So after yesterday’s selfie, I was put back in my carrier and my human and I boarded the flight to Nashville. My human gave me crunchy treats to help me with ear pressure when the plane took off and landed.
We arrived at BlogPaws the day before the exhibition hall and Cat Style Lounge opened, but my human needed to drop off a couple of books to Kate Benjamin at the Cat Style Lounge, so I got a sneak preview!
This cat tree TREE was possibly my favorite thing in the whole exhibition hall!
These cubes were pretty fun too.
That’s not a real cat next to me — it’s a flat cat. There were lots of those here! Too bad the litter wasn’t opened up and poured until the next day. I wanted to review it.
The next morning, my human picked up her badge (I didn’t need one) — and the awesome cat swag bag! Since this is my first BlogPaws, I don’t know what went on before, but my human says this is the best bag of cat items ever. Of course, I will be giving away much of it on Cat World Domination Day (yes, I am having it this year!).
Then my human gave me breakfast and had brunch (I hear it resulted in a blog post I will be doing in a couple of weeks), and she brought back some cantaloupe for me. I wasn’t expecting this special treat!
Then it was back to the Cat Style Lounge to check out more cat products!
I think I tried out all the cat trees and towers that were there!
This wall piece took some getting used to because I’d never seen anything like it.
I liked the Katio right away. But I’m used to show cages and enclosures, so that is probably why.
Don’t tell anyone, but I took a sip out of this fountain. I don’t know if I was allowed.
There were other kitties at the conference too! Katie and Waffles were there, but I didn’t meet them — my human didn’t want to stress them out, or possibly me either. Then there was this guy in the stroller. I’m not a stroller-type kitty — when I was out and about, I was in a sling so my human could keep me close.
My human does not like to play favorites, but she fell in love with Sophie! (And to be honest, she was already halfway in love with her from the blog she is part of, Kitty Cat Chronicles.) Sophie has a mild-to-moderate case of cerebellar hypoplasia, but that does not stop her from going places and having lots of fun! She spent a lot of time hanging out at BlogPaws, either in a sling or on a leash, like me. In fact, we even met each other and touched noses while we were in our slings!
The Random Felines human brought some of her fosters and I got to meet Queso, but he didn’t like me! I guess he thought I was some huge, scary monster cat, even though I was perfectly nice and calm around him. Plus, I am only 7 pounds. There were other cats there too, including Coco the Couture Cat! But I only saw a little bit of her, and none of the others.
I started the next day with a healthy breakast — and bacon! My human brought it up from her own breakfast and I was so excited. It was my first time having bacon, since the humans don’t eat it, and it was delicious.
This was a big day for me because I had to help my human work the Cat Writers Association booth and help her sell copies of Rescued. I sat on the table and helped draw people in! Since we were out in the main part of the exhibition hall, there were lots of dogs wandering around (I hear there were something like 100 dogs there!), but I wasn’t bothered by them.
It was a good thing I didn’t mind the dogs because I was surrounded by them later that night when I competed in Pawject Runway! It was sponsored by Only Natural Pet and Vetriscience and three kitties (including me), one rat and a bunch of dogs had to wear costumes created by our humans in just 10 minutes!
I’m glad my human scotched this idea early on.
Although I am not so sure about what I did end up wearing! I am not sure what my human was thinking! It was the goofiest outfit ever, but you know what? I won for Best Diva, and got a $100 gift card from Only Natural Pet! I really think I won because I actually walked across the stage. If you want to see, you can go here. My human managed to find the clip with my walk because the video of the whole event is very long and not super exciting.
One of my favorite feral cat rescues, Kitty Bungalow was there with one of their cats, Kissie. She didn’t win one of the gift cards, so I donated mine to them.
But I wasn’t done! Later that night, my human and I had an after dinner party in our hotel room, with champagne! I dressed for the occasion. I want to mention that all the humans who attended were well-behaved, and no one tried to abscond with me (although there were threats).
I had a great time, but I was exhausted! We flew home the next day, leaving early because my human had been worried that I might not enjoy myself. She says that if she knew how well I would handle everything, we would have come earlier and stayed later. We are already registered for BlogPaws 2016, in Phoenix!
2022 Somali Cat Calendar Starring Summer Samba
See all of Summer’s merch at her her Zazzle Designercat Shop
How much fun for you that you were able to “test drive” the things at the cat lounge!!
It was great seeing you and your human at BlogPaws Summer! You’re beautiful and a traveling pro too!
Oh, if you had reviewed that litter right there on the spot, there may have been some displeased humans. Sounds like such an amazing experience. i just bought my ticket for next year Blogpaws 2016! Hope to meet you in person
So wonderful meeting you, darling Summer. You are an absolute sweetheart and it was great sharing the CWA table with you and your human!
We are glad the doggies didn’t bother you, maybe you can meet Fenris & Tuiren one day in the furs.
Sophie is a sweetheart, we would love to meet her, it goes without saying that we would love to meet you. You looked cute in your costume.
