AUSTIN — Cats will be taking over the Palmer Events Center in Austin this weekend for POP Cats, an event that celebrates cats, pet parents and local rescue groups.
Edgar Alexander and Johana Flores are the brother-sister dynamic duo behind the fun, feline event. They first hosted the event last year in Florida, but after visiting Austin, they knew they had found their next spot to bring POP Cats to.
"We're pretty excited to be here because we love the city," said Alexander. "Ever since we got here you can tell that people actually love pets way too much which is totally awesome for us. So yeah we feel super special and blessed to be here."
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"It's been a lot of work, but it's definitely exciting and the time is already here! So we're pretty pumped," said Flores.
The event features more than 80 artists and vendors from across the state, country and even as far as Canada, Denmark and Australia. Popular cat influencers such as "iamMoshow the Cat Rapper" as well as a "cattoo artist" will be there as well.
"Cats are really popular on the internet but this is really an opportunity to celebrate them. It's kinda mixed entertainment with education, and that's what we're doing here," said Alexander. "We're highlighting the work of organizations like Austin Humane Society that is devoted to saving cat's lives and improving our community."
A portion of the proceeds will also be going to participating animal rescue groups such as the Austin Humane Society, Emancipet, Bastrop Animal Rescue, Street Cat Rescue, and more.
The event includes a major educational component to talk with pet owners about cat health and safety.
"Our mission is to raise cat welfare awareness, so with that we're hosting a series of talks -- anything from why it's not right to declaw cats and what the alternatives are and also about TNR (trap-neuter-return) -- fixing cats to save lives to protect our community -- protect our cat community," she said.
There will also be opportunities to adopt a forever friend onsite at the weekend's event. Dozens of cats will be at the event, but organizers ask that the public not bring their own cats in unless they were already preregistered to attend the event.
Tickets and weekend passes are available for the event happening Aug.25 and Aug. 26. Click here to order yours.