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.
This post may include affiliate links.
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.
Don't forget the outbursts of feline WTF when the human inevitably trips and/or steps on said cat 😂
I have two cats only for a year. I can't even count how many time i low-kick them in the face because they freakin try to cross my path at the last time.
I swear my cat thinks he’s a F1 safety car, just appears and walks slowly in front of me
If my girl saw me heading for the stairs, she would run Ahead so she could jump out at the top and scare me.
And if your human uses a power wheelchair, be sure to give them a heart attack because those buggers don't stop on a dime!
Zig zag in front of human to completely throw human off balance. While said human laughs uncontrollably 🤭🩷
Both of mine seem to make a game out of tripping Mom, especially if I just got up or am for some reason not wearing my glasses at that moment. Bonus points for picking the worst-lit spots on my path.
First cat I had any real interaction with hung around my block of Halls of campus at uni. A tuxedo called Pickles. He tripped me up going down the stairs and I broke my foot. XD
Must race to beat the human to wherever they are going and then stop just before they get there. If they trip on me, I get treats.
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
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.
