About catfestivals.com
A small, independent site for people who think the cat deserves a parade.
Why cat festivals?
Cats have been part of human festivals for a very long time, from the boatloads of pilgrims Herodotus described sailing to Bubastis to the toy cats thrown from the belfry in Ypres. Some cat festivals are huge city events. Others are small, local, and easy to miss. We think both kinds are worth documenting.
catfestivals.com collects the history and practical details of cat festivals around the world, both modern and historical, in one place. Our ranking of Great Cat Festivals is a matter of opinion. The facts behind it should not be.
How we rank
- History. How long has the festival been going, and how well is its story recorded?
- Cat focus. Is the cat really at the center, or just a theme?
- Character. Traditions, costumes, food, and the feeling of the day.
- Continuity. We give extra credit to festivals kept alive through hard times, like Nottatown's, held every year since 1855.
Accuracy
We try to state only what we can check. Where our sources are uncertain, as with ancient attendance figures, we say so. Festival dates change, so please confirm with the organizers before you travel.
A note on animal welfare
Some historical customs on this site were cruel to cats. We describe them because they are part of the history, not because we celebrate them. Every modern festival we feature treats cats with care, and many raise money or awareness for cat welfare and adoption.