For Bob Gibson, it all started one Easter when he gave his wife an Easter plush that featured Garfield in rabbit ears.
"[My wife] went nuts as a collector," Gibson said. "I supported it for a while, and then I became just as fanatical."
Gibson and his wife have been collecting "Garfield" items for more than 20 years. They have more than 20,000 pieces in their collection.
"We used to go buy things every weekend," Gibson said. "But now it is more of a job than anything else to keep track of everything."
The Gibsons have everything from "Garfield" wart remover to a gold ring that features Garfield's head as the ornament.
"I have one of the largest collections around," Gibson said. "There is rarely something I see that we don't have, unless it is brand new."
Gibson began holding annual conventions for avid collectors in 1999.
"We have open-door nights on the Friday of the convention," Gibson said. "We all stay on the same floor of the hotel and people can leave their doors open if they wish to sell or swap items. Everybody can walk around and visit with each other. It is really a lot of fun."
The Gibsons recently came back from a Caribbean cruise that celebrated "Garfield's" 25th birthday. Jim Davis, along with other Paws, Inc. employees, came along for the festivities.
Gibson has no intention of selling his entire collection. "If I did I would have to get a divorce," he said. "We still love the collection because it is fun, and it keeps us young."
Gibson picks up many of his collectibles in online auctions, but he finds it more thrilling to find an item at a yard sale or a flea market.
"You can find anything you want on e-bay, but it is more fun to stumble on unexpected items," Gibson said.
One of Gibson's favorite pieces that he owns is a custom-made jacket featuring Garfield's face with Jim Davis' signature. The piece cost him about $1200.
Gibson and his wife wrote a collector's guide that was published three years ago entitled "Garfield and the Gang." Jim Davis wrote the forward.
The Gibsons are retired and living in Denver, Penn. The Gibsons will be making the trip from Pennsylvania to Muncie to help celebrate "Garfield's" 25th birthday.
Laura Hagen, from Washington D.C., has been collecting for 24 of the 25 years "Garfield" has been around.
"My friends say that I am very much like Garfield," Hagen said. "I am not a morning person; I am a little bit cynical and I make the same facial expressions."
One of Hagen's favorite pieces is a 3-foot, 3-D, life-size version of Garfield. The belly is an aquarium.
Hagen said she is no ordinary "Garfield" collector. She is a world-class "Garfield" collector. She has found numerous "Garfield" items all over the world including Turkey, Hungary and the United Kingdom.
Hagen also attended the 25th-birthday Caribbean cruise.
Many of the items in Hagen's collection are worth money because they are so old, she said.
"My 'Garfield' collection is my retirement fund," Hagen said.
Hagen has a room of her house dedicated to her collection.
"I believe that there are two kinds of people in this world: collectors and non-collectors," Hagen said. "Non-collectors don't get us collectors."
Hagen also collects Native American art and dolls in costumes from around the world.
In spite of her collection of "Garfield" paraphernalia, Hagen insists that she is not "Garfield" crazy.
"I have met people that don't seem to understand that Garfield is just a cartoon cat," she said. "I think it is important to find a healthy balance."
Gary Skinner, an Anderson resident, became interested in "Garfield" because of its origin.
"Jim Davis was a local person and I followed the local comics," Skinner said.
Skinner recalls when the Marsh Supermarket on Jackson Street began selling "Garfield" greeting cards.
"They had a gift section at Marsh, and one year my kids bought me a ceramic toothpick holder with Garfield on it," Skinner said.
Shortly after, in 1988, Skinner's wife died. Friends and family began to bring him gifts that featured Garfield. Collecting "Garfield" items has since helped Skinner deal with his pain, he said.
"The fat cat does things that I think we all wish we could do without guilt," Skinner said.
For those interested in finding "Garfield" collectibles, Paws, Inc. has a special section headed by Jim Davis' brother "Doc."
The showroom at Paws, Inc. features "Garfield" Alpo, macaroni and cheese, tortilla chips, teapots, toilet seats and much more. There are special items for sale including original artwork for $4,000.
Though the showroom is not open to the public, many items for sale can be purchased through Doc at www.garfield.com.
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