Photo credit: Jago Soria/CatConLA

Photo credit: Jago Soria/CatConLA

A sea of cat-ear headbands and feline-themed fashion, the crowd at CatConLA had definitely found their kitty mecca. From Kat Von D’s beauty bar (cat-eye makeup, anyone?) to “cat-icature” sketches of humans drawn as cats, convention-goers could practically transform into felines themselves at this second annual event, which took place Saturday at the Reef in downtown Los Angeles.

The dizzying array of products offered some practical solutions, like a self-cleaning letterbox and a microchip-enabled food bowl that only opens for a specific cat — no more food stealing by other animals in the house!

Special guests included original Cat Woman Julie Newmar, Mariel Hemingway and Andy Milonakis, and there was a meet-and-greet with Lil’ Bub, the unique-looking kitty who went from runt of the litter to Internet star. Seminars included “What Separates Cute from Internet Sensation: A Discussion with BuzzFeed and Cats of Instagram,” and “Heroic Tails: Fantastic Stories from Feline History.” And for those who needed a break from the kitty madness, the Muse lounge offered a quiet place to sit and relax for a while.

Photo credit: Jago Soria/CatConLA

Photo credit: Jago Soria/CatConLA

There was also plenty of cat-themed art on hand — naturally, since CatCon creator Susan Michals started her “cat-reer” with feline art shows.

Despite the high entertainment factor, CatConLA also took on a deeper role: finding homes for rescue cats. Partnering with The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, the convention featured playrooms where people had the chance to bond with and adopt shelter cats. Adoption counselors were on hand to help make sure the cats were going to loving and responsible humans.

Judging by the size and enthusiasm of the CatCon crowd, one thing was clear: cat culture is here to stay.