Mee-you Summer Bloggie Pawss looks like it was a grate sucksess an you sure were wundefull…
Yur so well mannered; mee wood have ben too crazypantss mew mew mew….
Did you like the bacon??? Mee LUVSS bacon just like mee Unccle Sammy 😉
Wee iss glad you an Lady Janiss had such a good time!!!
**nose kissess** Siddhartha Henry xxxx
Wow, cantaloupe AND bacon! Thanks so much for the BlogPaws update. Our mom had a ticket and wasn’t able to go. She is hoping to go next year and hopefully meet you!
Wow, what a busy time you all had! You looked very Mardi Gras Summer! Way to strut your stuff! Your Mom was pawsome to share with Kitty Bungalow!
Luvs
Marty and the Gang
Did you get to walk on that pawsome bridge? TW saved her bacon for Carma Poodale and didn’t bring any of it home with her. She doesn’t eat bacon so it would have been a treat for me too.
Wow! Looks like you had a fantastic time. Hope to see you in Phoenix next year!
The cat lounge looks amazing! I don’t have a cat Sparkle but I certainly would have loved to hang out in there and watch you and your furry friends have some fun. Great post!
So beautiful!
What a great time you had Summer! I couldn’t attend this year. Maybe next year I can attend and meet you in person 🙂
I bet you are exhausted, it seems like you never stood still! You are wearing some beautiful feathers in those photos. What were your favorite swag bag treats?
Dear Summer,
I saw you on Facebook at the CWA table with Deb (of Zee and Zoey) and you looked SO calm, relaxed, and well-behaved – I was so proud of you! Your Mom is beautiful, by the way! Are you doing any of the local cat shows this summer? If so, drop me an e-mail – purr-haps we can visit you! 🙂
It is clear that you enjoy all the finer things like luxury cat products and cantaloupe! So fun seeing you! I am so impressed with all the cats!
Summer, you sure did have a great time at BlogPaws! We are sorry our humans weren’t able to attend, to meet you in person, and to hang out with your human. But hopefully next year, in Phoenix. 🙂
OMC! We were in the presence of greatness being around you at BlogPaws! You truly know how to walk the Cat Walk…unlike my Coco. She was happy to be ensconced in her Pink Catillac and be admired from a distance…you were right up there on the stage, at the book signing and well, you know how to Work It, Baby!
You were such a beauty during the costume contest !
Me think it was very nice of you to give your gift card to Kitty Bungalow <3
XOXO
Looks like you had a great time! I remember you from the Pawject Runway event, I was very impressed by your catwalk (no pun intended!). Your mom was sure nice to share her BACON. Pug really wanted some of mine but the only food I shared was veggies!
Summer, yous the coolest! Mes thinks your walk on the runway was fabulishious!
Kisses
Nellie
Awesome photos and what an awesome time you had! Love how Waffles and Katie’s mom photobombed that one picture of you!
Wow, Summer, we’re all VERY impressed! What a lot of work both you and your mom did, but it all looks fun, too! Tesing everything in the lounge must’ve been exhausting, too. Did you fall asleep in a cat tree? Tabby says she would’ve!
Maaaan I can’t see the video!!! I am angling to getMum togo to AryZoneAah (if she can make paypal work!) I know she is already doing what Miss Layla says and getting her quick hello ready for you so we don’t take up an heap of time MO.!!
We have been SO looking forward to the BlogPaw pictures! They are all wunnerful. You had SUCH a great time. And bacon!
You are clearly a total star – and we have one big question: how come you enjoy this sort of thing ? We’re home loving kitties but you just lap it all up!?! Amazing.
My mom was so happy she got to meet you. She told me that even on your last day waiting for your ride to the airport you were still very kind to the pawperrazi.
Looks like ya had a real fun time Summer!
What a fun adventure, precious Summer!!…So impressed with your good manners and professional modeling talent, gorgeous girl!…Our Mommy wishes she had been there to meet you, sweetie…xoxo…Calle, Halle, Sukki, Mommy Cat, Daddy Cat
Well helloooo Summer! Perhaps it’s best I didn’t get to spend much time with you except in passing, I would have catnapped you! You are the most beautiful kitty!! And so well behaved. Well perhaps we can get dual spa treatment in Phoenix next year together and swap beauty tips!
p.s. I love bacon too!
The publicist was so excited to meet you Summer. She said that you are very soft and even cuter in person.
Oh, thanks for sharing all of that with us, Summer! It looks like it was a wonderful time!
It does look like you had a wonderful time
What a big adventure. You were really wonderful, Summer, and the head peep said that your fur is softer than Newton’s. Newton is looking quite put out about that, too. Anyhow, the head peep loved meeting you and seeing your human, and she hopes to see you both again soon!
Summer, you are an absolute STAR! Mommy says if she tried a feathered ensemble on any of us in front of a roomful of people it would be a nightmare…
You were such a beauty during the costume contest. Even little Sinead was smitten with your beauty (Shhh, don’t tell our cats or they’ll get jealous!). Thanks for the awesome writeup!
Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie