All the fun attractions to keep an eye out for at the Dog and Cat Lovers Festival

Every year, cat and dog lovers come together for a paw-fect day out. The Dog and Cat Lovers Festival is a celebration of our pets, and no matter what camp you’re in – team cats or team  dogs – you’re guaranteed to learn something new about your beloved felines and canines. 

From October 26 until October 27, the Melbourne Showgrounds will be taken over by the Cat Lovers Festival and the Dog Lovers Festival next door. But don’t fret, a ticket to one show means a ticket to both. So if you love both cats and dogs, you have the option to spend time at both festivals.

For cat owners, the two-day expo will feature more than 200 beautiful kitties in the Black Hawk Pat-A-Cat and Breed Showcase zones. There will also be opportunities to chat with renowned animal experts on the Whiskas Stage. Experts include Jackson Galaxy, who will present two informative talks on cat behavior live via satellite from LA, Dr Katrina Warren, who will walk you through how to solve the most common cat problems, and Dr Kate Mornement, who will help you unravel the mystery of inappropriate toileting.

For dog owners, look forward to seeing pups of all shapes, sizes and breeds. There will be live performances from talented canines at the VitaPet Arena and pool diving pups at Kurgo DockDogs. There will also be opportunities to meet internet-famous dogs, dogs with celebrity owners and engaging talks by dog experts. Plus, one of the country's most recognised and loved veterinarians, Dr Katrina, has teamed up with professional dog trainer Kelly Gill and the Wonderdogs.

Of course, one of the main objectives of the Dog and Cat Lovers Festival is to raise awareness for cat and dog adoption and work closely with shelters across the country to drive adoption and increase education about responsible pet ownership. You can meet with over 40 adoption groups in the Dog and Cat Adoption Zones, you might even find your next best friend.

The Dog and Cat Lovers Festival will run from 9.30am until 5pm daily, and tickets are on sale now through the Dog Lovers Festival website and Cat Lovers Festival website.