Dogs may be man’s best friend, but it appears that cats are the Internet’s most favorite animal. A survey in 2015 found that felines make up about 15% of data flow online, which comes to 699 million people searching for kitty-related content every month.
So it’s really no surprise that the cat-loving community organized a whole convention for them. Called CatCon, it educates and entertains thousands of fans, showcasing the latest products and ideas for mousers and their people.
Bored Panda browsed through their Instagram account and curated the most hilarious and relatable cat memes for your enjoyment. Ranging from a bit strange to heartwarming, they are guaranteed to fill your day with some feline goodness.
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CatCon has been taking place in Pasadena, California, since 2015 and has welcomed over 100,000 participants. Their mission is “to spread joy and goodness to cats and the people who love them.”
It was the creation of Susan Michals, a previous television producer and journalist. The idea came to her when she hosted a cat art show in Los Angeles, and more than 4,000 people came to see it.
"It was young, it was hip, it was trendy. It was hungry for information about cats and things for cat people. So I thought, you know what I need to do? I need to go broader. And that's how CatCon was born," Michals told LAist.
When their doors first opened, they didn’t expect such a flow of people. Around 700 people were waiting in a line that stretched around the block. The bathrooms quickly became jammed by traffic, and the cat adoption area was blocked with benches to limit the number of people. Thankfully, their no-pet policy ensured that no pets were crushed or injured by the crowds of people.
Since then, they’ve grown tremendously. From 2015 to 2023, they went from 63 to 200 exhibitors that bring a combination of products for cats and people each year. It now holds the title of being the biggest event solely dedicated to our feline friends.
We've got a general election this year. I say we give him a chance. How much worse could it be?
Their core values include informing and educating people through entertaining and outside-the-box activities, supporting shelters locally and nationwide, and vigorously promoting the “adopt, don’t shop” mindset. They are further trying to debunk the negative cat lady perception and prove that having a cat can be hip and stylish.
The Purrfect Pumpkin Carving Doesn’t Exi—
During last year’s event, they found new homes for over 160 kittens through Best Friends Animal Society. The 130,000-square-foot convention center hosted an abundance of cat-themed products featuring the latest litterbox technology and towers.
Booths of kitty art were also very popular among vendors. They were full of paintings, pillows, totes, and sculptures capturing these feline beauties in almost every material and medium possible. One of the highlights was the "Karma is a Cat Art Show" exhibition, which displayed Taylor Swift’s best moments with cats.
Some Light Reading! What Could Go Wrong?
More interestingly, the convention also jumped on the artificial intelligence train and featured its own “Cat-GPT.” It allowed enthusiasts to turn their furry friends into pieces of art or have conversations with their pets with just a touch of a finger.
My tee shirts and jeans all have little loops of fabric pulled out. It takes just one claw and bad intentions.
Ok, it is definitely sleep time. I kept looking at the right side of the lion thing trying to figure out what the hèll was wrong with that person's foot. 🤪
This Feels Purr-Sonal
The participants also got to meet cat celebrities like Merlin Ragdoll, One-Eared Uno, Table Cat, and Adventure Cat Leo. The so-called Table Cat’s name is Smudge, and he has more than 1.6 million followers, making him a mega celebrity in the feline world of public figures. He goes by he/him pronouns, is the coolest meme cat in the business, has hated vegetables from day one, and is always a gremlin.
If any of these cats or entertainment from CatCon caught your attention, make sure to grab a ticket, or perhaps dive into another wholesome list of these furry critters trying something they've never tried before.
I Mustache You A Question
Ohhhh...they're not conversing, they're critiquing! That sassy little basterd.
Always A Star
My dad used to not like cats because he thought they were just aloof and kinda mean. Then I got cats and they became his friends, so now he loves cats. I think some people just don't understand or have misconceptions about them.
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I have a friend who got bit by a stray cat as a child. She doesn't like cats anymore, but she wouldn't hurt them if she saw one.
I've been bitten by 3 dogs. 3 large dogs. i still love dogs. I had to go to the ER because my cat bit and scratched me. i still love cats. i got pooped on by a snake. i still love snakes. The odd thing is animals and children are drawn to me. and then poop on and bite me. 🙄(got sh*t on by a pigeon outside tr*mp tower in NYC 1990, i still hate pigeons and tr*mp)
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We used to have a neighbour who told us that he "hate" cats and dogs. Next day I spread the news to everyone, started to be friends of everyone just to share the news. The pressure was so high that he ended up moving out
My mother used to work with a librarian from India who said, "those who don't like cats are rats reincarnated."
People who don't like cats have Very clearly never had one growing up and believe all the anti-cat propaganda controlled by dogs! It's a canine conspiracy to try to topple cats from their rightful place of dominion of the internet!
Yeah, that happened to me, too, but there was no way I was ever going to live without cats. The allergy finally went away, so I guess the constant exposure got rid of it.
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Am I A Joke To You, Martha?
He Said Yes!
Note: this post originally had 101 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
