Why couldn’t a lobster-cat save Santa, and thereby Christmas, from the shenanigans of his three mischievous siblings? When felines go into business together they should wear neckties to dress the part, if they want to be taken seriously, right? In a show of solidarity for anyone (and everyone) who chooses to wear a dress, can’t kitty allies don a colorful tutu? Of course they can!

Doug and The Business are feisty, vocal, entertaining, and brave. They are also the four beloved cats living with standup comedian Drennon Davis. COVID was particularly hard for Drennon, who found the isolation a stark contract to performing for smiling crowds. So, he set out to adopt two cats – Frog and Newt.

When a new mama cat showed up in Drennon’s backyard, along with her two kittens, Drennon decided to foster. After all, they were at an age that would determine if they became feral (and possibly unadoptable) or if a little love could make them someone’s beloved pets.

Well, Doug and Toad were a foster fails, as the four cats under the same roof began to bond, with each other and with Drennon. In no time, they would join Drennon in his comedic escapades, saving Santa, going into business together, and becoming the cuddliest, cutest allies I’ve personally met.

I love my own cats AND I never dreamed I’d be on stage at the International Cat Show and Expo singing ‘Meow Meow Meow’ (to the tune of of Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’). But I heard that Drennon Davis, along with a couple of other internet-famous cat dads, would be at the Cat-Aoke contest, where competitors would meow along to their favorite tunes.

So, I joined in the fun, took the stage, and dedicated my anthem to Doug and The Business. I earned an enthusiastic and friendly round of applause! The competition included ‘Memories’ and ‘The Real Slim Shady’, so let’s just say it was a tough competition. In the end, ‘Meow Meow Meow’ (to the tune of ‘I’m Too Sexy’) took the well-deserved prize.

Hopefully the kitty recipients of the Senses Playground prize pack, from catit.us, enjoy the fun and games that will certainly ensue. “These sensory toys are ideal for keeping cats entertained when you’re not around to play with them. Products include the Catit Senses play circuit, the Catit Senses fireball, and the Catit Senses digger which allow your cat to hunt, chase, and, and dig safely, plus the Catit Senses cat grass garden planter.” (Senses Playground website)

When it was time for Drennon to take the stage, on the far side of the convention center it was standing-room only. We had driven from Columbus to Cleveland, Ohio for the event. We weren’t the only fans in the building — one women had driven in from Pittsburg and there was a line for selfies and merch purchases after the show.

We later learned about a family that came to the expo with 2/3 of the family intent on getting a kitten. Drennon may have helped convince the remaining 1/3 of the family (Dad) that getting a cat was the right thing to do, with his song “Get a Cat” playing over the loudspeakers.

Get a cat – ’cause we have enough humans!
Get a cat – we have plenty of us!
Get at cat – they’re more self-reliant!
Get a cat – they’ll even poop in a box!

~ Drennon Davis

What about the cats? There were pure bread cats competing for ‘Best in Show,” including Lykoi cats who could be mistaken for Michael J Fox’s Teen Wolf or Michael Jackson from the Thriller era. Highly trainable, sociable, and intelligent Maine Coons, known for being Ron Perlman lookalikes, were some of the largest cats to stand on the platform, for judging.

Some of the cats were just naked, for all the world to see. Others of the hairless breed were clad in hand-knitted sweaters. The most doted upon Sphynx cats were snuggled up in plush blankets and had personal heaters close by, to keep them toasty warm. The cat show is the venue for the wedding of Nudacris and Farrah Pawcett, who have made the cat rescue Allycats and Aristocats the beneficiaries of their registry.

There were cats everywhere, held in the arms of their caretakers, pushed across the conference floor in bedazzled strollers, and lined up in ‘doublewide’ cat carriers to fit every personality. There were ribbons awarded, with enthusiastic applause in the air. Vendors were on site, selling their kitty wares to those who were there for the judging as well as novices like me.

Before leaving the show I circled back to the Cat Talk stage in time for the Cat Daddy Panel titled “The Unbreakable Bond: How Cats Have Shaped Our Lives and Careers”. The panel included, among others, Aarons Animals, Drennon Davis, Nathan “The Cat Daddy” Kehn, The Mad Catter, and Cowboy Cat Wrangler, who took questions from the audience.

Questions filled the hour, moderated a pair who run an in-home cat sanctuary “19 Cats and Counting.” Questions ranged from “How do you make the cats talk so much, in your videos?” to “Can you tell us about your first cat or a cat that really touched your life?” to “I don’t know how to spell “Doug”…?” With a chuckle, Drennon kindly informed the 6-year-old that his emo tuxedo cat’s name is spelled “D-O-U-G”.

The biggest takeaways from the panel:

• Men love cats too.
• Remember to Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR).
• It takes us all, to care for our feline friends.
• Everyone has that one special pet they will always remember, and who will always have a special place in our hearts.

I have special pets too, the three of them – ButterCup, ButterBean, and Jeff. As I write this I’m surrounded by an explosion of cats, cat hair, cute cat toe beans, and pink noses. It was hard to leave the cat show without adding a kitten or two to the family, as a playmate for Jeff, who is always trying to get his sisters to play with him. But I know my limit. I can admire the cuties at the cat show and keep watching all the cat videos.

If you’re up for a good laugh, definitely watch the short video of Lobster Doug saving Christmas, after Newt, Frog, and Toad kidnap Santa. “It makes sense, if you don’t think about it,” the Business cats insist!

Join me on my next adventure,

~ Kat

Related Links:

CFA International Cat Show and Expo: https://cfa.org/catexpo/

Cat Fanciers’ Association: https://cfa.org/

Doug and The Business on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drennondavis

Doug and The Business Cats: https://www.buisnesscats.com/about

Lobster Doug Saves Christmas: https://youtu.be/lxd5v4yAKnY?si=5ZnD0sS7raiX6Ark

Senses Playground: https://catit.us/collections/senses-playground?srsltid=AfmBOopJebhfsj5AyRsVagDN3HE5ZvxzrqRBm-QnykTsWsR3fHbp__pf