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In Shark Tank season 2, CitiKitty founder Rebecca Rescate sparked intense negotiations between Barbara Corcoran and Kevin Harrington. Her cat toilet training system showed $1.4 million in sales without marketing costs. The product's numbers spoke volumes - $350,000 in current year revenue and $225,000 the previous year.
Rescate asked for $100,000 in exchange for 15% equity. Her manufacturing cost was $4.76 per unit with a retail price of $29.99. Barbara made a pointed statement about business partnerships, saying:
"Let me just remind you that every time I jumped into bed with a guy in a business deal it was sweet in the beginning I never wound up in a good place...this isn't about s*x."
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Both Shark Tank investors adjusted their offers multiple times during the pitch. Founders left the tank with Kevin Harrington’s offer.
Barbara Corcoran and Kevin Harrington battled for 20 percent of CitiKitty on Shark Tank
Rescate's Shark Tank pitch drew instant reactions from the sharks. Robert Herjavec praised the innovation but opted out first. Kevin O'Leary stated his dislike for cats and removed himself from consideration. This left three potential investors in play - Barbara Corcoran, Kevin Harrington, and Daymond John.
The CitiKitty training system used a gradual method. It started with a full tray of litter placed on the toilet. Rings in the tray were removed week by week until the cats transitioned fully to using the toilet. Rescate's cat Samantha, aged 11 years, proved the system worked for older cats too.
The Shark Tank product solved common pet owner problems - eliminating litter box maintenance and reducing ongoing costs.
Barbara Corcoran structured her offer to match Rescate's 15% equity request. She valued the existing sales data and market reach. Her offer came with a TV partner contingency clause that needed approval before closing. Barbara emphasized her media connections while making personal observations about business partnerships.
She spoke directly about past experiences affecting her current investment choices. The deal gave Rescate the equity split she wanted plus access to Barbara's marketing channels. Shark Tank guest investor Kevin Harrington built his offer around TV marketing expertise and asked for 40% equity for $100,000. He saw clear paths to scale CitiKitty through television sales.
Harrington kept the investment amount steady while adjusting equity percentages during negotiations. The infomercial expert valued CitiKitty at a $250,000 valuation. Harrington mentioned how TV marketing could push CitiKitty into major retail chains. He focused his questions on production capacity and supply chain readiness.
The negotiation shifted when Barbara dropped her TV partner contingency. This prompted Kevin Harrington to move from his 40% position. He adjusted to 25% equity while keeping the $100,000 investment steady. Rescate countered with a firm 20% offer. After seeing Barbara's contingency-free deal, Harrington matched the 20% equity term.
Rescate accepted Kevin Harrington's final offer of $100,000 for 20% equity. She cited his TV marketing background as the deciding factor. The deal valued CitiKitty at $500,000. This marked a significant increase from Harrington's initial $250,000 valuation.
Post Shark Tank performance
As per Shark Tank Blog, lifetime sales reached $16 million by November 2022. The company expanded beyond its TV-focused beginnings into broader retail channels. The product gained credibility through 8,000 Amazon reviews averaging 3.5 stars.
Rebecca Rescate moved into brand development after CitiKitty's growth. She currently holds equity positions in five different companies. One additional brand investment resulted in a profitable exit. The CitiKitty product line continues selling through multiple retail channels. The company maintains its original website sales while expanding through major marketplaces.
As of January 2025, CitiKitty maintains an active website selling its products. The company's last Instagram activity was recorded on October 20, 2020, with no posts since then.
Shark Tank season 16 is airing on ABC network.
