programming

marcatplace

Featuring all kinds of cat-tastic merch, businesses with the latest and greatest products for your cat, and nonprofit organizations that care for cats in need sharing their work and how people can support their mission. See the full vendor list.

workshops

Hands-on sessions with cat experts and advocates will help you better understand and connect with cats and learn about supporting cats in need. Topics range from TNR, to DIY cat toy crafting, to bodega cats, to clicker training, and more! Full workshops schedule & details here.

cat adoptions

The VCF is thrilled to partner with nonprofit animal welfare organizations to offer cat adoptions at the festival! Information about the adoption requirements will be available before the festival for those interested in adding a new furry family member.

meet & greets

Meow! Stop by to say hi and take some photos with entertainers, like Moshow pictured here, in the MarCATplace throughout the day. In addition to entertainers, there will be some PAW-some cats available to meet & greet for those that want to give some pets!

Costume purrade

Cat-themed costumes and apparel are encouraged! Each day will conclude with a costume PURR-ade, hosted by our trio of Broadway Cats, featuring award categories and prizes. Full details about the costume PURR-ade, including award categories, coming soon!

RAFFLE

In addition to the costume PURR-ade, each day will conclude with a raffle drawing. Raffle prizes are sponsored by vendors and other businesses with a focus on felines. 100% of raffle ticket proceeds is donated to nonprofit animal welfare organizations. See the full list of raffle sponsors.

activities & games

Part of our mission is to cultivate community among our cat-lovin’ attendees. The MarCATplace will feature a main stage with activities and games, like cat karaoke, and a free play area where people can hang out and enjoy the coloring station, cat-themed board and card games, and more!

EVENTS

In addition to workshop sessions, we're excited to present two special cat-themed events: a live concert by comedy duo Griefcat and a screening of CatVideoFest. Entry is included with all VCF badges. Full details and schedule info here!

SPECIAL GUESTS

Charmaine Freemonk first rescued kittens when she was about four, with her mom of course, and has nearly always had a kitty companion. She has been training cats since joining the touring group, The Amazing Acro-Cats aka Rock Cats Rescue. Clicker training and other forms of positive reinforcement training are fascinating, useful and fun and she quickly became hooked on using the simple practices to teach complex behaviors to her cats. She has worked on multiple commercial and short projects sets with Amazing Animals and enjoyed a run working with the canines on the set of the feature film Think Like a Dog. Charmaine loves her seven kitties and enjoys talking all things cat. She is also a musician and circus artist.

Cowboy Cat Wrangler (Bob Lynch) has spent over a decade practicing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), spaying, neutering, and caring for thousands of cats while also socializing and rehoming many. A longtime colony caretaker in Northeast Philadelphia, he looks after 15 colonies—100+ cats—every day of the year.

Bob’s journey began as a kid in the Pocono Mountains, helping his grandfather care for barn cats in the late ’70s, before TNR was widely known. Today, he continues that legacy by educating communities, mentoring others, and partnering with rescue organizations and clinics to create healthier, safer lives for feral and stray cats.

Dan Rimada is the founder and author behind Bodega Cats of New York, a public archive documenting the working cats, shopkeepers, and neighborhood stories inside New York City bodegas. Since launching the project in 2022, he has documented hundreds of stores across the five boroughs and helped turn a familiar corner-store presence into a nationally recognized cultural story.

His work has been covered by major local, national, and international outlets, helped support legislative momentum around New York's working shop cats, and is now becoming a coffee table book from Quarto Publishing, forthcoming October 2026.

Griefcat is a musical comedy duo formed in 2019 by Washington, DC songwriters Annie Nardolilli and Louisa Hall, blending sharp wit, genre-spanning musicianship, campy humor, and tongue-in-cheek sociopolitical commentary. Their unique style has earned them 150M+ social media views, praise from outlets including The Washington Post, a standing ovation from Simon Cowell, and a growing fanbase, while they continue releasing new music and performing following the release of their third album, Dirty Laundry.

Griefcat: From the German word Kummerspeck or in English “grief bacon,” the weight you gain from emotional eating or, in this case, the cat you get after a breakup.

Kate Benjamin has been writing about cats and design since 2007. She is the founder of Hauspanther, a lifestyle brand for design-conscious cat lovers. She designs and manufactures handmade cat toys, beds and other cat products at her studio in Phoenix AZ. You may have seen her guest appearances on Jackson Galaxy’s show My Cat From Hell where she helped Catify homes to satisfy both cats and their guardians. Kate and Jackson co-authored two New York Times bestsellers, Catification and Catify to Satisfy, the ultimate guides to designing a cat-friendly home. Kate’s passion and mission are to use design to make the world a better place for cats and the people who love them.

