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Arts and Entertainment

Feline Lovers Gather In Pasadena For Annual CatCon

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Have you been living your cat-loving life in the shadows, worried that the general public can't handle the full weight of your feline fascination? Well, we've got news for you: there is an annual cat convention called CatCon and it is at the Pasadena Convention Center this weekend. In its third year, the convention has amassed a huge following (over 27,000 people attended in its first two years, according to the website), and this year's festivities are already under way.

The convention aims to bridge the gap between cat care/education and cat pride, listing its four core values as:

Debunking the Cat Lady Myth: We are changing the negative perception of the “crazy cat lady” and proving that it is possible to be hip, stylish, and have a cat, simultaneously. Shelters Far and Wide:
We support animal shelters, both local and nationwide, in all of their efforts from adoption to feline healthcare to spay/neuter.

Adopt Don’t Shop:
We vigorously promote “adopt, don’t shop.” Each year, millions of adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States. When you adopt instead of buying, you’re saving lives.

Inform, Educate and Entertain:
Through engaging seminars and activations, we strive to educate and inform people in entertaining and outside the box ways.


It features panels, meet and greets with famous cats (including the absurdly famous and cute Lil Bub), and a chance to adopt a cat at the convention via a partnership with SPCA. Hundreds of vendors and exhibitors will be on hand for all your cat-related needs.
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The convention also picks an official philanthropy to receive proceeds every year, and this year's recipient is the Ian Somerhalder Foundation. Yes, you read that right—Ian Somerhalder of Vampire Diaries fame runs a Very Specific foundation that aims to "empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures," according to its website.

CatCon 2017 is located at Pasadena Convention Center, at 300 E. Green Street in Pasadena. Tickets are only available at the door.

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