Cat Video Fest Returns To Music Box — And Adoptable Kittens Will Be There, Too

The Music Box is hosting the event the weekend of August 5-6, with part of the proceeds going to Red Door Animal Shelter.

LAKEVIEW — A feline takeover is approaching, as a nationwide film festival all about cats makes its way to Chicago.

In Cat Video Fest, theaters around the country showcase clips selected from countless hours of cat-related video submissions. The historic Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., will host the Chicago screenings August 5-6, with an encore screening August 8.

Cat-lovers submit more than 400 clips annually to be featured in a finished film, including music videos, animations and feline-related viral videos. The best submissions get compiled into the 75-minute film for all to watch.

The festival started in 2012 in Minnesota, drawing an audience of more than 10,000 people, and has received national attention since. The Music Box has shown the annual Cat Video Fest the past several summers.

“I feel like the majority of people enjoy cat videos. You’re scrolling through Instagram or Facebook, and there’s always funny little videos that pop up that give you a little chuckle,” said Claire Alden, membership and group sales manager at Music Box Theatre. “It’s a really fun experience to be able to feel that with hundreds of other people in the room with you. And on top of that, it’s for a good cause.”

Not only will cats be featured on screen, they will be up for adoption as well. Red Door Animal Shelter, 2410 W. Lunt Ave., will bring kittens that will be available for adoption to the August 8 screening. (While you won’t be able to walk away with your chosen cat that night, you’ll get an idea of the cats available at Red Door.)

The no-kill shelter for cats, rabbits and dogs advises those interested in kittens to educate themselves before bringing one into your home.

“Kittens require a lot of time, patience and supervision. Be realistic about whether you will have enough time to care for a kitten,” the animal shelter posted on its website.

Cat Video Fest tickets are $12 and can be bought on the Music Box website; 10 percent of the ticket sales from the fest will be donated to Red Door Animal Shelter.

“We chose Red Door because we believe that they do incredible work. It helps us put a spotlight on them and they put a spotlight on us. It’s become a very nice symbiotic relationship between the both of us,” Alden said.

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