• by Tanya Gazdik , 5 hours ago

April Fool’s Day stunts are back with a vengeance this year, with the majority focusing on fake (but funny!) products. 

Perhaps the cutest of the bunch is pet-related. Whisker, maker of the Litter-Robot, is launching Cataire: a tongue-in-cheek "luxury fashion line" consisting of three high-end sweaters adorned with real cat hair from adoptable cats at New Beginnings Animal Rescue in Royal Oak, Michigan.

The name says it all: Cataire is a play on "cat hair" -- the thing cat owners already find on every sweater they own, but now reframed as a luxury feature, not an annoyance. Each sweater will be listed individually on eBay at 12 a.m. on April 1, complete with the backstory, name, and personality traits of the cat whose hair graces it, and all proceeds will go to New Beginnings Animal Rescue.

The next offering isn’t as heartwarming, but is kind of hilarious. 

Dude Wipes -- which is a legit brand -- has a “new product” just in time for April Fool’s Day.  The “product” is “designed to whiten, tighten, cool, and wax, all in one 15-minute throne session.

“This year, we’re getting extra cheeky with our latest dump–Introducing the Butt Massk:  the world’s first hydrogel mask engineered specifically for your … third eye,” according to the company. “Just pop this soothing gel disc directly onto the target zone while you doomscroll on the throne. Let’s be honest, skincare has covered your face, your hands, your feet — even your neck. But one very important area? Completely ignored. Until now!”

Another brand has a slightly risqué “new product.” Life is Good is getting in on the fun this year with Passenger Pants: sweatpants with a hand-shaped pocket on the upper thigh, engineered for the driver who wants to keep one hand on the wheel and one hand exactly where it belongs — on their passenger's leg. 

“The concept is absurd on the surface, but it taps into something universal: the comfort of sitting next to someone you care about on a long drive,” according to a pitch. “That’s very much on-brand for Life is Good, a company built around the idea that life's best moments are the small ones.”

The product page goes live on April 1 alongside a 25% sitewide discount (code FOOLPROOF) and a 5-pair social giveaway.

Buffalo-based natural odor eliminator brand Azuna is running a prank with NHL Stanley Cup contenders The Buffalo Sabres on social media with the debut of a new odor eliminator scent: The Sabres' Locker Room.  With notes of "23 well-worn jerseys, hard fought glory, and the sweaty aftermath of a penalty. The product launch is perfect bait for diehard fans rejoicing that the Sabres finally don't stink (it's been a looong minute since the team has made it this close to the playoffs).

Of course, the product is a prank, but fans who click through do enter sweepstakes to win two tickets to the Sabres' upcoming fan appreciation night on April 15, plus a kit of the real co-branded Azuna x Buffalo Sabres home odor eliminators in the signature "Top Shelf" mama's cookies vanilla scent. 

Speaking of vanilla,  Califia Farms and Carbone Fine Food have teamed up to announce their most unexpected collaboration yet: Spicy Vodka Almond Creamer, a fictional, limited-edition creamer that brings Carbone's iconic Spicy Vodka Sauce out of the pasta bowl and into your morning coffee. 

“Made with simple, familiar ingredients: almond milk, 100% Imported Italian Tomatoes, a touch of Calabrian chili, a splash of vodka, and sea salt,” according to a pitch. “This is the smoothest, most surprisingly sippable fictional creamer to ever hit coffee cups.”

In reality, Califia and Carbone will be conducting a social giveaway to highlight the fake product on social media. 

Another ewww-worthy April Fool's Day concoction is a Krispy Kreme doughnut stuffed with a Mt. Olive Kosher Dill Spear.

“This sweet-meets-savory mashup pickles the line between prank and product, but don't get in a pickle hunting these down… they won't be hitting menus, only your feed,” according to the the pitch.  

What’s NOT a joke: Krispy Kreme will offer all Krispy Kreme Rewards members a dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts for $4.01 on April 1 only.

Another mythical product: the Omaha Steaks Pocket Steak.

“You demand high-quality protein to fuel your hustle, but for too long, ‘on-the-go’ has meant settling for chalky bars, processed shakes, and unsatisfying snacks,” according to the pitch. “Designed for Omaha Steaks USDA Certified Tender Top Sirloin Filets, the world’s first pocket-sized steak is powered by motion-activated technology that cooks your steak to a perfect medium-rare doneness (also available in Rare and Medium – not available in Well-Done) so you can enjoy protein-packed perfection on the go – anytime, anywhere.”

The brand is celebrating the holiday by giving away four free top sirloin filets with our packages! Fans can visit omahasteaks.com/topthis to cash in on the deal.  

Not all brands are into the jokes, but are fine with capitalizing on the holiday. The Cheesecake Factory is rolling out an offer that sounds too good to be true, but it’s actually real. The brand is launching a new app and giving away cheesecake. Cheesecake Rewards members who download the app and log into their account will receive a free slice of cheesecake with any purchase, redeemable beginning April 1. The reward may be redeemed when dining-in, ordering to go, or ordering delivery through DoorDash, and is redeemable through May 7.

Another brand also has an anti-April Fool’s promotion. 

“While other brands pull pranks, Yasso is pulling receipts to prove that better-for-you frozen treats don't have to be a joke,” according to a press release. The frozen snack brand is joining forces with Bethenny Frankel, better-for-you entrepreneur and certified nonsense detector, to call out freezer fraud once and for all.”

The brand is launching "Foolproof Freezer," acampaign that's filling freezers all month long with 40,001 (a not-so-subtle nod to April Fools' Day, 4/1) protein-packed Yasso Spoonables.From March 31 to April 30, fans can visit Yasso.com/FoolproofFreezer for a chance to win, and dig into the real deal. 

Happy April Fool's Day, and don't get duped!