12:00-4:00PM: General Admission Hours
11:00AM-12:00PM: VIP Ticket Early Access!
Baltimore KittyCon, presented by Cat Hospital At Towson (CHAT), is a cat-lover convention hosted by BARCS featuring adoptable cats, local vendors, interactive activities, learning labs, contests, crafting, food, drinks, and plenty of feline-inspired fun. It’s part cat festival, part community event, and part excuse to spend an entire afternoon surrounded by people who understand why your precious lil’ dumpster gremlin—ahem, cat… has a dozen nicknames 10 inside-joke layers deep.
Whether you’re a lifelong cat person or just here for the vibes, KittyCon is a fun-filled day that supports homeless animals in Baltimore!
meow mrrp nyaaaa nyoom yowl mrao maow bwep blep meep chirp prrrt birrp eekekekek ack-ack-ack reeeow honk psspsspss bap skree nyeh purrrrr waaaaoow
meow mrrp nyaaaa nyoom yowl mrao maow bwep blep meep chirp prrrt birrp eekekekek ack-ack-ack reeeow honk psspsspss bap skree nyeh purrrrr waaaaoow
The Hisstory:
KittyCon started as a small, cat-centered event created by BARCS to celebrate cat culture while raising support for homeless animals in Baltimore. And Baltimore’s response was loud and clear: people here LOVE cats.
The first two years sold out, bringing together a few hundred cat lovers, local makers, adopters, artists, and rescue supporters for a fun, weird, whisker-filled day that quickly became one of our favorite events of the year. Now heading into year three, we’re making biscuits and preparing for a much bigger KittyCon experience!
The following tickets are for Sunday's main KittyCon event. Be sure to scroll down for details on each ticket level, plus information about our Saturday lead-up events, including the Whiskers & Windows Neighborhood Cat Tour.
VIP (Very Important Pspsps): $60
General Admission Adult: $20
General Admission Child: $10
Ages 12 and under!
*Plus processing fees!
Ticket Type Details:
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Very Important Pspspsps (VIP)
11:00AM-12:00PM: VIP Extra Hours Early Access
12:00PM-4:00PM: Regular Event Hours
Enjoy the purrks! Get first dibs on everything with one hour of early admission, before the crowds arrive. Your VIP ticket also includes a limited edition KittyCon T-shirt, a collectible custom kitty credential and lanyard, plus one workshop of your choice—already included with your ticket (sign up for workshops will open mid-August). -
12:00PM-4:00PM
Your ticket includes admission to the event and your official KittyCon credential. Spend the day exploring vendors, meeting adoptable cats, watching presentations, making crafts, and enjoying all the feline festivities.Want even more? T-shirts, workshops, and other special experiences are available for additional purchase, à la carte.
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For our lil’ future rescuers! Kids tickets include admission to KittyCon and an official event credential. Explore all the fun alongside your favorite grown-up, then customize your day with optional workshops, shirts, and other special experiences available for purchase.
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KittyCon may be on Sunday, but we’re kicking off Baltimore’s biggest cat-centric weekend a day early with the first-ever Whiskers & Windows on Caturday, Saturday, August 29! Ride through the city aboard the Maryland Double Decker Bus to see local cats showing off from decorated windows, or sign up for the chance to have your own window cat featured along the route. Scroll down for full details about bus tour tickets, the self-guided neighborhood cat map, and how to participate with your feline family members.
Grab a seat in the BMI's Meyerhoff Theater for a showing of CatVideoFest 2026! This 70-minute, family-friendly film is a compilation of the latest and greatest cat videos, featuring unique submissions, animations, music videos and classic internet favorites, all curated by Will Braden. CatVideoFest is included with all KittyCon ticket types—no separate ticket or registration is required. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Three showings will take place during KittyCon in the Meyerhoff Theater:
11:30 AM–12:45 PM
1:00–2:15 PM
2:30–3:45 PM
Looking for a list of more activities at KittyCon? Check out the “Fun Activities to Check Out” tab in the FAQ section below!
