When is the 2025 Festival and what are the opening times?
Saturday 23 August 2025: 9.30am to 5.00pm
Sunday 24 August 2025: 9.30am to 5.00pm.
How do I book an exhibitor stand in the Expo part of the Festival?
If you have a business cat owners or lovers would love to know about, or know of a business you’d like to see at a Cat Lovers Festival, please check out the Festival Floor Plan then connect with our Sales Team via:
- completing this form or
- emailing info@catloversfestival.com.au
- calling 1300 889 655
Where is the 2025 Festival being held?
The Festival is being held at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park (Homebush): 1 Showground Road, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127. The entry to the Cat Lovers Festival is via Hall 3, from Riverina Ave.. See map.
For tips on getting to the Festival and where to park, click here.
Directions for getting to the Festival from Olympic Park station:
- Head 152m along Murray Rose Ave (towards Accor Stadium).
- Turn right onto Showground Road.
- Continue 156m along Showground Road then turn right onto Riverina Ave.
- The entry to the Cat Lovers Festival will be well-signposted at Hall 3, 240m on your right.
The Cat Lovers Festival will occupy Halls 3 and 4. The Dog Lovers Festival will be running next door in the Dome, Hall 2A and 2B.
NB. Tickets cannot be bought on the same day as the event so please pre-book your parking. We cannot stress this enough. It will sell out. The entire precinct will be very busy across the Festival weekend, with multiple events happening at once, so it would be wise to pre-book parking to avoid disappointment!
The 2024 Festival map will be released closer to the actual dates, but you can refer to the 2024 Festival Map for an idea.
What's happening at the Festival?
The 2025 Sydney Cat Lovers Festival promises to be the perfect fur-fix for every feline fan and purr-some fun for everyone!
It runs concurrently with the Dog Lovers Festival, on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August 2025 at Sydney Showground, creating one of the largest pet celebrations in the world.
Interact with 200+ rare, pedigree and companion breeds across an array of feline-inspired attractions including the Breed Showcase, Paws & Talks Stage, Black Hawk Pat-A-Cat, and the Adoption Zone with litters of reputable breeders taking part, too.
Pounce on educational tips for a happier, healthier feline on the WHISKAS® Stage.
It’s also a big supermarket for cat owners with new products, show specials and cat friendly beds, doors, food, insurers, enclosures, litter, harnesses, towers, collars, tech, toys, treats, photographers, retailers, scratchers, vets and more…
Plus, there’s a Championship Cat Show from ANCATS and the NSW Cat Fanciers Association members, a Kitty Cosplay dress-up parade (and competition for visitors to win prizes!) and Feline Face Painting.
Kitty-lovers finally have their own feline-focussed festival where they can unite to proclaim their love for these wonderful creatures and immerse themselves in all things feline. Once you’ve got your ticket, everything to see and do is FREE, making it one of the best value days out in Sydney!
And, in a truly paw-some move, ticket holders can purchase heavily discounted tickets to the Dog Lover’s Festival, with both events running concurrently at Sydney Showground across the weekend. Move quickly as the offer is extremely limited and will be fully sold out in no time!
Click here to discover all the purrr-some attractions. Tickets will most likely sell-out, as they do in Melbourne, so pounce on yours early to avoid sour-puss syndrome!
See the Festival Map.
May I use a Companion Card to enter the Festival?
Yes! Simply present the card to ticketing or security staff at the door. You will just need to purchase a child, adult or pensioner’s ticket for the person in your care.
How may I purchase tickets and how much are they?
Tickets for the 2025 Cat Lovers Festival will go on sale closer to the event.
Does my Cat Lovers Festival ticket entitle me entry into the Dog Lovers Festival?
It sure does!
In 2024 we decided that all cat lovers, who also love dogs, could enter the Sydney Dog Lovers Festival with the same ticket!
Please note you must enter both Festivals on the same day.
I’ve bought tickets but I can’t find them. Could you re-send them to me?
