4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Cat Expo returns to Wan Chai with Ancient Egyptian theme
Feline domestication is often attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, who were known to live alongside their
cat companions and even worship them. The goddess Bastet, protector and symbol of fertility, is depicted with a cat's head, while tomb walls bear images of animals that resemble our present-day pets.
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Millennia later, this year's theme at the Hong Kong Cat Expo traces a direct ball of twine back to that long-ago time and place.
The event, which debuted in 2023, will return from August 1 to 3 to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Visitors will be greeted by four-metre-high pyramid replicas and a catty King Tut, setting the scene for a playful history lesson with whiskers.
The Hong Kong Cat Expo will feature workshops and seminars on feline affairs. Photo: Hong Kong Cat Expo
Like the ancient Egyptians, Hong Kong has had its own love affair with cats, though perhaps more for practicality than worship. Since the city's heyday as a maritime trading hub,
shop cats have been on pest-control duty in dried seafood stores. Head to Sheung Wan or Sai Ying Pun and you'll still find these furry employees, though these days they are more likely to be snoozing than hunting vermin.
Hong Kong's fondness for cats is backed by numbers. A 2024 survey by Ipsos shows owners can spend around HK$680,000 on cat care over the course of their pet's life. The Cat Expo taps into this community by offering cat-inspired products from local and overseas vendors, such as pet clothes, premium nibbles and claw-proof home decor, as well as vet stations. There will also be an exhibition organised by the
Cat Fanciers' Association and the World Cat Congress, alongside a programme of cat-related short films, amid artworks featuring Mandycat and the Luk Chin Gang.
A pair of cats are introduced to one another at last year's Hong Kong Cat Expo. Photo: May Tse
The event will also host seminars that bring owners up to speed on topics such as feline health and grooming, ensuring owners know how to properly pamper their stay-at-home overlords.
Hong Kong Cat Expo 2025, August 1 to 3. Tickets from HK$30. Visit
Exhibition Group Limited