FAQs & Attendee Info
With more than 500 cat-lovers (and counting!) joining us this year, we wanted to share a few important details to help you plan your afternoon.
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Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI)
1415 Key Hwy, Baltimore, MD 21230*If you’re traveling from out of town, this area is considered “South Baltimore” and also referred to as Locust Point and/or Riverside!
The BMI has a free parking lot onsite. Once that lot is full, there are plenty of other lots, garages, and street parking in the area.LAZ Parking - Harborview Marina Lot 7
1401 Key Hwy, Baltimore, MD 21230
Weekend parking rate: $15Anthem House Parking Garage - P2345
900 E Fort Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230
Parking rates:
First 90 minutes: Free
3 Hours: $5
4 Hours: $8
9 Hours: $12Parking is not included in your ticket purchase.
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Early Credential Pick Up Option: Skip the line at KittyCon! Guests can check in during the Whiskers & Windows on Caturday (Saturday), August 29 at Pickett Brewing Company (1130 South Paca St, Baltimore, MD 21230). BARCS will be in the taproom with a registration table from 11 AM - 2:30 PM where you can pick up all of your credentials early!
Check-In on Sunday: All guests will check in by last name at the check-in tables located at the back of the BMI's parking lot by the pavilion. If you purchased tickets for guests, please be sure to let them know they will check in using their own last name upon arrival. **If you pick up early on Saturday, you will simply show your credentials and sail on by check-in! :)
Day of ticket sales and workshop purchases, while availability lasts, can also be made at check-in.
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11:00 AM – VIP Early Entry
Enjoy the purrks! Get first dibs on everything with one hour of early admission, before the crowds arrive.12:00 PM – KittyCon Opens to All
Spend the day exploring vendors, meeting adoptable cats, watching presentations, making crafts, and enjoying all the feline festivities.12:30 PM – Live Mew-sic
Enjoy selections of classic rock to funk, performed by Michael and the SoulKATs!2:00 PM – Meow-E-Oke
Our twist on karaoke, but you can only sing in cat sounds! Forget the actual lyrics of the song and meow, purr, and hiss your heart out.2:45 PM – Live Mew-sic
Enjoy selections of classic rock to funk, performed by Michael and the SoulKATs!3:15 PM – Cat Trivia
Do you know your loaf from your blep? Your tabbies from your torties? It's time for the ultimate cat showdown! Bring your team, put your feline expertise to the test, and battle through rounds of trivia covering everything cat. Who will be crowned the top cat experts?
All ages are welcome. | Teams are a maximum of 4 people each.We are especially excited this year to feature an incredible lineup of food and beverage partners during the event.
**General admission will be allowed in at 12:00 PM. Prior to that time, access is reserved for the VIP early access experience. Non-VIP guests are welcome to gather in the food court by check-in until doors open. Thank you for understanding!
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In addition to BARCS, there will be five other animal rescues with adoptable cats and kittens at KittyCon. Most adoptions will be inside in Decker Gallery, the main area of the museum. One shelter will have their cats outside on their adoption vehicle.
Each rescue will have different rules for their adoption process and different adoption fees.
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KittyCon will have several food and drink options available for purchase throughout the day, including:
B’s Brick Oven Pizza
Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
Glizzy’s Wagyu Dogs (vegan options!)
Cookies from ArtfulEats
Cocktails by Lindsay’s Southsides
“Cats Under the Stars” the official beer of KittyCon from Pickett Brewing Company
Mocktails by The Plot Twist
Assorted beer and wine
Vent Coffee
Looking for a sit-down lunch before or after KittyCon? Make a day of it and visit one of our neighborhood friends:
Shotti’s Point Charm City (701 E. Fort Ave., Baltimore, MD 21230)
Just a short walk from the Baltimore Museum of Industry, Shotti’s Point is a longtime financial supporter of BARCS, adopters many times over, and a great spot to grab lunch, dinner or drinks before or after KittyCon. -
Yes! We'd love to meet your feline friend, but please keep these important safety guidelines in mind:
KittyCon is not the right event for your cat's first outing. We recommend only bringing cats that are already experienced and relaxed in public settings.
