True Pet Expo 2026 set for October with cats joining dogs for first time

True Pet Expo is returning in October 2026 with a major change: cats will share the bill with dogs for the first time, organisers told CVM TV’s Sunrise programme on July 8, 2026.

Tina Hamilton of True Pet and Crystal Handel of Island Whiskers appeared in studio with pets including Handel’s 16-year-old cat, Arthur, to outline plans for the next edition of the event, which was not held last year after Melissa.

Hamilton said the expo grew out of efforts near the end of the COVID period to bring pet owners back together after shows and other activations were halted. An early outing in 2022 focused on dogs. Subsequent editions expanded the mix, and the 2024 gathering drew more than 350 dogs after organisers had hoped for only about 50 to 100 people. Annual staging was later approved, but the 2025 date did not go ahead.

This year’s programme will keep dogs and cats in separate areas. Handel, described as a cat specialist behind Island Whiskers, said only animals with suitable temperaments will be accepted and that cats will be screened before entry. She noted that Jamaican cats vary widely in how they handle crowds and that early socialisation matters, especially given the island’s large stray population.

Organisers expect between 30 and 35 vendors, educational forums, and free veterinary checks. Hamilton said the expo is also a marketplace for pet-industry services many Jamaicans may not know exist locally, from specialised products to insurance and end-of-life care. Past editions have included birds and other small pets, she added, reflecting a pet market still dominated by dogs but with cats growing quickly, particularly among apartment dwellers.

Families are being encouraged to bring children. Hamilton said there will be supervised spaces for youngsters to meet animals, including puppy interaction, and a litter available for adoption. Handel, whose work centres on cat rescue, urged owners to spay and neuter pets to curb overpopulation, pointing to services such as Island Mobile and the JSPCA. True Pet’s True Cares programme can also help with the cost of sterilisation for cats and dogs.

Hamilton said anyone in the pet trade — retailers, service providers and related businesses — is invited to join the road to the expo ahead of the October date.