The concept of making funny cat toys...and so the conception of Fat Cat, Inc., all began on Christmas Eve when Anne's sister, Lynn, made toys for all of the family cats. Yep, Frosty The Victim sported wild blue hair, popping big eyes and loads of great-smelling catnip. He was such a smash - a cat toy competition was soon a holiday family tradition for many years.

Lynn, a.k.a. Aunt Lynn (as mentioned on our toy cards), not only makes mighty good cat toys, she also happens to be a talented watercolorist. Aunt Lynn lives in Ohio with her two American Eskimo dogs who take it upon themselves to watch everything she does and protect her from harmful things like stray cats, squirrels, the mailman, and anyone wearing a hat. Aunt Lynn teaches art and photography to high school students.

That brings us to our real point...Drum roll, please...We're having a photo contest and the winner will receive their pet's portrait painted and framed by our very own "Aunt Lynn". This is not sofa art here! Even the most discriminating will be proud to display this truly beautiful, "bring tears to your eyes" work of art. Aunt Lynn's paintings are watercolor combined with colored pencil or pastel. Aunt Lynn's wonderful creations are also available as commissioned projects, and you can certainly contact her for more details at: AuntLynn@FatCatInc.com if you wish.

Simply submit what you feel is a super great photo of your cat or dog with one of our toys.

It is rumored that horses, pot-bellied pigs, and armadillos like our stuff too! Send 'em in!

Clear, well-framed close-ups are the best...like these:

Your photo will be rated on: high "cute-factor", humor potential, composition (clear, well framed close-up without a lot of background clutter), and our gut feeling that YOUR pet really deserves to win.

We pick winners twice a year, (at least for now :)!

Photos become the property of Fat Cat, Inc and will not be returned (so make sure it's a copy!). If selected as the winner, your photo will be featured (along with some of our favorite honorable mentions) in our Pet Portrait Gallery for the world to see!

Although these are the "rules", you may want to review our Legal Junk.

Winners will be notified by e-mail and can either choose to have "Aunt Lynn" paint from the submitted photo or another of the winning pet.

So get out those cameras and enter today!
Photos can be mailed to:

Fat Cat, Inc.
Attn: Pet Portrait Contest
340 Avenue D, Suite 40
Williston, Vermont 05495

Or for the technically gifted you can email your photo
(72dpi or greater, 200 x 200 pixels, jpeg or gif)
to:
fatcatcontest@bamboopet.com

Please include on the back of each photo or in your e-mail, the name of your pet and their birthdate, owner's name, address, phone #'s, e-mail address and any other vital information.

Best of Luck!