Cat lovers, artists, and advocates in Florida are in for a deal with this January with the launch of Area Cats Florida, a brand new conference designed to have a good time the whole lot feline. Based by Leeza Hernandez, a lifelong cat fanatic, artist, and entrepreneur, the occasion guarantees to unite creativity and compassion in help of cats in want.
Area Cats Florida is happening on January twenty fifth and twenty sixth 2025 on the Area Coast Conference Heart in Cocoa, Florida.
Catster is happy to announce this occasion and share extra details about the way it acquired began and what guests can anticipate. We spoke with Leeza to get the within scoop.
From Sketching Cats to Conference CEO: Leeza’s Journey
Leeza’s profession has all the time been deeply intertwined with artwork and her love for cats. From her early days as a graphic designer and illustrator to authoring and illustrating the youngsters’s guide Catnapped! in 2013, she has frequently discovered methods to merge her creative abilities together with her ardour for felines.
In 2017, Leeza’s journey took a brand new flip when she attended the Catsbury Park Cat Conference in New Jersey. Initially planning to go to as a fan, she determined to showcase her work as an alternative, combining guide signings with artwork prints impressed by her cat sketches. “My sales space was successful, and I rapidly realized I may flip my love of cats and artwork right into a flourishing artistic enterprise.” Leeza quickly started touring to cat conventions nationwide, a few of which included CatCon Worldwide, Meow MeetUp, SeaMeow, and Catsbury Park, connecting with the colourful group of cat lovers.
Nevertheless, when the pandemic paused in-person occasions, Leeza discovered herself lacking the group and power of those gatherings. After relocating to Florida and studying that no East Coast conventions had been returning, she determined to take issues into her personal fingers. With encouragement from fellow distributors and her husband, Leeza launched into a mission to create Area Cats Florida.
“I by no means imagined internet hosting my very own conference, however when no East Coast cat occasions returned after the pandemic, I spotted it was time to step up and create one thing for the group I like,” Leeza shared.
The Coronary heart of Area Cats Florida
Area Cats Florida, happening on January twenty fifth and twenty sixth on the Area Coast Conference Heart in Cocoa, FL, is greater than only a celebration of cats—it’s a motion to make a tangible affect. Partnering with the Brevard Humane Society, the occasion goals to help their efforts to find ceaselessly houses for cats and elevating consciousness about animal welfare.
“Area Cats Florida isn’t nearly celebrating our love of cats—it’s about uniting as a group to make an actual distinction for the cats who want us most,” Leeza defined. “[It’s] a celebration of the whole lot I like about cats and group with a deep want to attach cat lovers, specialists, and past on this state. As an artist who has all the time donated a portion of my artwork gross sales to assist cats in want, this occasion felt like a pure extension of that mission.”
The conference will function distinctive distributors, interactive Cativity stations, and academic displays from cat specialists. Particular friends embrace social media star Nathan The Cat Girl on Saturday and a meet-and-greet with a Maine Coon named PEAK on Sunday. With a mix of enjoyable and advocacy, the occasion is about to be a spotlight for cat fans throughout the area.
Organizing a conference is not any small feat, however Leeza has obtained immense help from her household, buddies, and volunteers, in addition to the audio system and distributors who share her imaginative and prescient. Whereas the inaugural yr’s workforce is small, their dedication and keenness are the driving forces behind the occasion’s creation.
“We is likely to be small in our inaugural yr, however we will probably be mighty!” Leeza shared.
Occasion Particulars
The weekend of feline enjoyable guarantees an thrilling expertise for cat lovers, breeders, and professionals, that includes a dynamic lineup of audio system and actions:
- SurferCat Mavi: Star of Cat Folks on Netflix and featured on The At present Present and Folks Journal, Mavi the Bengal cat is an excessive athlete—browsing, snowboarding, and extra. He’s presently filming a journey present in Italy.
- Kate Benjamin: Founding father of Hauspanther and co-author of Catification, she’ll share her experience in trendy and practical cat design.
- Sterling ‘TrapKing’ Davis: A former rapper and TNR advocate, Davis promotes variety in animal welfare and contributes to controlling feral cat populations.
- Ellen Carozza: Often known as the “Cat LVT,” Carozza will provide worthwhile tips about feline well being and care, selling adoption by means of the Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Basis.
- Nathan Kehn (Nathan The Cat Girl): A passionate cat welfare advocate, Nathan has labored throughout the nation with shelters and rescues to enhance the lives of cats.
Actions embrace:
- Lunar Lounge: Cats for adoption from the Brevard Humane Society.
- DIY Cat Toy & Friendship Bracelet Station: Enjoyable for households and cat lovers.
- Intergalactic Picture Backdrop: Good for social media photographs.
- Celeb Cat Meet ‘n’ Greets: Picture ops with well-known cats.
- Artwork Wall: A coloring station for teenagers.
- Fundraising Actions: Help native cat charities.
- Cat Product Giveaways/Distributors: Browse the “Area Cat Stroll” for merchandise and win prizes.
A particular thanks is given to sponsors like Zymox and CatLady Field for supporting this occasion!
Wanting Forward
Leeza’s final objective is to determine Area Cats Florida as an annual occasion that continues to increase the cat group, educate attendees, and lift consciousness. “This conference is a celebration of the whole lot we love about cats—group, creativity, and compassion—all coming collectively for a purr-pose,” she mentioned.
With plans to develop and evolve, Area Cats Florida goals to turn out to be a trusted occasion for cat fans within the Southeast—a must-attend conference that blends enjoyable, training, and advocacy.
For extra info and updates, go to spacecatsflorida.com.