KittyCon is an indoor/outdoor event. Personal/owned cats are not permitted inside the adoptable cat area.
All attending cats must be in a fully enclosed stroller or carrier, or wearing a secure, escape-proof harness and leash.
Much of the event takes place outdoors. There will be live music, crowds, and plenty of activity throughout the day.
The venue is located on the waterfront in a large, open industrial area. We do not have exclusive use of all of the outdoor space or parking lot. Neighborhood residents frequently walk their dogs through the area, and other visitors may also pass by with dogs.
If you are not 100% confident your cat is comfortable in busy environments and cannot escape if startled, we strongly recommend leaving them safely at home.
Our goal is for every cat to have a safe, low-stress experience. If there's any doubt about how your cat will handle the environment, the safest choice is to let them enjoy a quiet day at home.
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While we love our doggy friends, KittyCon is a cats-only event! For the protection of the Baltimore Museum of Industry’s floors, exhibits and collections, pets are not permitted inside the museum or within the KittyCon event footprint. Just as importantly, several cats will be attending KittyCon, and unfamiliar dogs (even friendly ones) can create unnecessary stress for them. Please help us keep KittyCon comfortable and safe for our feline guests by leaving dogs and other pets at home.
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YES! Come as your favorite feline or show us what it means to have cat-titude! The paws-ibilities are endless.
Please note that we can ask you to remove any face coverings at any time.
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Litter-ary Area
Get to meet four different authors and local bookshop, Dreamers and Make Believers. Books will be available for sale and signing!
Tattoos, Palm Reading, and Permanent Jewelry, oh my!
In addition to all of the lectures and workshops, we will have a variety of other activities going on during the event. All of our activities are first come, first served and vary in price. We are excited to offer the following:Tattoos by the Baltimore Tattoo Museum
Permanent jewelry, tooth gems, and piercings by Tiger's Eye Collective
Palm Reading by one of our amazing BARCS volunteers
Face Painting by Enchanted Entertainment
BARCS'cade (our human slot machine)
Craft stations, including button making by one of our amazing BARCS volunteers
A Cat-and-Mouse scavenger hunt (with prizes!)
Vote in the A-CAT-emy Awards
Meow-E-Oke
Our twist on karaoke, but you can only sing in cat sounds! Forget the actual lyrics of the song and meow, purr, and hiss your heart out.Live Mew-sic
Enjoy selections of classic rock to funk, performed by Michael and the SoulKATs!Cat Trivia
Do you know your loaf from your blep? Your tabbies from your torties? It's time for the ultimate cat showdown! Bring your team, put your feline expertise to the test, and battle through rounds of trivia covering everything cat. Who will be crowned the top cat experts?
All ages are welcome. (Teams are a maximum of 4 people each.) -
BARCS is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event. If you require accessibility accommodations or have related questions, please contact events@barcs.org.
