25,000+ Pet Lovers Expected at Melbourne Cat and Dog Festivals

18 hours ago

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AusNewsLanka - News for Australians - 25,000+ Pet Lovers Expected at Melbourne Cat and Dog Festivals — At **AusNewsLanka**, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates.

More than 25,000 cat and dog lovers are expected at the Melbourne Showgrounds this month for the 2026 Melbourne Cat Lovers Festival and Dog Lovers Festival.

The two-day event will be held on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, bringing together pet owners, animal lovers, breeders, experts, retailers and adoption groups.

A major attraction at the Cat Lovers Festival will be international kitten rescuer and educator Hannah Shaw, widely known as Kitten Lady. She will share her experiences in kitten rescue and provide advice on caring for young cats.

Visitors can also meet different cat breeds at the Breed Showcase and Pat-A-Cat areas. The Cat Chat stage will feature experts including Dr Katrina Warren, while the Purr Trail will offer visitors a chance to win prizes.

The Dog Lovers Festival will feature a range of live activities and competitions. A new Outback Arena will showcase dog sports, tricks and athletic performances in an outdoor setting.

The Dog Bowl will host canine disc competitions on Saturday and Flyball events on Sunday. Kurgo® DockDogs will also return, with dogs leaping into a 100,000-litre pool as part of the popular water-based competition.

Visitors can meet hundreds of dogs through Pat-A-Pooch and the Breed Showcase, while adoption zones across both festivals will highlight animals looking for permanent homes.

Pet owners will also have access to a wide range of products at the Dog Expo & Marketplace and Cat Expo & Marketplace, featuring major brands, small businesses and emerging pet-related businesses.

Tickets to either festival include free entry to the other festival on the same day, allowing visitors to experience both events.

For safety reasons, visitors are not permitted to bring their own cats or dogs to the festivals.

Event Details

What: Melbourne Dog Lovers Festival and Melbourne Cat Lovers Festival

When: Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026

Time: 9:30am–5:00pm both days

Where: Melbourne Showgrounds

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Source : Press Released.