Furry convention

Anthrocon is one of the largest conventions of costumed furries and their fans. 

Over nine thousand people attended Anthrocon in 2019, and hundreds more ordinary Pittsburghers waited outside to watch the parade of fuzzy animal cuteness stream by. People in Pittsburgh may not fully understand furries, but they’ve learned to enjoy—and even celebrate—their presence. During Anthrocon, furries rule the city center. 

Huge inflatable pool toys are a popular recreational prop for furries.

Fursuits hide age, gender, body size and ethnicity better than any Halloween costume. Fursuits grant the anonymity in real life that is otherwise found only online. Self-presentation is a choice expressed in fur: design, color, pattern and species are all deliberate decisions that make a unique statement. And the main aesthetic of any furry convention is cuteness.

Properly known as the International Anthropomorphic Research Project, FurScience is a group of social scientists that has been researching the furry fandom since 2011. They’ve compiled data on tens of thousands of furries that provides a fascinating window into the motivations and demographics of this unique fandom. But the funny thing is that they have never studied the importance of cuteness to the furry community.