CatConLA, ‘a ComicCon for cat people,’ set for June 6 & 7 in downtown L.A.

A two-day conclave of feline fanciers called CatConLA is set to debut in downtown Los Angeles in early June.

Susan Michals (the woman who brought us Cat Art Show Los Angeles back in February 2014) is organizing a two-day event she likens to “ComicCon for cat people.” The June 6-7 event is meant to be part expo, part symposium and all about smashing stereotypes regarding the cat-loving kind.

“The whole idea is about changing the perception of cat people,” Michals said in an an email describing the event, “that you can be stylish, chic AND a cat lover, all at the same time.”

Even though she’s totally preaching to the kitty choir on that point, if we weren’t already wholehearted feline enthusiasts, what Michals is promising might well convince us to pounce for the other team. In the (meow) mix so far: 100 vendors of cat-centric merchandise, a lineup of feline focused speakers including godfather of the Internet cat meme Ben Huh, Choupette’s Diary creator Ashley Tschudin (who will speak on debunking the cat lady myth), Mike Bridavsky and Lil Bub and what might be our purrrr-sonal favorite, Keith Bowers, a senior editor at Catster.com and Dogster.com who pens a column called Cat Dandy, written “from the perspective of a fashion-conscious man who loves cats.”

If that’s not enough to convince you to stop sunning yourself on the windowsill on a midsummer day, Michals throws out the catnip of a significant celebrity contingent (though she’s not naming names), as well as giveaways (kitteh swag!, a photo booth and meet-and-greets and signings with the speakers). We also have to admit the tiniest bit of curiosity about letting cat litter sponsor Purina Purpose do a total makeover of the bathrooms at the event. (Michals assures us it isn’t going to be “cat litter boxes for humans.”)

Although BYOC (Bringing Your Own Cat) is forbidden, attendees won’t be without the potential for cat companionship as Best Friends Animal Society will have a 2,000-square-foot adoption village onsite. And if you prefer to watch with your beloved furball on your lap, Animal Planet will be live streaming the whole affair.

A portion of proceeds from CatConLA will benefit FixNation, a local nonprofit that provides free and low-cost spay/neuter services for cats.

CatConLA, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 6 and 7 at the Reef, 1933 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. Tickets and additional information available at catconla.com

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