Once you have purchased your tickets they will be emailed to your inbox as a link embedded in the email.
Click on the links in the email and they will open a blank web page and the tickets will download directly into your downloads box.
If you are unable to find your confirmation email, please check your junk or spam mail folders. The sender’s name will be Eventbrite.
Still can’t find your tickets? Here’s a handy guide
For other ticketing inquiries, please contact info@petprojects.com.au
We will respond to all requests within 48 business hours.
Where may I park and what are the public transport options?
If you’re coming by car, we strongly suggest pre-booking your car park at Sydney Olympic Park, as the precinct will be busy with multiple events on Festival weekend, so parking may sell out!
Click here for more information about getting to the Festival, how to pre-book parking, parking rates, which car park to use, as well as public transport options.
Please note: Car parks P1, P5 and P6 are in close proximity to Sydney Showground with the P1 carpark the closest carpark to the Dome where the Festival will be held.
FREE SHUTTLE FROM P1 CARPARK TO FESTIVAL ENTRANCE
Two free Shuttles (trackless trains) will drive in a loop from the P1 carpark (the pick-up point will be in front of the ticket booth), via the Dog Lovers Festival entrance at the Dome, to the Cat Lovers Festival entrance on Riverina Ave at Hall 3, and back to P1. The Shuttles will operate every 15 minutes from 7.30am until 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Each Trackless Train can accommodate 30 passengers.
FREE BUS FROM P5 CARPARK TO THE DOME
A free Bus will operate between the P5 car park (the pick-up point will be in front of the ticket booth) and the Dog Lovers Festival entrance at the Dome. You may use the Bus to take you to the Cat Lovers Festival however, you’ll need to get off at the Dome and take a short walk down Riverina Avenue to Hall 3 where the Cat Lovers Festival entrance is located. The Bus will operate approximately every 15 minutes from 7.30am until 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Each bus can accommodate 20 passengers.
Will there be any ATMs, and is food available to purchase at the venue?
ATM machines are located at the local Mini Mart, at The Brewery, The Locker Room, in the Giants Stadium on the concourse level, and at the Post Office in Silverwater.
BYO credit card or cash as most exhibitors will be selling and launching an extensive range of fantastic new products and services at the event with Festival Specials and great offers exclusive to the Cat Lovers Festival!
See the Festival Map.
May I bring my cat with me to the Festival?
We love all cats but an event such as this is not a suitable environment to allow visitors to bring their cats.
When you get home, they’ll be happy to see you, as you’ll be loaded with treats and toys for them. You’ll also know so much more about them thanks to all the expert talks and presentations! For more information regarding this policy, please click here.
Of course, owners of certified assistance animals have ‘full public access rights’, which means they can be accompanied by their assistance animal anywhere that members of the public are allowed to go. (Source: RSPCA) Saying that, the welfare of all cats attending our event is our number one priority so please consider attending the Festival with your assistance dog during quieter times (First thing in ther morning, or after 2pm). Our exhibitors will have their cats out on display interacting with visitors and although your assistance dog may not react to cats, some of the beautiful cats at our event may not be so comfortable around dogs.
This will be particularly pertinent in the Pat-A-Cat area, and the Championship Cat Shows, where there will be a high number of cats which may not react well to dogs.
Please note: It’s a fact that most cats don’t like being in big noisy places for long. Those that do are a rare breed! That said, you will find a healthy cast of beautiful cats at the Festival, just 800 (unlike our Dog Lovers Festival)! We always put cat welfare first so your understanding here is much appreciated, as is your assistance in taking direction from the cat handlers at the Festival. Thanks in advance and we can’t wait to welcome you to the Festival!
Thank you for your understanding.
Are assistance animals permitted to enter the Festival?
Visitors with assistance animals are permitted to attend the Festival, our ticketing, security and front of house staff are breifed to accept accredited Assistance Animals.
Please note that the welfare of all cats attending our event is our number one priority so please consider attending the Festival with your assistance dog during quieter times (first think in the morning or after 2pm).
