CatCon 2018 & Amazon Conference

CatCon 2018 drew a record 16,400 attendees, flocking from 45 states and 11 countries to the 2-day annual convention in Pasadena, CA to meet and greet with an expanded and influential feline and human talent roster including Chris Poole, (our former videographer who went on to start his own feline phenomenon with Cole & Marmalade) who shared a booth with us.

 

CatCon is the biggest experience in the world dedicated to cats and pop culture. The annual event, which informs, educates, and entertains thousands of feline fans with the latest in groundbreaking and innovative products and ideas for cats and their people, attracts top talent from the worlds of television, film, and entertainment.  We went there to make sure that cat lovers know they can protect big cats too by making a call to Congress asking them to pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act.

 

Callers quadrupled our impact on Congress each day of the event and there was a lift in calls in the days that followed.  We gave away 600 virtual reality viewers so that people can experience our 360 videos in a headset.  There is just no comparison to using a headset to see our 360 video and we want people to be able to have that “Wow!” experience.  It’s the first step to showing how a virtual visit with a wild cat is so much more engaging than seeing one languishing in a cage.

 

We are continuing to pursue ways that we can get members of Congress and their aids to see the plight of big cats in a headset because it is a distraction free way of bringing the viewer into the cat’s world in a personal way they’ve never experienced before.  We are also looking for ways to bring this technology into schools, hospitals and nursing homes.  If we can show zoos that they can continue to operate, using their facilities and fan base, without harming wild animals, we can make the world a kinder place.

 

After Cat Con I hopped a plane to Seattle, WA because Amazon had asked me to speak on a panel about how we use social networking.  My panel consisted of Brian Boland, a VP from Facebook & Instagram, Zach Peacock, the Social Creative Strategist from Amazon, & Cubby and Amy from Charity Water.  I was totally surprised, the following day, when Piers-Heaton Armstrong, the VP of Amazon Affiliate Marketing, got up to speak and began talking about how Big Cat Rescue was “punching above its weight” by earning huge revenues in the Smile program with only a small staff and limited resources.  The only other charity that he mentioned was Charity Water.  It made me so proud to know our fans care enough to use Smile.Amazon.com when they shop.

 

There were several break out sessions and I kept hearing from other charities that their supporters just didn’t understand how Smile works.  While they would sign up, they couldn’t remember to go to Smile.Amazon.com so none of their shopping was counting.  It really made me glad that Howie created such good instructions for our members.  In case you need them go to: https://bigcatrescue.org/amazon-smile/

 

Right now the Smile program has raised about 89,000 of the 89 million that Amazon has donated to all charities.  We love the partnership with Amazon and appreciate that they have welcomed Big Cat Rescue into their first 120 charities that are allowed to raise money on Alexa devices.  All you have to do is say, “Alexa, make a donation to Big Cat Rescue” and she will guide you through the rest.

 

On that note, you can do more with us on your Echo devices.  Just say, “Alexa, open big cat” and you will hear what we are sharing to educate people about the cruelty of cub petting.  In your Alexa app, search for Big Cat Briefing and when you add it, you can get a 1 minute summary of the news of the day at the sanctuary in your daily briefing by just asking, “Alexa, what’s the news?”

 

Hi, I’m Carole Baskin and I’ve been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that f