Sunday Vendors & Guests
Cat Hospital at Towson: Cat-centric veterinarian; hosting Ask the Vet Q&A
Artful Eats: Custom cookies
Aspen River Veterinary Hospital: Veterinarian
Baltimore Humane Society: Animal shelter
Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS): Improving literacy in Baltimore's youth through sci-fi and fantasy
Baltimore Tattoo Museum: Real “Cat-toos”
BARCS Volunteer Cat Tree Refurbishing: Cat tree restoration
Baron’s K-9 Market: Pet nutrition store
B’s Brick Oven Pizza: Local food truck
Cats of Charm City: Professional cat sitting & cat merch
Clay by Hillary: Handmade pottery
Close Call Studio: Fiber art & catnip toys
Cork: Baltimore events app
Cozy Craftivist by Datapike: Handmade Hats, Plushies, and Catnip Toys
Crafting for the Cause: Jewelry
Critter Care Collective / The DVM Author: Veterinary books & resources
Danielle's Designs: Cat-themed art and retail
Dreamers and Make Believers: Pop-up bookstore and button maker
Enchanted Entertainment: Face painting
Feline Felons Cat Cafe: Cat cafe & cat-themed retail
Furever Friends Cat Sitting: Professional cat sitting
Housecat Creative: Stickers & accessories
HousePlant Baltimore: Plants & gifts
Jeff Bogle: Author book signing
Jimmy's Famous Seafood: Food truck vendor
Kasmic Creations: Art and jewelry
L Ray Clay: Ceramics
Lavish You: Candles
Lindsay's Southsides: Craft cocktails
Little Lolita Lexey: Wearable cat art
Lunch Punch Studio: Cat-themed gifts
Lutherville Animal Hospital: Veterinarian
Michael & the SoulKATs: Live music
MozeyFrames: Mixed media artist
Nik Korpon: Author of The Cat Prophecies
Partnership for Animal Welfare (PAW): Animal rescue partner
Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior & Training: Cat behavior training
Petco: Pet supplies
Pickett Brewing Company: Local craft beer
Princess Kitty Meow Meow: Cat-themed retail
Purrsnickitty: Handmade cat toys
Shepsworth Bently: Event emcee!
Show Your Soft Side: Animal advocacy nonprofit
Sky Queen Studio: Hand-crafted collages & workshop facilitator
Sour Tongue Design: Cat-inspired apparel
Standard Issue Cat Supply: Handmade cat toys
Stuff & Things: Vintage and upcycled retail
TC Studios: Paint by numbers
The 50/50 Company: Screen-printed apparel
The Black Cat Detective Agency: Author G. David Stirling
The Maryland Zoo: A Day in the Life of a Big Cat Keeper
The Plot Twist LLC: Literary mocktails
Tiger's Eye Collective: Permanent jewelry
Unique Bracelets: Jewelry and art
Viperaxy: Stickers and prints
Volana Kote: Memorial pet jewelry
Weruva Pet Food: Pet food
…And more to come!
Sunday Workshops
KittyCon features workshops and special experiences throughout the day. VIP tickets include one workshop, with registration opening August 11 at 11 a.m. General Admission and Kids ticket holders can purchase workshop add-ons beginning August 25, with pricing varying by workshop. Sign-up links are emailed to ticket holders. Questions? Email events@BARCS.org.
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Led by Baltimore artist, Ali Solonche of Sky Queen Studio, you’ll collage your own custom 4"x6" kitty portrait. Participants can bring in a cat photograph of their choosing (your cat or another cat you love) OR there will be plenty of cat material available to use! Using upcycled magazines and a little bit of sparkle, you’ll leave with a unique kitty portrait that's framed and ready to display! Follow along on @SkyQueenStudio for more inspiration.
Best for ages 8+ | No experience necessary but participants must be comfortable using a paper punch, cutting with scissors, and gluing.
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Have a question about your cat? Ask one of Baltimore’s foremost feline experts! Dr. Jane Brunt, founder of Cat Hospital at Towson, has dedicated her career to cats and was a pioneer of feline-exclusive veterinary medicine in Maryland. A Fellow of the Academy of Feline Medicine and past president of both the American Association of Feline Practitioners and Maryland Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Brunt will answer your questions about cat health, behavior, preventive care, aging and more. Bring your cat questions and learn from someone who has spent more than four decades understanding what makes our feline friends tick.
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Paint Your Pet® is a premium, unique, personalized experience, where you'll be led step-by-step through a painting of a kitty on a pre-sketched canvas! All materials and professional instruction are included!
Best for ages 7+ | No experience necessary.
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Tired of throwing out your old, worn cat trees/condos? Then don't, learn to refurbish them! This workshop will give you the basics on how to disassemble the common types of cat tree construction, clean, repair and re-rope instead of buying new.
