Furries for fur babies: McDonald cat rescue official charity of Anthrocon
The “Furries” are returning to Pittsburgh this week, and are going to be raising money for a McDonald-based cat rescue.
Nose 2 Tail Cat Rescue is the official charity of Anthrocon 2025, which will take place at David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh from July 3 to 6.
Anthrocon has been held since 1997, and the event made Pittsburgh its home in 2006.
According to the Anthrocon website, “Furries” are fans of anthropomorphic animals – animals with human-like qualities. Attendees typically show up in handmade “fursuits” that reflect their own original creation.
“The average Furry fan is cast from the same mold as the science fiction or sword-and-sorcery fan; all of us imagine strange and thrilling worlds and try to picture ourselves living in those worlds,” reads the Anthrocon website.
Sandi Eaton, the director of Nose 2 Tail, is not a furry, but has long been a fan of the community.
“When they come to Pittsburgh, it’s just like a different energy that weekend. I really enjoy Furry weekend,” Eaton said.
The official charity of 2024’s Anthrocon was Gray Paws Sanctuary, based in White Oak. Eaton was surprised when she saw that the event raised more than $100,000 for Gray Paws.
“I didn’t realize that they did this every year,” Eaton said. “I didn’t understand that part of Anthrocon.”
From there, Eaton began looking into the process to apply for Nose 2 Tail to be the this year’s beneficiary.
In late January, she received the offer from the event’s organizers. Organizers did not respond to requests for comment.
Nose 2 Tail, a no-kill cat shelter located at 127 E. Lincoln Ave., will be the first cat-exclusive rescue to be the featured charity of Anthrocon.
Eaton said they will have 30 volunteers at Anthrocon over the weekend, with a table set up inside the convention center. Nose 2 Tail will also get to be part of Saturday’s block party and fursuit parade, taking place at 2 p.m. on Penn Avenue.
“They are expecting 20,000 people at the event throughout the weekend, so it’s a huge opportunity for us,” Eaton said.
In preparing for the weekend, Eaton has met with Anthrocon board members, outside of their fursuits, from all over the United States.
“They were just so excited for us,” Eaton said.
According to Eaton, the Furry community tends to face judgment for their interests and wearing fursuits around the city, but she hopes that people do not make assumptions about what she calls “an amazing, giving community.”
“We’ve had nothing but good experiences so far with them. It’s just happiness, art, acceptance and inclusion,” Eaton said. “It’s a community of joy, from my experience.”