DogTime interviews Kate Benjamin of Moderncat, winner of the 2011 Petties Award for Best Designed Blog. Congratulations, Kate!
DogTime: Who or what is the inspiration for your blog?
Kate Benjamin: I have nine rescue cats that are the inspiration for Moderncat.net. They are my product testers and models. I track their needs and behaviors and this guides me in seeking out new products and information that I can write about on the blog to share with other cat lovers.
DT: How did your blog begin?
KB: Four years ago, I was searching for well designed products for my cats and I couldn’t find a single resource that brought everything together in one place. I decided to start my own blog and apparently others were looking for the same thing because the blog quickly gained a following. The site has grown into a wonderful online community of design-conscious cat lovers, currently with over 18K subscribers and getting ~250K hits a month.
DT: Has your life changed since you started blogging? If so, how?
KB: Since starting Moderncat, I have actually been able to commit full time to doing things that involve cats. The blog allowed be to leave my last job and start Moderncat Studio, where I develop and sell my own line of designer handcrafted cat products. I never imagined that starting a blog could completely transform my life and allow me to do what I love full time.
DT: What does winning a Petties Award mean to you?
KB: It is truly an honor to win a Petties Award! So many other great bloggers were nominated for the Petties this year and I’m thrilled to be among them. This award is definitely one of the most notable in the pet blogging industry.
DT: What do you hope to accomplish with your blog?
KB: Ultimately, I hope to improve the lives of cats through Moderncat, not only by introducing new products and design concepts that can making living with cats a more stylish and enjoyable experience, but also by bringing attention to the many cat rescue organizations that are working to make the world a better place for cats.
DT: How did you decide which organization would receive the Petties donation money?
KB: I’ve worked with both All About Animals and Safe Haven for Animals so I know firsthand that these two organization do a wonderful job with all the animals in their care and that they are both very cat-focused. These two groups help find loving forever homes for many, many cats each year and I’m happy to help support their work.
Check out all the Petties winners’ interviews…
