A lively gathering of pet lovers, "Pet Fair 2025", was held in Rajshahi to brighten up the weekly holiday.

From 10am on Friday (October 24), cat lovers crowded into a community centre in the city with cats of various breeds. Hundreds of people from Rajshahi and neighbouring districts brought their pets to the festival.

About 250 cats took part in the fair, held for the sixth time. Their names and outfits caught visitors' eyes. Cats named Pushpa, Thor, Rio, Kitty, Biscuit, Leo, Panda, Tom, Cairo, Abby and Gullu were the centre of attention. A special fashion show was held for the cats, in which they walked the stage in colourful clothes and unique outfits.

The fair also featured seminars, games for cats and their owners, displays of pet products and services, and entertainment. Animal lovers of all ages crowded the fairground throughout the day, spending time with their beloved pets with smiling faces.

Cat lover Rafia Akter said: "I brought my pet cat Kitty to the fair so she can mix with other animals. It's helping her get over her fear. Events like this increase people's love for animals and birds."

Ahsan Habib, who took part in the fair, said: "Our main aim is to strengthen the bond between pets and their owners. The goal of this event is to build care, love and a sense of responsibility towards pets."

Minarul Islam Minar, owner of Pet World, said such fairs have become quite popular in Rajshahi. Pet owners get the chance to share experiences with each other. "Most importantly, it is a great initiative to raise awareness of animal welfare," he said.

He said that bigger pet fairs will be held in Rajshahi in future, so that it becomes not just a fair but a festival of animal welfare and love.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.