CatCon

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Part of a series on Cats. [View Related Entries]

Overview

CatCon, officially known as CatCon LA, is an annual cultural and lifestyle convention devoted to showcasing a variety of projects and products for cats and cat owners, as well as celebrating the species of domesticated cats in general. The inaugural event was hosted in downtown Los Angeles, California over the course of two days during the first weekend of June 2015, featuring guest appearances by a mix of internet celebrity cats and artists known for their feline-themed projects and artworks.

Background

The idea for a feline-themed convention was conceived by LA-based cable television show producer Susan Michals after successfully organizing a cat-themed art exhibit in 2014. According to the New York Times, Michals wanted to "break down the stereotype of the weird cat person" and foster an offline community of cat lovers on a broad level. The event was first announced^[8] in September 2014, amidst a series of cat-themed art exhibits and film festivals taking place in Los Angeles.

Highlights

Self-billed as "a ComicCon for cat people," the event consisted of a trade show featuring a variety of feline-specific merchandises, from furniture and toys for cats to artworks and clothing for cat lovers, and a series of panel sessions with artists, writers and entrepreneurs who have earned online fame through their cat-themed projects, in addition to some meet-and-greet events with celebrity cats like Lil Bub and "Pudge the Cat."

Symposium

The speakers at the event included Simon Tofield (the animator of Simon's Cat), Mike Bridavsky (the owner of Lil Bub), Will Braden (the producer of Henri, Le Chat Noir), Eli Omidi (the founder of @Cats_of_Instagram), Ben Huh (the founder of Cheezburger) and Scott Stulen (the founder of Internet Cat Video Film Festival), as well as numerous authors and columnists who have written extensively about cats.

News Media Coverage

The inaugural CatCon LA was reported on by a number of major print and online news outlets, including the New York Times, The Guardian, Business Insider, Huffington Post and The Daily Dot.