I have to admit I was not sure I would be going to the Global Pet Expo in Orlando until the last minute. Even once the decision was made, Dan and I questioned the purpose of it – what did I expect to gain from going? Besides the obvious – making new connections, learning about new and innovative cat products, and catching up with friends, I wasn’t sure. I have never gone to a pet expo before and truly didn’t know if it would be a good venue for me to be at.

As with life, I have learned many times there is a greater purpose to our being, we just don’t know it at the time and you have to let it all unfold on its own. Seeing Mr. Jazz in spirit form in the doorway of my office last week, my draw to feral cat advocacy, and my ultimately deciding to go to the expo, but this time with Dan rather than on my own… there was to be a significant connection to it all.

Getting to Orlando was about a 4 hour’s drive and once we arrived, parked, and found our way inside the Convention Center it brought back a rush of memories for Dan and me. We used to work together in the body armor business and had done numerous trade shows, including one in this very convention center. There is something universally exciting about the hustle and bustle of exhibitors and attendees mingling together and this time I was part of the media (one of the perks of being a blogger) so we got all kinds of great access to press conferences, receptions, and media events.

My first experience with Global Pet Expo started with a press conference sponsored by Pet Armor. You will see me sitting with Ingrid King of The Conscious Cat at my right.

I had mapped out my two-day game plan – what booths I had appointments with and what booths I wanted to visit. After over 15 years of doing stuff like this, I finally have learned to throw vanity out the window and I no longer wear skirts, stockings, and high-heels. It’s about comfort and as long as I could wear my trademark leopard, I was happy. The expo is about a 4-mile trek of exhibits when all is said and done and is wall to wall with booths exhibiting a plethora of cat and dog beds, carriers, collars and leashes, toys, furniture, foods, medications, and more (as well as stuff for birds, fish, reptiles, ferrets and other creatures great and small).

Before I get ready to walk the show, an obligatory photo for us cat lovers in front of this oversized orange cat. This is only the start of an unusual path as to how the event would end for me. I’m with Ingrid King and Lynn Maria Thompson of the pet supply site, Old Maid Cat Lady.

I will share a brief overview in pictures for now – there is too much to cover in one post so I will detail specific vendors and manufacturers in the weeks to come with in-depth coverage, product reviews, and giveaways.

And so it begins… my photo of the day is with none other than Elvis!

My first meeting of the day was with Wheel House Design – they make designer socks for humans and they brought a limited edition leopard pair just for me! I am hoping to get a giveaway going with them – these socks are ADORABLE!!

This high-style, incredible cat condo is from PetPals Group Inc. and comes in a wide range of designer colors and styles. I think this would even impress my gang!

This modular Kitty Connection set from Innovation Pet Inc. won third place in the New Products Showcase category/cat products. Similar to Lego’s, the only thing that limits you is your imagination!

This product from Animal’s Instinct is especially intriguing to me – it keeps pet food warmed to the perfect temperature and is veterinarian-approved. I know when Mr. Jazz was ailing, he liked his food warmed and I wish I had this for him.

Jackson Galaxy of My Cat From Hell is partnering with Petmate to launch a new line of interactive toys for cats this July. Based on his years of experience, these toys should be quite popular and I am especially impressed with the toys he invented to interact with cats in shelters who have behavioral issues.

While it’s not his original guitar case, I love how they used one to decorate the Jackson Galaxy line of cat toys!

Some of the Jackson Galaxy lines will include collapsible play tunnels and interactive doughnut toys.

One of the highlights of the expo for me was meeting the Director of Marketing and Innovation for Petmate – Ann Hanson. There are some people who you know from the moment you meet them that they are special and she is one of them.

I enjoyed a tour of the line of pet products marketed by Propel Communications. One of the companies is Quaker Pet Products which makes cat carriers – I am seen here with good sport, Matt Wurtzel, Director of Field Sales who is donning a pair of my cat ears!

Matt loads me up with some of the pet carriers from Quaker Pet Products… how odd that they all match my outfit!

How exciting to be part of a press conference at the Worldwise booth with Kathy Ireland (chief designer). She is introducing a new line of design-savvy, yet practical products for pets under the brands SmartyKat, PoochPlanet, and Petlinks. And yes, she is beautiful as ever.

Seen here is Kathy being interviewed by Steve Dale, pet expert and certified dog and cat behavior consultant.

Here I am with Kathy’s Loved One’s line – this Hollywood chic line was inspired by the two dogs she adopted from Elizabeth Taylor, Gracie, and Delilah. Kathy wanted a sophisticated but practical line of toys and products for pets.

Sigh. Another premonition of events to follow that I did not see coming.

Ingrid and I touch base and make plans to meet up later on in the evening for the reception sponsored by Purina.

One of the highlights of Global Pet Expo – meeting new friends, Cathi De Meo Marro ( Co-Manager/Librarian at South Florida Flute Orchestra and Musician at Self) and Jodi Nabel Ziskin (Holistic Healthy Pets), catching up with pals Ingrid King (Conscious Cat) and Tamar Arslanian (I Have Cat), and meeting blogging buddy, Julie McAlee (Sometimes Cat Herd You) for the first time at the Purina reception! L to R – Cathi, Julie, Tamar, me, Ingrid, and Jodi.

