When The Cat Show Live opens at the NEC Birmingham on Saturday, September 12, 6,500 visitors will walk through the doors. With 100s of businesses trading, three theatres will run talks all day, and over 30 pedigree breeds will meet the public face to face.

This year 18 cat rescues have taken a space, alongside charities including The Cinnamon Trust, Pet Blood Bank UK, Animal Cancer Trust and Animal FoodBank UK.

For most of them, this is the single biggest audience they will stand in front of all year.

"These are small teams, often a handful of volunteers working out of their own homes," said Jay Jones, Head of Operations. "Filey Cat Rescue, Stray Cat Rescue Team West Midlands, Next Steps in Shropshire, Cat Watch Rescue Shelter. They spend the year fostering cats in spare rooms and fundraising fifty pounds at a time. On the twelfth they get to stand in front of six and a half thousand people who all own cats and all want to talk about them."

The charities cover a striking range. The Cinnamon Trust exists so that elderly and terminally ill people do not have to give up their pets. Pet Blood Bank UK runs the blood bank that keeps cats alive during surgery. Animal FoodBank UK feeds the pets of families who are struggling to feed themselves. Rain Rescue, Lola's Mission, Club Cat Rescue and Happy Paws will all be rehoming and fundraising across the day.

Away from the rescue aisle, visitors will find the Cat Village, where over 30 breeds from Maine Coons to Sphynx can be met in person alongside their breeders, with TICA and the GCCF in attendance. Three theatres run talks from vets, behaviourists and breed experts. Social media famous cats appear throughout the day.

There is a children's area, and a managed quiet zone for neurodivergent visitors who need a calmer half hour away from the crowds. Under 5s go free and the venue is step free.

The Cat Show Live, Saturday 12 September 2026, Hall 3, NEC Birmingham, 10am to 5pm. Adults £35, children 5 to 16 £27, under 5s free, family of four £97. Tickets at thecatshowlive.co.uk.

In 2027 the show returns to the NEC and adds a second event at ExCeL London on Saturday 22 May.