There will be two cat trees that need some serious TLC and repair to work with, plus lots of opportunities to re-rope posts, ask questions, get ideas and start getting creative with your own cat's things!
Best for ages 15+ | No experience necessary but participants must be comfortable with learning basic repair skills and handling tools.
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Learn how to make polymer clay cat keychains that look just like faux leather! Students will learn how to condition their clay, use clay tools and cutters, as well as add and mix colors and textures. All materials needed will be provided, and students will leave Kitty Con with their very own Kitty key-chain! Keychains will be ready for pickup 45 minutes after the session is over. All participants must pick up their keychain by 3:45pm. The presenter nor BARCS will be able to mail them to participants after the event.
Best for ages 10+ | No experience necessary but participants must be comfortable using clay and sharp clay tools.
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A zookeeper from the Maryland Zoo will talk about the cats that call the zoo home and the work that goes into their daily care. You will learn about diets, enrichment, training, and generally what it takes to be a big cat keeper.
All ages are welcome.
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Learn the art of cookie decorating in this make-and-take workshop session. Each participant will receive a kit including 2 cookies, palettes, and markers for you to have a creative (and delicious) time!
All ages are welcome. | No baking or decorating experience necessary.
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The gifts cats give us and how they make travel more authentic and amazing from Istanbul to Lima and beyond
Description: Through stories and hundreds of his own photographs, author and traveler Jeff Bogle will take you around the world in search of street cats, from Istanbul to Lima and beyond. Bogle, the author of Street Cats and Where to Find Them, will discuss the wonder of travel, across 20 countries on 5 continents, and the marvelous resilience of street cats and the people around the globe who make their lives healthier and safer.
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Are you ready for a one-of-a-kind face painting experience? For a decade, Enchanted Entertainment offered the best and most innovative pony and unicorn parties, and we continued with face painting designs and techniques gleaned from sources all around the globe. There will be many different options to choose from for a full-face transformative painting.
All ages are welcome.
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Come join the Baltimore Science Fiction Society for an interactive workshop on writing short-form fiction! Challenge yourself to write a 500-2,000-word short story around our fun challenge theme, cats! The session will begin with an opening talk, then you will have about an hour to write before closing out with a post-writing discussion. Writers of any ability are welcome!
Recommended for ages 8+ | Children under 8 years of age are welcome to join their adult and craft a story together. Please be mindful this will be a quiet writing session.
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Description: Learn how to make a cat wand toy featuring a floppy fish, feathers, ribbon and beads. Attach the toys to your handmade wand or just finish them as-is for some kitty free-play.
Best for ages 6+ | No experience necessary but participants must be comfortable with cutting with scissors, and gluing.
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There's so much more to feeding your cat than putting food in a bowl! Discover how food puzzles can add fun, enrichment, and variety to your cat's day, with practical tips to help every cat succeed.
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How to prepare your cat, your home, and your care plan before you travel
The presentation will help cat parents prepare for vacation care before they leave. Grace Taylor from Furever Friends Cat Sitting will cover how to compare care options, choose the right sitter, prepare enrichment and routines, plan for medical needs, and spot red flags. The goal is to help cats feel safe and supported at home, while giving their people more peace of mind while away.
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Do you know your loaf from your blep? Your tabbies from your torties? It's time for the ultimate cat showdown! Bring your team, put your feline expertise to the test, and battle through rounds of trivia covering everything cat. Who will be crowned the top cat experts?
All ages are welcome. | Teams are a maximum of 4 people each.
Caturday:
Whiskers & Windows Cat Tour
KittyCon may be on Sunday, but we’re kicking off Baltimore’s biggest cat-centric weekend a day early with the first-ever Whiskers & Windows on Caturday (Saturday, August 29, 2026)! Hop aboard the Maryland Double Decker Bus to see local cats showing off from decorated windows across the city. Explore the sections below to purchase tour tickets or apply to feature your home and feline family members along the route.
