If ever there was the perfect idea for a fundraiser, a virtual cat show is it. It combines cat lovers’ pride in their little darlings and their zest to show them off into a fun project. If you have a cat, you know what I mean. Cat lovers are renowned for photographing their cats and showing them off at every opportunity. Whether it’s a kitten or a fully grown cat, whether the cat is at play or asleep, everything is worth preserving as a memory.
A virtual cat show is much like a real cat show in that cat owners would groom their cat or cats to look their very best. The difference being, in a virtual cat show all cats can compete, not just pedigrees and the cats don’t need to be present, their picture or a short video is all that’s needed.
To get the project going you could encourage students, teachers and staff of the school to grab their cameras and start taking photos of their cat or get the camera rolling. Very little encouragement will be needed. These pictures or videos can then be forwarded to a specified email address, along with the name of the cat, its owner and a short tagline.
The photographs or videos can show cats groomed to perfection or can be snapshots of cats being cats. Fluffy could be doing something funny; eat or drink in a strange way, be at play, or sleep in a weird position. You know what cats are like, they are an endless source of entertainment.
It is this entertainment that a virtual cat show needs. Beautiful cats, funny cats, active cats and out for the count cats! Each cat pays an entry fee, and then tickets can be sold for the show and refreshments sold to increase the take. The fundraiser should be held somewhere that the uploaded video footage and photos can be projected onto a wall size screen.
To make the presentation even more interesting, cats could be dressed up in a funny costume or a hat, or be in the presence of something unusual. A cat holding a fake bird, a cat nuzzling a toy dog, or anything that would make a cute cat even cuter. The cat could be snapped looking at a fishbowl or the computer. Anything and everything goes.
When all entries have been received, pictures could be sorted into different categories. After all, one can’t compare apples to oranges. Pedigree cats could be in a different category than ordinary cats; posing cats would be separated from those snapped unaware; and action shots would be separated from sleeping cats.
Depending on when you are planning the virtual cat show, there could even be a category fitting the occasion. For instance, if the show is planned around Independents Day, cats could be pictured holding the American flag. This is easier than you think, just wait until kitty goes to sleep and then add an object to make Socks or Fluffy a little patriotic.
All participants need is a cat, a camera and imagination. If there ever was a fundraiser that will be enthusiastically greeted, it’s this one. People showing off their pets … it’s guaranteed success!
