Cat Fest Colorado 2025 - How Cats Empower Our Mental Wellbeing

Mentally United Inc.
3 days ago
3 min read

Published: 20th November 2025

By Mentally United Inc.

On Sunday, November 9, 2025, Mentally United returned to Cat Fest Colorado 2025 held at National Western Expo Hall in Denver for the second year in a row, and once again, it was nothing short of extraordinary.

Organized by Dana Cain Events, Cat Fest Colorado 2025 welcomed a record-breaking 7,577 attendees this year, making it the most vibrant and energetic celebration of cat lovers Colorado has seen yet. We were proud to be part of this beautiful day alongside artists, rescues, vendors, and animal advocates, all united by a shared love for cats and community.

At our booth, Mentally United shared a message we hold close: animals, especially cats, play a powerful role in our mental health. Whether it's the soothing rhythm of a purring cat, the grounding ritual of daily care, or the emotional support we feel from simply not being alone - animals help us regulate, reconnect, and heal. As a nonprofit focused on mental health access, we used Cat Fest as an opportunity to offer something tangible and heartfelt to the community. We distributed over 3,000 free mental health resources, including self-regulation tools, mindfulness cards, wellness guides, and cat-themed affirmations designed to reduce stress and support emotional healing.

Many visitors opened up about their own mental health journeys, often pointing to the role their cats played in helping them through grief, anxiety, isolation, or burnout. To honor those stories, we created a community poster at our table asking: “How has your cat helped your mental well-being?”

Throughout the day, the poster filled up with handwritten messages - raw, humorous, touching, and honest. Each note reflected something we already know to be true: animals ground us. They give us purpose. They sit with us through the noise. Some people shared stories of grief and companionship. Others wrote about their cats easing anxiety, helping them through depression, or simply being their reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Attendees with their messages on "How Have Cats Empowered Your Mental Wellness"

In addition to sharing resources, we also recorded a short community campaign on-site, capturing reflections from attendees about how events like Cat Fest strengthen connection and how animals — especially cats - can serve as emotional anchors during difficult times. The footage will be featured in an upcoming campaign video on the role of cats play in empowering our mental wellness.

By the end of the day, we had also raised over $500 in grassroots donations, helping us continue to fund free resource kits for families, schools, and underserved communities across Colorado.

We’re deeply grateful to the Cat Fest team, especially Dana Cain and the event volunteers, for giving us the opportunity to be part of such a vibrant and meaningful gathering. We left the event feeling renewed - not just by the outpouring of support, but by the reminder that mental health work doesn’t have to be clinical to be powerful. It can happen right in the middle of an expo hall, surrounded by joy, laughter, and a whole lot of cats.