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The cats are taking over Somerville again! The second annual Somerville Cat Tour is happening on Saturday, November 14, starting from our Somerville clinic at 116 Beacon Street. It’s free to join, and this year we’re bringing a rescue partner along for the walk.
Never been on a cat tour? Here's what you're in for.
A cat tour is a neighborhood walk where the local cats are the attractions. Instead of landmarks, each stop is a home where a resident cat is waiting to be admired from a sunny window, a porch, or a front step.
Owners nominate their cats ahead of time, and the route links those homes into one walk. Along the way, you meet the cats, the people who love them, and neighbors you've probably passed for years without saying hello.
Think of it as part block party, part celebration of the cats who quietly run our neighborhoods.
Honestly, we didn't know what to expect. We'd seen cat tours take off in Minneapolis and Toronto and figured it was worth a try here. Then more than 150 of you showed up, and we're still smiling about it.
Neighbors wandered the streets around the Somerville Market Basket together, stopping to say hello to the cats who make this community feel like home. If you're curious how it all started, here's our post on bringing a global feline adventure to Somerville's streets.
The idea didn't stop at our city line, either. Cambridge hosted its first Cat Tour & Meowfest earlier this fall and named the Somerville Cat Tour as one of its inspirations. We'll take that as a compliment.
We're teaming up with Broken Tail Rescue to make the day even more special. Broken Tail is a volunteer-run Massachusetts nonprofit that rescues cats and dogs, cares for them in foster homes, and matches them with new families.
Every cat they place is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and vet examined before going home. Walking alongside a rescue is a reminder that the tour isn't only about the cats who already have a windowsill to call their own. It's about the ones still looking for one, too.
If you’d like to help them find one, consider making a donation to Broken Tail Rescue. The tour itself is free, and you can give on the day or ahead of time through their donation page.
Every block has one: the window watcher, the porch greeter, the cat who knows the mail carrier's schedule better than you do. If that sounds like your cat, nominate them using the form below.
Your cat might be tour material if they:
And if your cat is more "back of the closet" than "front of the window," that's completely fine. Some stars just prefer a private audience.
The best tour stops are cats who are enjoying themselves, so it's worth knowing when yours has had enough. Cats are experts at hiding stress, and Cats Protection lists visitors among the common triggers. Learn these signs of stress in cats before the big day:
If you spot any of these, let your cat retreat to a quiet room. The group will happily move on, and your cat's comfort always comes before the photo op.
You don’t need a cat to join the walk. Maybe you’re between pets, maybe your building doesn’t allow them, or maybe you just wave at the same window cat every morning. This tour is for you.
Here’s how the day runs:
Cat ears, whiskers, costumes, and cats in strollers are all encouraged. Dogs need to sit this one out, though, so the kitties feel safe. If it rains, we’ll walk on Sunday, November 15 instead.
Registration is free, so save your spot before it fills up.
Register for the Somerville Cat Tour
Maybe your cat has been hiding more than usual and you want a check before tour day. Maybe learning about Broken Tail Rescue has you thinking about adopting. Either way, we'd love to help at our Tandem vet clinic in Somerville. Spread the word, grab a friend, and we'll see you on November 14.
Join the movement to reimagine vet care— Transparent, convenient, and hassle-free.
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