Online Communities for... Cats

By Darcy Lockman

Children have play dates, dogs have dog runs, but what social opportunities exist for the modern cat? Sure, you could get your cat together with another, but anyone who's done it might advise otherwise. "A cat is not a dog," emphasizes certified cat behaviorist Marva Marrow. "Most cats don't like strange cats. They get stressed out. Beyond that, strange cats introduce new germs into a resident cat's environment. Cat play dates are not a good idea."

Fortunately for Fluffy, online communities for cats have become almost as popular as human ones like Friendster and MySpace. Virtual "play dates" are both stress- and germ-free. With just a few taps on the keyboard, you and your kitty can commune with other cat-human pairs to meow about whatever's on your mind. "What better way to relate than through our pets?" asks PetStyle CMO Diana Farrell. "With online communities, members can connect with other cat owners going through what they're experiencing."

Here's your guide to a pawful of virtual destinations devoted to feline fun:

For Hipster Kitty: Catster
Catster founder Ted Rheingold launched Dogster first, in early 2004, after realizing how much people love sharing pictures of their dogs. In the wake of Dogster's popularity, Catster launched later that year. Catster now boasts over 100,000 members who create Web pages for their cats, and chat virtually about a whole range of cat-related scratch, from adoption and travel to fashion and film. "Our goal is to allow for the purest online reflection of people's love and enjoyment of their cats," says Rheingold.

On Web pages that are cute "copy cats" of those on Friendster, owners post pictures, and offer information like nicknames, coloration, pet peeves, favorite toy, arrival story and motto. Just like on Friendster, there is also a section where a cat can post photos of its friends and family. If your cat is exceptionally lucky and talented, it may even be selected to be Cat of the Week.

For the No-Frills Furrball: Petstyle
Petstyle launched in 2006, "setting out on a mission to keep your relationship with your pet strong," according to site founder Mark Gordon. In addition to offering pet-related content, petstyle allows cat owners to post profiles of their beloved pets, and to join or even create cat-centered discussion groups.

More staid than Catster, Petstyle profiles cut to the chase: name, rank and serial number. The 4,000 dogs and cats on Petstyle are not separated (perfectly safe in virtual reality), so the site is ideal for cat-dog lovers and owners. You and your cat can check out pet pictures in the photo gallery, or even watch amateur pet videos. Pet of the Week is also a possibility, although the competitive field is wide with both cats and dogs in the ring.

For Feline Blog Lovers: Catchannel
At Catchannel, cats not only have Web pages -- they also have blogs. Unlike traditional Weblogs, though, it is not the cat itself that posts, but rather visitors to the page. If your cat sees another it wants to meet, it can leave a message on its blog. ("You are such a cutie! Come visit me!" Jett and Mesaba write to Laramie.) Catchannel also features a quarterly beauty contest, with categories including best smile, fluffiest tail and longest stretch. The winner, voted on by visitors to the site, is awarded with kitty litter.

For the Literati Set: Meowmail
Meowmail was born in 1999 when a dog named Maggie sent an email to two of her cat friends. When the cats' owner, Stacey Miller, discovered their game, she realized that cats everywhere needed a URL of their own. Meowmail has the distinction of being the only cat destination to offer a feline its own email address. It also features Flash plug-in computer games (crush a mouse with a click of your mouse in Sir Smashalot's Smashing Challenge) and cat E-cards. Cats can also engage in the usual gossip in chat rooms; cat owners -- referred to as "cat valets" at Meowmail -- are not welcome. In the virtual world, apparently even cats need their privacy.