Enjoying breakfast on closing day with Kathy Ireland. She was the guest speaker for the APPA’s Professional Women’s Network and was so inspirational! She’s sharing a secret with the ladies for staying slim – stand tall and hold your hands at your waist!

After her humorous moment of sharing her slimming tips, Kathy goes on to give a speech that was quite enlightening and empowering to the women in the audience (and I dare say inspiring to the men as well).

A quick snap with Kathy after the breakfast!

Believe it or not, I actually don’t have one of these in my house… I need this, don’t you think so?

So that was my expo experience in a nutshell… That is until my last appointment on Friday with the folks at Imperial Cat who make a fun and sturdy line of cat scratching products. When I got to the booth there was a mix-up as to who I was supposed to be meeting with and while I was trying to sort everything out with them, Dan was busy making friends with an orange and white kitten who apparently was given to them by a local rescue group, Florida Little Dog Rescue Group, to keep at their booth in hopes of finding a forever home for her at the expo.

She was about 6 months old and was found living on an abandoned farm with an assortment of feral cats, cows, and goats. The homeowner had died and the animals were all found on the property some point after that. She was taken in by Florida Little Rescue Group and was currently living with a foster family who was socializing with her in hopes she would be adopted. It was the end of the show and nobody had inquired about adopting her. I could already see Dan had fallen head over heels in love with her and I was silently cursing to myself. Stay strong Deb, be the mature one, Deb.

If this little face doesn’t melt your heart, I don’t know what would. Remember the orange kitty photo from the day before? Why do I feel I had no control over this at all?

Sigh. She had me at meow. How was it she didn’t have a line around the block asking to adopt her? She sat on her Imperial Cat scratching throne ever the regal and dignified young lady and she had no concern whatsoever that she was at a convention center with hundreds of people milling about. I made the mistake of picking her up and she melted into my body with a torrent of purrs and golden topaz eyes that blinked the slow, I love you blink made famous by Jackson Galaxy of My Cat From Hell to let me know she trusted me implicitly.

This is one plucky, confident little kitty who says, “I dare you not to fall in love with me!”

Dan and I left the booth to pretend we had something to discuss, but it was already in motion. Matrix Partners, a pet marketing and public relations firm that Imperial Cat was aligned with had already paid for the adoption – it was just a matter of meeting the team from Florida Little Dog Rescue Group and signing the papers. The kitty had already been spayed and had all her tests and vaccinations done. As far as transport and all the little details, that was the easy part. Dan and I instantly thought of our new friend, Ann Hanson from Petmate.

Um… yeah… I have a new feline family member… As I said, you had me at meow, kitty…

We went to share the news with her and were greeted with a massive hug. “Let me guess, you need a carrier?” Which we did. She hooked us up with their newest product, the “See and Extend” travel carrier they were introducing at the show, also nominated for an esteemed Edison Award for innovation). She also gave us a traveling collapsible water and food bowl as well as a luxurious Zip and Go pet bed for our kitty to sleep on. All of this was necessary because we were not heading directly home – we were going to be spending the night with Dan’s mom who lived an hour away, so we literally had nothing! Wow! Talk about generosity! And the team at Imperial hooked us up with litter and a litter box, toys, a cat scratcher, and food.

Petmate’s See & Extend Carrier is a breakthrough two-in-one travel and sleep retreat for small pets, providing safety and comfort on the go. It features a side pop-out giving dogs and cats room to stretch, and mesh “windows” for ventilation and visibility.

Why did this all happen? Now that we are home, the pieces have fallen in place. A mixed-up appointment that almost didn’t happen. Mr. Jazz was guiding me all along, letting me know this little being was meant to be and that it was time to open my heart again to another cat in need. This darling girl was his plan for Dan and me to help mend our broken hearts. We did not name her immediately – it took a day to think it over and we think we have it figured out. Jazmine. She has a lovely white and yellow coat like the colors of a jasmine flower and we also chose the name as a way to carry on the Zee and Zoey legacy with the letter “z” in the name, but most importantly, her name is the perfect tribute to Mr. Jazz.

Jazmine in her new home… She looks like she has been a part of our family since day one… Here she is with her Petmate portable Zip and Go pet bed.

So, we are back to a family of 8 cats and I will be sharing Jazmine’s story as it unfolds. Global Pet Expo will forevermore have a special meaning to me –typically an event like this is an opportunity for me to bring home a bag filled with cat swag for my beloved kitties. This time I took a more literal approach and brought home an actual cat in the swag bag.

To read in detail how Mr. Jazz led me to the Global Pet Expo and the subsequent adoption of Jazmine, please read this post:

Mr. Jazz Makes a Visit and Earns a Nomination in the BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Social Media Awards for Best Pet Blog Post

For more information on Jazmine’s first few weeks in her new home, please read these fun and informative posts:

Jazmine’s First Days… Kitty Knows Best…

Jazmine – Where the Boys Are…