloud Room
1 pm – 3 pm Nala and Coffee Cat Meet & Greet
1 pm – CatCon’s First Annual Furr-ocius Fashion Contest
Angie Bailey (Texts from Mittens) and special guests
The Cloud Room
3 pm Lil BUB’s Big Show
Mike Bridavsky and Lil BUB
The Cloud Room