EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL CAT FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 10th ANNIVERSARY ‘PAWTY’

An event purr-fectly tailored for Edmonton’s cat enthusiasts is making a return to support felines in need for yet another year.

The Edmonton International Cat Festival, recognized as Alberta’s largest and Canada’s most enduring cat festival, will mark its 10th anniversary celebration on Saturday at MacEwan University in the heart of the city’s downtown.

According to festival organizer Amanda McCloy, thousands of attendees are anticipated to partake in this year’s festivities.

“It’s a gathering for anyone who adores cats and wishes to immerse themselves in a community of fellow cat lovers,” she expressed.

“From our modest beginnings with a few hundred attendees, this year we’re anticipating over 3,000 people.”

Since its inception in 2014, the festival has amassed $146,000 in funds to aid stray cats in finding their forever homes and to support efforts in managing the local feline population.

This year’s proceeds will be directed towards Community Cats Edmonton, Enoch Animal Services, and the Greater Edmonton Animal Rescue Society (GEARS).

McCloy emphasized the festival’s significance, noting the scarcity of social gatherings tailored specifically for cat enthusiasts.

“As dog lovers, there are numerous social activities available, but for cat enthusiasts, options were limited to cat videos without a dedicated community to engage with,” she explained. “Thus, our cat festival became the first of its kind in Canada and has remained the longest-running.”

One of the event’s primary sponsors, Cheery Cat Co., a specialty cat boutique established in Edmonton in 2023, provided funding for the celebrity cats to make an appearance in town.

Angela Wong, the owner, stated that her company also collaborates with Community Cats Edmonton to offer homes for stray cats.

“Since our opening in August, we’ve successfully found homes for 43 kittens,” she remarked. “It’s an achievement we’re immensely proud of, and we’re delighted to partner with Cat Fest this year to further boost our adoption rate.”

In addition to a variety of events ranging from feline first aid to crafting with cat hair, McCloy mentioned that attendees will have the opportunity to meet several famous cats from social media, including One Eared Uno, BenBen, and Great Grams of Gary.

The three celebrity cats have garnered a mass following online.

James Eastham, the social media manager for Great Grams of Gary and Gary’s proud owner, revealed that he and his feline companion reside in Canmore, Alberta, and have been regular attendees of the festival for five years.

He described it as a vibrant celebration of the cat community in Alberta.

“It’s always gratifying to connect with fellow cat enthusiasts and engage with curious fans,” Eastham shared. “Moreover, it’s wonderful that the event also contributes to the community.”

Eastham recounted how his partner adopted Gary from the Calgary Humane Society half a decade ago. Serendipitously, like their partner’s dog at the time, Gary also lacks his left hip.

“It felt like destiny,” Eastham remarked.

Since then, Eastham has diligently trained Gary to walk with a harness, enabling him to explore the outdoors, from hiking trails to cycling routes and even skiing adventures across Alberta and British Columbia.

“We’ve ventured to numerous places together,” Eastham shared.

McCloy expressed her excitement for what she describes as an “ameowzing” event.

Tickets are priced at $15 in advance or $20 at the door. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.