The CatCon Muse Turns 20!
Miss Kitty Pretty Girl, aka the CatCon Muse, is twenty years old this week.
You read that right.
TWENTY YEARS OLD.
Miss K was found at a shelter in South Los Angeles in 2005 by CatCon creator Susan Michals.
While she has never been to CatCon, she has been an influence and overseer since the very beginning of the show in 2015, as well as Cat Art Show (started in 2014).
She prefers to stay home and view her impact from afar but she has much to say (she is a Maine Coon, after all) and felt for her birthday she would impart a few words of wisdom and reflect on some of the things she’s learned along the way.
Adjust to Your Environment
I was the first one in the house back in 2005 and was happy that way until 2012 when Olive the dog entered the picture. I adjusted – to the best of my ability. After a while, I grew to appreciate Olive. I was very sad to see her leave across the Rainbow Bridge in 2018, and I had a hard time adjusting to living without her.
And then came Buddy. He was a different animal altogether. He was still a dog, but he was also from South Central like me and came from the streets.
Setting Boundaries
Boundaries are important, especially when living under the same roof. Let’s take those I’ve set for Buddy, as an example.
The Bed: we can both sleep in the big bed, but he has to stay on his side. PERIOD. I’m allowed on Mom’s head. He is not.
The Couch: I own the cushions, the back of the couch, the pillows.
We frequently have disagreements on this subject, but we have to have our boundaries, otherwise he’s going to get swatted.
He knows this.
But he forgets.
So I remind him.
Cuddling is Key
No, I do not cuddle with Buddy. But I do snuggle with my mom. She saved me. She takes the best care of me. Sometimes I forget that (come on, I’m 20!) and wake her up at 4:13am, but she doesn’t mind. She’s kept me going and I like to think I’ve done the same for her.
My advice: good days, bad days – get a snuggle – or two! No matter what you’re going through, it will help. It always does wonders for me.
Miss Kitty Pretty Girl has inspired many artists over the years, including @badcatpomegranate and @energeticmatter
Happy Birthday Miss Kitty Pretty Girl!
Join us for the biggest cat-centric, pop culture event in the world dedicated to all things feline!
CATCON 2026
October 10 & 11, Pasadena, CA