If you’re a cat lover who lives in the Los Angeles area, you probably already know about CatCon. It’s a purr-fect two-day event that took place in the Pasadena Convention Center over the weekend. If you did miss out on the fun, don’t worry, we’re here to share some of the best things we saw at CatCon. This was the convention’s 10th year, and it sold out, which means there will likely be another in 2026 for you to enjoy.
From cat merch to cat lessons, there’s no shortage of things to see for humans who love cats. Unfortunately (but understandably), you can’t bring your own cat to the event. However, there are some cats to be seen. The event features meet and greets with “celebricats” who you might know from social media. There’s also an adoption area where you can take home your own forever friend. Here are the five best things we saw at CatCon…
The Heroes of the Australian Firefighters Calendar
What better way to celebrate cats than to glimpse the men who save them from trees? The world-famous Australian Firefighters returned to the con this year for meet-and-greets as well as their own panel. When they’re not putting out deadly fires, these hunks have raised $3.45 million for various charities. They came to CatCon to “support on-site adoptions and the Pasadena and Altadena communities at large.”
Purr-oject Catwalk
Billed as the “fiercted feline fashion show,” CatCon featured designers showing off their best cat-inspired looks. While the models were humans, they showcased some fantastic designs that scream “cat lover” as well as “fashionista.”
“From whiskers to waistlines, this is where claws meet couture,” the press release for the event teased.
How to Pet Your Cat Game
Every con features some niche activations, but have you ever come across a giant cat butt? CatCan featured an immersive arcade game that is not only fun, but also gives you tips on how to properly pet your feline companion. The line for this one was long, mostly because it was a fun game, but also because people didn’t want to miss an opportunity to pose with a giant cat behind.
Pasadena Humane Adoption Village
While we avoided the adoption village (I just adopted two kittens in April), it’s extra special that CatCon gives space for cats who need homes. Pasadena Humane brought over 200 kittens to the con to find their new families. While we didn’t dare glimpse the cuties ourselves, one of the best parts of the con was the celebration that occurred every time a kitten was adopted. Adopt, don’t shop!
Merch
Like any convention, you’re going to leave CatCon with a lighter wallet. In fact, we may have spent more here than we did at San Diego Comic-Con the previous weekend. We purchased some delightfully weird items, ranging from art of Pedro Pascal dressed as a maid cat (see above) to a crocheted version of Derpy Tiger from Kpop Demon Hunters (see above). We also got a ceramic cat-shaped pumpkin for the Halloween season, a vintage cat mask, and some other fun accessories.
Of course, there were also plenty of items to buy for your cats, ranging from litter robots to cat trees. We ended up getting a frog hat for our kittens. While we can’t say they loved it, we loved looking at it:
You can learn more about CatCon here.
That Hashtag Show
