I previously introduced Moderncat in my post special cat products With a modern Twist because I loved the site so much. It is my pleasure today to introduce you to Kate Benjamin. Kate is the founder and editor of Moderncat, a resource for cat owners with a modern style. She seeks out the newest products for living with cats in a modern home. She tries to identify not only products that fit a modern aesthetic, but also items that are genuinely innovative and that make living with cats a a lot more satisfying experience. Moderncat combines product reviews with other beneficial information for cat owners in a clear and concise format.
Welcome to The conscious Cat, Kate.
Tell us a little bit about Moderncat. how did you come up with the idea?
Thanks so much for giving me the chance to share my story with your readers! I started Moderncat because I was a cat owner myself trying to find a single online resource for well-designed cat products. I was finding individual companies and products, but I couldn’t find a place where I could view everything all in one place. I had learned a little bit about blogging in my job as the director of marketing at a children’s product development company, so I made a decision to start my own blog. Apparently, other people were trying to find the same thing because the readership started to grow and today Moderncat has a terrific international audience of design-conscious cat lovers.
Moderncat became hugely successful in the two years considering that you started the project. how do you describe its popularity and success?
I think the success of Moderncat is due mostly to the fact that there is nothing else really like it, but also that I’ve been very active in all kinds of different online communities, helping to spread the word about the blog and attract a lot more readers. It didn’t happen overnight, I’ve worked at it slowly and steadily for over two years now. It has been a pleasure getting to know my readers through the comments and emails.
Is Moderncat a full time job for you?
Yes, it is now my full-time job and I absolutely love it! I ran the blog for two years on the side, and then I was recently able to go out on my own so I could focus on writing Moderncat and working on other cat–related projects, including volunteering with local animal rescues whenever I can.
Where do you find the products and giveaways you feature on your site?
I read consumer and trade magazines in the cat/pet industry, plus I try to attend one or two of the big pet industry trade shows annually to stay up-to-date on the current products. I do a lot of online research, plus a lot of of the cat product makers keep me updated on their new offerings. I also get lots of ideas from readers. That is where some of the most interesting information comes from!
How do you decide whether a product is a good fit for Moderncat?
First, the company behind the product has to have a good reputation. It’s crucial to me to only promote products and services that are ethical and supply quality products and services. I like to work with smaller companies, but that doesn’t indicate that I won’t cover products from larger companies if I think they are good. Also, it’s crucial that the maker considered both the cat and the owner when creating a product. That will make a successful product. a lot of things on Moderncat have a a lot more modern, or streamlined design. I consider both the function of the product as well as the aesthetic design.
A lot of the products you feature, in addition to being aesthetically beautiful, are also what I would consider high end products. Do you find that there’s a good market for these products among cat lovers?
Yes, I do feature a lot of products that are quite expensive. This is normally because the products are hand-crafted using premium or sustainable materials, and they are typically made in small quantities. I think there are some people who can afford these high-end products, others who save up for that one special item, and still others who can’t afford these things, but hopefully they will be inspired by the ideas to create something similar themselves. It’s really all about inspiration and creativity. You don’t have to spend a lot to make a terrific home environment for you and your cats. There is a whole diy (do-it-yourself) section on Moderncat where you can see photos of projects readers have completed, typically with instructions and tips.
In addition to being a blogger, you are also a designer. tell us a little bit about the things you design.
I have a craft studio in downtown Phoenix where I’m working with a team of designers to develop some cat products that will be available soon on Etsy. The collaborations are a lot of fun! I have a lot of pals who are architects and designers and also cat owners. stay tuned for a lot more details!
You have six Moderncats of your own. tell us about themnull