Surrey Family Days Out | Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November
Forget dusty church halls. Velvet Rebellion is an international championship cat show styled like a fashion week, and it’s coming to Leatherhead next weekend. Here are five reasons to go.
1. A cat show with glamour
Felinology, run by sisters Jo and Emily, has been staging shows since 2016 and now runs international championship shows for TICA, The International Cat Association. Velvet Rebellion is the first of a three-part “Fashion Trilogy”, designed to feel glamorous rather than dusty.
2. Meet breeds you’ve never seen
Watch the judging up close, with judges flying in from as far as Canada, and meet breeds you might never have seen in person: cloud-like Persians and Ragdolls, leopard-spotted Bengals and the hairless Sphynx, which apparently feels like a warm peach.
3. Rescue moggies compete too
It’s not just pedigrees. Household pets, including rescue moggies, compete for rosettes as well, and the show supports cat welfare charities. Last year, 121 breeders and around 650 visitors came along.
4. Brilliant for children
Under-12s go free. There’s a Cativity Zone with crafts and a breed hunt, and children can join Gentle Paws, a short session with Ellie’s Animal Academy that teaches them to handle cats kindly, with a certificate for everyone.
5. Shop for cat lovers
A marketplace of independent cat businesses runs both days, so it’s a great place to pick up Christmas presents for the cat lovers in your life, or a treat for your own feline.
Tickets and info
Velvet Rebellion International Cat Show
Leatherhead Leisure Centre, Guildford Road, Leatherhead KT22 9BL
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026, 10am – 4pm (last entry 3pm)
Adults £12 | Under-12s free | Family tickets from £22