Our exhibitors will have their cats out on display interacting with visitors. Whikle we appreciate that all assistance animals are well triained, and are lilely to not react to cats, some of the beautiful cats at our event may not be so comfortable around dogs in a close environment. This will be particularly pertinent in the Pat-A-Cat area, and the Championship Cat Shows, where there will be a high number of cats which may not react well to dogs. So please exercise caution entering these areas and we ask that you are respectfull of the wishes of the animal handler.
An animal does not need to be registered as an assistance animal under the Companion Animals Act 1998 to be permitted access to a public place or public transport. Staff in charge of access to public places and transport are entitled to request reasonable proof that your animal is a genuine assistance animal. (Source: NSW Government website)
At our Dog Lovers Festival, happening at the same time, next door, assistance dogs will of course be very much welcomed.
Thank you for your understanding.
Will there be any additional costs once I’m inside the Festival?
No! Everything to see and do at the Festival is included in the ticket price!
All the features at the event are free upon entry including: Pat-A-Cat, the WHISKAS® Stage, the Purrfect Match Zone, the Breed Showcase & Breed Info Stage, the WHISKAS® Adoption Zone and more.
Please note that there are limited seats and group sizes for each attraction so we recommend you arrive early as spots will be allocated on a first-in-best-dressed basis. All Cafes and Food Trucks will require payment.
Tell me more about the Face Painting and food options for the kids!
Hungry kids will love the Food Trucks (outside, near the main entry) and the cafes, located inside the venue.
They’ll also love the Feline Face Painting, which provides kids with the opportunity to have their face painted with their favourite breed of cat from a wide range of options.
The Feline Face Painting is located within the WHISKAS® Adoption Zone, near the main entry. See Festival Map.
Do you dream of looking like your cat? Come prepared with a photo of your own cute cat or choose from an array of cat designs to proudly display your love of cats for all the world to see!
Once your face is transformed, pounce on over to snap a selfie against the Neon Glitter Selfie Wall. The finished products will amuse, delight, turn heads and be THE purr-fect photo op to share across social media, tagging us @thecatloversfestival and #catloversfestival.
Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram!
May I purchase products and services at the Festival?
Absolutely! It’s a huge, cat-inspired festival with hundreds of Exhibitors showcasing and selling all the latest and greatest toys, food, treats, food and services for your kitty!
It’s like a giant Kitty Supermarket and the purrfect place to stock up for the entire year!
Click on these links to check out the 2024 Exhibitors, Festival Specials and New Products as an indicator as to what you will see at the 2025 Festival.
Where may I view the Festival Map, and timetables for attractions at the Festival?
The Festival Map and event timetables will be released closer to the Festival.
May I purchase a cat at the Festival?
We do not support the sale of cats on-site at the Festival.
We do however want to you to be as well-informed as possible regarding the best kitty for you and your lifestyle.
All the information a new or prospective fur-parent could ever need will be available at the Festival, coupled with helpful cat experts!
You may certainly kick off the process with conversations with breeders and adoption groups at the Festival, and start your journey to becoming a fur-parent!
Which cat breeds will be showcased at the Festival?
We’ll let you know about all the wonderful cat breeds attending the 2025 Festival, closer to the date.
In the meantime, at the 2024 Breed Showcase, visitors were able to meet and compare a wide range of cat breeds.
The 2024 Breed Showcase had over 30 different cat breeds to meet, pat and learn more about thanks our friends at the ANCats. A list of the breeds attending will be available closer to the event.
There will also be a wide range of other breeds throughout the event, including in the Pat-A-Cat area, the WHISKAS® Adoption Zone and located on Exhibitor stands around the Festival.
See the Festival Map.
May I speak to someone without fur?
For any additional enquiries not covered on the website please contact the Cat Lovers Festival team at info@catloversfestival.com.au or call 1300 889 655.
How do I find out more about the Volunteer Program?
Applications for our 2025 volunteer program will open in early 2025.