I’ve never been to, or heard of, a large scale cat-themed event in the many years I’ve lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Only last year, I learned about the cat cafe in Hattiesburg from my delightful friend Mary. As a matter of fact, that road trip was the catalyst for the Gulf Coast Cat Expo!

Where do enthusiastic cat-lovers gather en masse? Where do hardworking cat rescues get visibility in the community? Where do cat-loving artists, makers, and vendors showcase their gorgeous creations, works and services?

The Mississippi Gulf Coast deserves to have this gathering for the cat community. This is why we’re building the Gulf Coast Cat Expo.

Cat rescues across our region face many challenges: limited funding, overcrowding during kitten season, and public misconceptions about cats and community cat programs. In parallel, the good folks and families of the coast are looking for meaningful events: experiences that are fun, community-driven, and rooted in compassion, support, and collaboration.

We’re putting together an advocacy-forward and thoughtfully curated place where our local feline enthusiasts can connect, small businesses can thrive, and local cat welfare and rescue efforts can gain visibility.

We’re in the early stages, and aiming for the premier event in September of 2027 (building something meaningful takes time!). While we’re building, I’d love to hear what you feel is missing for the cat lovers in our Gulf Coast community.

And if you believe we need a stronger, more connected cat community, I’d love for you to follow along. Subscribe for updates and share this post with your fellow cat-loving friends!

Lots of Love, Happy Valentine’s Day, and Happy Caturday! 😸