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Kick off KittyCon weekend in the most Baltimore way possible — with cats in windows and a ride through the city aboard the Maryland Double Decker Bus!
BARCS and the Maryland Double Decker Bus are proud to purrsent the very first Whiskers & Windows on Caturday, the eve of KittyCon. Hop aboard an open-top double decker bus and cruise through Baltimore neighborhoods where cat-loving residents are teaming up to decorate their homes and proudly showcase their feline friends lounging, posing, judging, and people-watching from their windows.
Think twinkle lights, themed decorations, neighborhood pride, and dozens of local cats serving main character energy from the comfort of their homes. It’s part sightseeing tour, part neighborhood celebration, and fully a love letter to Baltimore’s cat people.
Tours will depart from and return to Pickett Brewing Company in Pigtown. Guests are encouraged to arrive early for check-in, drinks, and pre-tour mingling before boarding begins.
Tour Schedule:
• Check-In: 11:00 AM | Tour: 11:30 AM–12:30 PM
• Check-In: 12:30 PM | Tour: 1:00 PM–2:00 PM
• Check-In: 2:00 PM | Tour: 2:30 PM–3:30 PMTicket Pricing:
• Upper Open-Air Deck: $40
• Lower Level Seating: $30Seats are limited and expected to sell quickly. Whether you’re a devoted cat person, a Baltimore enthusiast, or just someone who appreciates wonderfully weird community events, the Whiskers & Window Tour is the purrfect way to begin KittyCon weekend.
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Sign up for the chance to have your home and feline family members featured along the official Whiskers & Windows double-decker bus tour route on Saturday, August 29. BARCS is currently mapping the route, and participating bus-tour stops will be selected based on location and proximity to other registered window cats so we can create a fun route with plenty of cats to see.
Even if your home is not included on the official bus route, every registered window cat will be added to the public Whiskers & Windows neighborhood map. Cat lovers can use this free, self-guided map to discover fantastic felines in their own neighborhoods or plan their own window-cat adventure across Baltimore.
Sponsors & Vendors
**UPDATE 7/17/26: Wow! Our 2026 vendor spaces are officially sold out. Thank you to everyone who signed up to be part of KittyCon!
A limited number of vendor spaces are still reserved for sponsorship packages that include booth space. These sponsorships begin at $250. Check out the 2026 Sponsor Packet to learn more about the available opportunities and benefits.**
Interested in getting involved? Don’t wait too long though…these spots tend to disappear faster than a cat whose spidey-senses alerted him that your hand just grabbed the nail clippers from three rooms away.
BARCS Purrs Too
When many people think about BARCS, they think about dogs—it is the onomatopoeia in our acronym after all. And much of the public conversation around animal shelters focuses on dogs, especially now, as shelters across the country face historic overcrowding and rising large dog intake. But BARCS purrs too!
Every year, around 5,000 homeless cats come through our shelter doors. Tiny kittens needing foster care. Senior cats needing comfort and medical support. Cats recovering from illness or injury. Cats whose families ran out of options. Cats waiting for someone to choose them. Beyond the sheltering of adoptable cats, BARCS also provides Trap-Neuter-Return and vaccination services to more than 2,000 outdoor community cats each year, while helping thousands more owned cats through accessible medical care and safety net programs designed to keep pets with the families who love them.
Over the last 20 years, BARCS has welcomed well over 100,000 homeless cats through our shelter, while providing lifesaving support to countless more throughout Baltimore City. That’s why we created KittyCon!
It’s a celebration of cats and the people who love them. It’s also an opportunity to shine a light on the enormous amount of feline lifesaving work happening at BARCS every single day. This growing annual event is a fundraiser that helps BARCS continue providing medical care, foster homes, adoption programs, community cat services, and second chances to thousands of cats every year.
And yes, it’s also just really fun: Presentations, crafts, cat art, local makers, authors, one-of-a-kind experiences, adoptable cats, and people proudly arriving—and leaving—covered in cat hair.