Anyone who’s lived in Richmond long enough knows that we are an animal-loving city, from precious household pets to scruffy alleyway friends and quintessential shop cats.
Just take note of the thousands of people who have leaped into action to pursue and petition the search for our community’s missing “Lowes cat” — @wheresfrancine?
On Saturday, Nov. 8, starting at 11 p.m., RVA Cat Tour will give Richmond’s cat-loving community a chance to connect, raise money for a local animal rescue, and put the spotlight on the neighborhood cats we love.
We hope dearly that Francine will make her homecoming by then.
What is RVA Cat Tour?
To give you a brief origin story, RVA Cat Tour is the TikTok-inspired passion project of Richmonder Sara Kendle, who says she “fell down the rabbit hole of loving cats” after adopting two of her own in 2024.
Benefitting the local animal rescue nonprofit, Tiny Paws RVA, the tour is a ticketed fundraiser event that leads participants through a guided neighborhood stroll, spotlighting residential cats in the area.
Last year’s tour routed the Fan. This year’s tour will include two simultaneous groups, each routed through ~15 cat-sighting stops in the Museum District.
All cats spotlighted on the tour have been previously registered with their names and addresses, so Kendle can create a practical, guided map from one stop to another.
“It’s up to the owners’ discretion how much interaction their cat has,” says Kendle. “They can take them outside. They can stand at the door or the window. They can be on a leash. If someone wants to put their cat in a backpack and join the tour, they can.”
If you see a stray or a window-cat along the way, that’s just a lucky bonus.
How do you get tickets?
Tickets will be released via an online sale on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Kendle will update this page with the link at 7 p.m. on the sale date.
Reserving your spot is totally free, but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged on the day of the tour via online links, mobile money apps, and cash. All donations will benefit Tiny Paws RVA.
You can also bring canned pet foods to help support the RVA Free Pet Pantry Project.
Pro tip: Tickets sold out within minutes last year, so be sure to set a reminder for the sale.
Will my neighborhood have a cat tour?
Kendle is hopeful to keep RVA Cat Tour an annual tradition. She has her sights set on a potential Church Hill tour next year, but the cat’s still in the bag on her final decision.
