2019 Cat Festival

100% of net proceeds from ticket sales and additional donations go to support cat rescue organizations. This is a completely not-for-profit event. Since 2014, $80,000 has been raised for the Edmonton Humane Society, Little Cats Lost, Zoe’s Animal Rescue, and SAFE Team Rescue. In 2019, festival proceeds will support five cat rescues: SAFE Team Rescue, Little Cats Lost, Zoe’s Animal Rescue, GEARS Animal Rescue and A Pet’s Pantry.

The cat festival features adoptable cats, show cats, cat-themed presentations from cat experts and enthusiasts, cat videos, cat-themed vendors selling everything from cat jewelry to cat clothes, cat art to cat furniture. It’s an all ages, family-friendly event that has something for all cat lovers! There are cat-ivities (cat activities and crafts), mock cat show judging demonstrations, cat LEGO, cat photos, Cats of Edmonton book/display, kitty play pen interactive activities, and much more! Each year we also bring in a famous, celebrity cat for meet & greets! 

In 2016 and 2018, we flew in the most famous cat on Instagram, Nala Cat, and her famous sister Luna, who did meet and greets with hundreds of festival attendees! In 2015, we flew in celebrity cat Pudge!

Check out Gallery of Past Events

Yes, attendees are welcome to bring their cats to the festival as long as their cats are leashed, or in a carrier / kennel / stroller / cat backpack, at all times, and as long as the cat would be comfortable in large, busy, loud and crowded settings. Most cats would prefer to stay at home, but if your cat goes on adventures with you, we’d love if you brought your cat to the festival! If not, there will be LOTS of cats and kittens at the event for you to see, cuddle, and hold!

There are adoptable cats at the Edmonton International Cat Festival, it just depends on which rescue booth you’re visiting. If you’re planning on adding a new member to your family, finding a cat/kitten, or learning more about cat/kittens that need homes, the Cat Festival is a great place to meet a lot of different local rescue organizations and learn about the adoptable cats in their care that need fur-ever homes.

Because it’s so meow-ch fun! What other opportunity do you get to come together with 2,000-3,000 like-minded cat lovers, who are just as passionate about cats as you are! More importantly, your attendance means you are supporting a great cause. 100% of net proceeds from ticket sales, additional donations and sponsorships go to support cat rescues and the important work they do helping cats in need!

If you need more convincing, check out the full festival schedule and purrgramming to get a sense of all the CATivities that are happening and all the things you could do for a cat-filled day! 

The Edmonton International Cat Festival was the first cat festival of its kind in Canada when it began in 2014. It combines elements from cat-themed events that currently exist: cat adoption events, cat video/film festivals and cat or pet trade shows, even educational conferences for example, but our event brings it all together for one unforgettable experience for cat lovers of all ages! 

The Edmonton International Cat Festival began in 2014 as an extremely grassroots initiative led by one crazy cat lady (Linda Hoang) and her friends (Brittany Le Blanc and Diane Lee), and is still put together by a very small group of people (and a big group of volunteers!)

Next to no money is spent in paid advertisements or marketing, and there are very little overhead costs. This is done intentionally, so the most money possible can be donated to cat rescues. Promotions are earned (through traditional media) or put out, with awareness raised and shared through social media and we also rely heavily on sponsorships and donations to help ensure we’re able to give the most money back to these important organizations.

The Edmonton International Cat Festival started in 2014 as the only event of its kind in Canada. It takes in late May/early June, kicking off the summer festival season in Edmonton, Alberta’s capital city. Cat lovers from across Canada descend onto the city for Cat Fest! Our goal is to celebrate cats with cat lovers, and raise money to help cats in need. Each year, the event gets bigger and better.

We aspire to have the Edmonton International Cat Festival become a destination – a must-attend event – for cat lovers every where – attracting not only local attendees and vendors, but international audiences as well. Currently the Cat Festival brings out attendees who travel from across Canada—we know of attendees who have come from B.C., Saskatchewan and even Ontario! 

The festival would not be possible without vendors or sponsors! If you are interested in being a vendor or a sponsor for the Edmonton International Cat Festival OR you run a local non-profit organization for cats and would like to have a booth at the festival, please contact [email protected].

Note: You do not need to based in Edmonton to be a Cat Festival vendor or sponsor! We are an ~international~ event!  However, please note space is limited and we do give priority to local vendors.

Learn more about how to get involved  

If you are interested in covering the Edmonton International Cat Festival for your news organization, please do not hesitate to contact Linda, Founder and Cats Meow, at [email protected] to arrange for interviews! Follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Instagram!

See Cat Fest in the Media 

The adorable Edmonton International Cat Festival logo was designed by Jeff from Sonder Creative & his wife Chithra.