Mary Stevens is a feline behavior consultant with nearly 20 years of experience as a veterinary technician, bringing a unique medical and behavioral perspective to the cats and families she works with. She specializes in helping with challenges like aggression, fear, litter box issues, and difficult introductions using science-based, cat-friendly methods. Mary completed the Cat Trainer Program through Animal Behavior College and has continued her education under feline behaviorist Laura Cassiday at Pawsitive Vibes Cat Training and Behavior since 2023. She is a FelineVMA Certified Cat Friendly Professional, an Elite Fear Free Veterinary Professional, and a member of the Pet Professional Guild’s Feline Division Committee.

Moshow was born and raised in inner Baltimore, MD. He defied the odds to build a name for himself as the Internet’s premiere Cat Rapper. He now calls Portland, OR his home with his 5 spirited cats - Black $avage, Strawberry Lemonade , Lil Parmesan, Fried Onions, and Crab Cakes.

Moshow is on a mission to inspire the world, sharing with others the lessons he has learned. He reminds us to never give up on ourselves, and to follow our dreams, no matter where they take us! Find him on social media for more: @iAmMoshow.

Laura Cassiday is a certified cat behavior consultant living in Baltimore, Maryland. She began her career with Maryland SPCA, where she served as the cat behavior coordinator, implementing enrichment programs and initiatives to improve the welfare of shelter cats. In 2021, Laura founded Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training, focusing on addressing behavior issues in private homes to prevent cats from entering shelters. Through remote and local sessions, she resolves aggression, destructive behavior, and litter box concerns while empowering caregivers with a deeper understanding of their feline companions. Laura is also actively involved in advocacy efforts, such as supporting the Maryland Anti-Declaw Bill, is a published author of The Complete Guide to Adopting a Cat, and serves as Feline Division Chair of the Pet Professional Guild.

workshops & EVENTS

Each session will be offered once during the festival. Session times are subject to change. Click on the + next to the event’s title for full details.

Presenter: Dan Rimada
Saturday 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
This session will take a big-picture look at bodega cats: why they exist, the role they play inside New York City bodegas, and why they occupy such a strange legal gray area. Drawing on stories from years of documenting bodega cats across the city, Dan will discuss the realities of their lives, the challenges they face, and what better standards of care could look like.
Presenter: Cat Action Team
Saturday 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Join Cat Action Team for an introduction to the practice of TNR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) and learn how to manage a colony of community cats! This workshop will include information on the purpose of TNVR, setting up a trapping plan, trap types and how-to's, taking on a colony, and much more.
Live concert performed by Griefcat
Saturday 3:30 - 4:30 PM
Griefcat is a musical comedy duo (Annie Nardolilli and Louisa Hall) that blends sharp wit, campy humor, and tongue-in-cheek sociopolitical commentary. Their unique style has earned them 150M+ social media views, a standing ovation from Simon Cowell, and a growing fanbase.
Presenter: Charmaine Freemonk
Sunday 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
A starter guide to clicker training with cats! Step-by-step directions
to get clicking quickly. We will be talking terminology, clicker
timing, training habits, and treats! The different ways to reward with
food, mark training and uses, how to teach high-fives and hoop jumps,
and the most important question: what does your cat want?

We will delve into clicker vs voice and how to use each one
effectively, why diet is important to keep in mind with treats, how to
respect your cat’s boundaries, the importance of consistency, and some
day-to-day scenarios where the training canoe put to use.

We’ll finish up with a live demo with one or more special guest cats or kittens!
Film Screening
Sunday 1:00 - 2:15 PM
CatVideoFest is a joyous, family friendly reel of the latest and greatest internet cat videos!
Presenter: Kate Benjamin
Sunday 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Learn what’s new in 2026 design techniques and products to help you create a cat-friendly home that doesn’t scream crazy cat lady.
Saturday & Sunday
Presenters: Laura Cassiday & Mary Stevens
Additional Ticket Required
Meet one-on-one with either Laura or Mary of Pawsitive Vibes for a 20-minute “Ask the Behaviorist” mini session focused on your cat’s behavior questions or challenges. These short consultations are designed to provide guidance, next steps, and practical recommendations within the time available, making them a great option for discussing specific concerns and getting professional insight.
“Ask A Behaviorist” mini session tickets are only valid in combination with a VCF badge.
Presenter: Kate Benjamin
Additional Ticket Required
4 Sessions:
Saturday 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Saturday 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Sunday 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Sunday 1:15 - 2:15 PM
Kate will guide you through a hands-on workshop exploring how to create engaging toys that tap into your cat’s natural hunting instincts. Learn how different toy types mimic prey such as birds, bugs, and mice, and discover how to identify your cat’s unique play preferences. Kate will explain the benefits of both interactive and independent play, along with tips for rotating toys, incorporating textures and scents, and keeping playtime safe and enriching.
Participants will craft 6 toys during the workshop to take home. All supplies are provided. Sessions are limited to 25 participants.
Session tickets are only valid in combination with a VCF badge.