A Festival for Cat Lovers...but Make it Virtual
Like many others who had been organizing events this year, the worldwide spread of COVID-19 and BC’s implementation of social distancing measures left us wondering how to go ahead with our plans—if at all.
We knew we couldn’t let our fellow feline enthusiasts down if there was any way to make meowfest happen, without compromising the health and safety of our community. And so, we found a way to make it happen: meowfest Virtual!
Sponsored by Catit Canada and meowbox, meowfest Virtual event content was released throughout the weekend of July 10th to 12th, 2020. Cat lovers from around the world tuned in for fun tutorials, shopping, live kitten cams, Zoom talks and meet-and-greets, interactive games, and more. This year, all ticket proceeds were donated to Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS) and Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS), two ameowzing animal rescue organizations in Metro Vancouver.
Despite the online format of the event, attendees still had the chance to meet some of their favourite cat celebrities! Nala fans could say meow to the Instagram icon herself through a free meet-and-greet over Zoom, and could also hop onto meet-and-greets with Smush and local star, BCSPCA alumnus Jiro-boo. Guests learned about the exciting world of adventure kitties through a live Zoom panel hosted by Your Cat Backpack, featuring Kitty Mojito, Reinhardt, Rajah and Birch and Luna.
Of course, there were also sessions led by some of the powerhouse humans behind the global cat community: Kitten Lady, who hosted a "Feed and Read" with her foster kittens, as well as group and private meet-and-greets; Kady and Eli of Cats of Instagram, who shared tips on how to make your kitty Insta-famous, alongside Nala's humans, Shannon and Pookie; Dr. Evan Antin, who answered audience questions about feline health and beyond; Shelly Roche of TinyKittens, who answered questions about special needs kitties; and Kristi Bellis of Whiskersnpurrs, who shared her expertise on introducing a new cat or kitten to the family.
From food to fitness, we made sure to offer something for everyone. Attendees could pick up some clever tips about cat-friendly plants from Cyril Cybernated, practice their hand in kitty makeup with purrfessional makeup artist Kaitlin Buck, create some simple-but-delicious cocktails with Nude Beverages, or get sweating in a workout session with certified fitness coach Katie Crewe and her cat, Bella. Those aspiring to turn their cat into a viral TikTok sensation learned some tricks of the trade from digital marketing expert Taylor Loren. Through Tori Peterson of Space Cat Academy’s Kitten Kindergarten workshop, new cat parents and fosterers learned how to teach manners (and even some adorable tricks!) to their kittens. Jasmin Bedria of Cat Lady Fitness showed us how to transform an old meowbox into an entertaining discover station for your cat. Food enthusiasts took to their kitchens to decorate cat cookies with Stacie Bennett of Sugar Love Designs, make raw cat food with Kady Lone and Pudge, or DIY cat treats with blogger Gratefully Helena.
With a vast array of cat goodies and exclusive discounts, meowfest Virtual was a shopaholic's heaven! Whether you were on the hunt for a new cat tree, looking to switch up your kitty's food, or wanting to spruce up your home with some whimsical feline art, meowfest Virtual was your one-stop-shop for everything you needed and more! Many vendors even extended their special offers beyond meowfest weekend, to give guests more time to shop (and purrhaps even get ahead of that holiday shopping!)
While meowfest Virtual was conceptualized as a safe alternative to an in-person meowfest, it became an event in its own right, bringing together folks from all locations and all walks of life to share cat stories, exchange fostering and TNR tips, and flex their creative muscles in “catified” virtual workshops. It warmed our hearts to see families coming together to join in on Stacie’s cat cookie-decorating class, and strangers bonding over their experiences in feline rescue. Of course, we especially loved to see everyone’s kitties make a “cameow” appearance in the live video sessions, enjoying the festivities at their human’s side from the comfort of their home—a major plus we wouldn’t have seen at an in-person event!
We are happy to announce that a total of 16 kitties found their furever homes through meowfest Virtual: 10 from LAPS, 4 from RAPS, and a bonded pair from TinyKittens!
Luckily, the meowfest fun doesn't have to end anytime soon: panels and workshops are still accessible online to all General Admission ticketholders until July 10th, 2021, and many vendors have extended their exclusive deals. Plus, RAPS and LAPS still have kitties looking for their furever homes!