Malta Pets - Small Enterprise Profile: Katzenworld, the U.Ok.’s Most Standard Cat Weblog

Photographs courtesy of Marc-André Runcie-Unger

Marc-André Runcie-Unger is the founding father of Katzenworld — the most important cat running a blog web site in the UK. However rising up, he had no clue he would develop into one of many world’s top cat bloggers.

Household Ties

Marc at all times wished cats as a result of he adored their affectionate and unbiased nature. Sadly, each he and his mom had fur allergic reactions.

Later, when he moved in together with his accomplice Iain, he introduced a 500-liter tank stuffed with tropical fish. Then again, Iain grew up with cats and missed having feline companions. So the couple adopted Oliver and Nubia (aka Nubzilla) from an area charity referred to as Celia Hammond Animal Trust. “Oliver (aka Mr. Grumps) is the highest cat in the home…even when the children generally complain about this,” Marc says. Nubia solely has three legs. However she is notorious for her noisy roars and stampeding round the home.

Marc and Iain additionally rescued Renegade. He got here from Texas to the U.Ok. as a part of a breeding undertaking to take away a genetic illness from the oriental cat gene pool.

“Sadly, he’s a provider of that illness, and thus, he was faraway from this system. However after all, that was good for us as he got here to dwell with us,” Marc says.

The couple can also be owned by a mischievous Peterbald named Freya. Due to her markings, she is lovingly generally known as Queen Snow Leopard. “And these days, now we have a fifth cat, one other naughty Peterbald referred to as Mactavish who’s at all times as much as mischief.”

Into the Blogosphere

After Marc and Iain adopted Oliver and Nubia, they started searching for cat blogs and web sites. Whereas they have been amazed on the number of net pages, most have been about canines.

Throughout a board sport with cat-loving friends and family, Marc and Iain determined they might attempt to fill in that hole. In March 2014, they launched Katzenworld, which suggests “cat world” in German.

“We’re all about offering an area for the cat neighborhood,” Marc says. “Many blogs on the market are all about their very own content material. We actively contain our viewers to be a part of the household and contribute their very own tales and experiences. That is actually what makes Katzenworld a neighborhood undertaking.”

The family-owned enterprise covers all the things cat-related from cat cafes to poetry. Katzenworld additionally runs a comic book strip referred to as “The Adventures of Oliver, Nubia, and Renegade.” Marc and Iain write the storyboard, and Furia and Mimma carry it to life. These Italian siblings have created greater than 9,000 artworks.

Katzenworld’s weblog is just like the British Broadcasting Network of the cat world. It welcomes hobbyists or skilled writers from all corners of the world. They cowl hot-button points like declawing and trap-neuter-release. Controversial animal welfare subjects are sometimes ignored by the mainstream media. That’s why it’s widespread to see items on Katzenworld that contradict one another.

“Whereas we do enable visitor posts, we attempt to vet content material earlier than it goes dwell,” Marc says. However it may be a protracted and tiring course of to weed out the “bizarre” posts. For instance, Marc typically will get contacted by canine corporations that imagine cats are merely small canines.

Katzenworld additionally promotes cat welfare. Not only for pet cats but in addition for neighborhood cats and even their bigger cat cousins like lions. To cowl the complete spectrum of the cat world, Marc additionally works with many alternative cat consultants, from feline vet specialists to purebred cat rescue teams.

Constructing a Model

Katzenworld has additionally gained many running a blog awards, together with My Post Card’s and Vuelio’s “Finest Cat Weblog.” Katzenworld was only a small weblog run by Marc, Iain, and two pals. “However over time, it grew into an internationally-known publication. We additionally added our on-line store with in-house paintings presents, fabulous cat toys, and presents for cat lovers,” Marc says.

Katzenworld’s hottest objects are distinctive cat toys like Munchiecat’s catnip-infused plush sushi toys. It additionally sells homemade catnip teabags with inexperienced tea or Earl Gray stitching. Its proceeds are donated to Worldwide Cat Care: a cat welfare charity that challenges misunderstanding, ignorance, and cruelty to have an effect on optimistic change within the lives of cats.

“International Cat Care approached us initially of our weblog to see if we wished to accomplice with them. Since then, now we have carefully labored with them to assist one another unfold our messages,” Marc says. “They’re additionally our go-to group to have veterinary content material checked and even created.”

Katzenworld additionally has unique cat care merchandise like beTWENTYS’ Banana-Shaped Cat Bed and Necoichi Raised Cat Food Bowls. This limited-edition Nala Cat water bowl has an inside lip to stop spills and measuring strains for portion management.

From the Wish Upon a Star Cat Umbrella to the Spirits of Salem Embossed Purse, clients are additionally spellbound by Lisa Parker’s paintings. They function cats with a magical twist. “Our household clients primarily purchase the Yoto Audio Player, which additionally has lots of cat-themed audiobooks,” Marc says.

Sadly, the pandemic has brought about vital points and delays. That is why Katzenworld launched a pre-order system. It permits folks to pre-order objects with unsure arrival instances.The small business additionally needed to cater to delays and shortages by boosting its inventory.

Katzenworld has an in-house affiliate program. “It rewards clients, pals, and web sites for referring their pals and followers to us. They’ll obtain both 5% again in money or 10% retailer credit score,” Marc says.

Pandemic Promise

Katzenworld is sponsored by Almo Nature, Pet Remedy, and so forth. They’ve helped Katzenworld journey world wide.“Pre-pandemic, we additionally attended all the foremost U.Ok. pet occasions, resembling Catfest London and the Nationwide Pet Present,” Marc says. “The occasions are an amazing place to fulfill new folks and construct connections in addition to discover out in regards to the newest pet traits.”

Whereas its events have been tabled due to coronavirus, Katzenworld is at present engaged on merchandise with its personal in-house designs. The U.Ok.-based firm has additionally began its personal pet PR service.

“Having obtained so many irrelevant press releases from PR corporations or worse a PR company forgetting to ship us content material related to pets, we realized there was a giant hole within the PR world. So we determined to make use of our connections to related pet bloggers to allow small and medium pet businesses to achieve the viewers that’s related for them,” Marc says.

“For my part, our coolest undertaking was an automated litter field. This addresses the foremost concern cat guardians have — cleansing the litter box day by day.”