By
Christene Kidd
11/1/26
•
10 min
Events, community, volunteering, and other places to be harassed by cute kitties.
If you’ve already done the cat cafes (if you haven’t, I covered those here), you might be wondering what else San Jose has to offer the kitty obsessed.
Tldr: A lot.
In fact, the South Bay has an entire ecosystem devoted to these cuties: conventions, street festivals, maker fairs, and volunteer opportunities for people who want to support.
And the great part is: you don’t even need to have a cat to join in on the fun.
So, whether you’re on the hunt for things to do or want to make a difference, San Jose has something for you.
Once a year, downtown San Jose goes full kitty.
San Jose Cat Day turns the city into a mecca for original cat art, dozens of artists selling cat-themed merch, a cat cafe, and a kitten lounge where you can get your meow-meow fix. Past events have drawn huge crowds, including plenty of cats making a cameo appearance in backpacks.
San Jose Cat Day is a collaboration between San Jose Made, the San Jose Downtown Association, and Mini Cat Town.
It usually takes place on a Saturday in late March in downtown San Jose. Follow San Jose Made on Instagram for announcements about upcoming dates.
Best for: discovering that your definition of “window shopping” includes bringing home a kitten after saying you wouldn't buy anything. (Should've specified, I guess.)
San Jose Made organizes year-round maker markets and craft fairs throughout the year, bringing together local artists, small businesses, and the opportunity to get distracted by cute cats as some events feature a kitten lounge hosted by Mini Cat Town.
At past Summer Fairs, visitors could book 15 minutes of kitten playtime for $15. Walk-in spots are typically limited, so advance reservations are recommended.
Admission to SJMADE events is free, making it a good way to support local makers without committing to anything.
Check the SJMADE website for their upcoming event details, including outdoor festivals and the Holiday Fair. If the kitten lounge is your main attraction, confirm that it'll be available at the specific event before telling the group chat.
Best for: A weekend outing, unique gifts, and supporting local makers.
Got a kitty at home and need someone to keep them company while you're away? We offer in-home cat care in San Jose and San Francisco, so your feline can feel good knowing nothing's changed while you’re out and about.
Get in touch with me at [email protected].
The most popular way to connect with San Jose's cat community is to volunteer! (Surprise, surprise!)
Use Santa Clara County's Cat Resource Center as your starting point for exploring the local kitty welfare community.
Its website is an information hub on adoption, fostering cats and kittens, and finding answers to common cat care questions. The organization also collaborates with local animal welfare groups, including the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority and San Martin Animal Shelter, to help cats and kittens get the care they need.
If you've ever wanted to learn how people pull off local rescue efforts (or you’re not sure where to begin) this is a good place to start.
Some of the best moments start in a Facebook group (and the like.)
So, go on the hunt for some good neighborhood groups and Nextdoor communities, as they can be great places to connect with people who are on the ground doing amazing work for local cats. They’re also useful for sharing information about lost pets, local reports, and finding recs for animal services.
Just be prepared to see conversations mostly centered on badly angled cat pics.
San Jose has several organizations that need volunteers to help cats find safety, care, and permanent homes.
Thousands of orphaned kittens enter the San Jose Animal Care Center each year, many of them sick.
Mini Cat Town helps provide for these amongst other vulnerable kitties. The organization runs a kitten foster program through its Eastridge location and recruits foster caregivers, particularly during kitten season, which typically runs from spring through fall.
If you're interested in fostering, you can apply through Mini Cat Town’s online shelter portal. Its hybrid program allows caregivers to look after kittens at home while remaining connected to the org.
Fostering can be super valuable for young kittens as they need extra care and do best within a home environment.
A good fit for: People who have the time and space to care for kittens temporarily and want to make a direct difference in their early lives.
Kittens tend to get all of the attention, so it's important to remember that adult cats need love too.
13th Street Cat Rescue focuses on providing cats with a home environment where they can get 1-on-1 care and their personalities can shine through. This gives potential adopters more info about the cats they’re considering bringing home so they can better gauge if it's a good fit.
The rescue provides fostering guidance and essentials such as litter boxes, toys, and other kitty supplies.
If you like the idea of helping an adult kitty settle while they wait for their forever home, this could be a great place for you.
A good fit for: People who want to help adult cats and get them ready to be re-homed.
Cat Welfare Advocates has been serving the San Jose community since 2017, helping cats in need through its foster program.
Fostering takes place in your own home, and volunteers need to meet certain requirements, including being at least 18, attending an orientation, having a driver's license, and living near San Jose.
As with any rescue organization, availability and specific requirements can change, so check directly with the group before making plans.
A good fit for: People who have room for a feline guest and want to support a local org.
Silicon Valley Pet Project relies on foster homes to help pets at risk in local shelters.
But if you want to get involved but aren’t able to foster, there may also be available opportunities to help with the program’s operations.
A good fit for: People interested in hands-on animal care and/or the behind-the-scenes coordination that makes rescue work possible.
Based in Milpitas, Humane Society Silicon Valley works to connect animals with adoptive families and offers a range of ways for community members to get involved.
Opportunities may include helping kitties socialize, assisting with transportation, and supporting animal care at the facility. The organization also offers fostering education and classes during kitten season.
A good fit for: People looking for structured volunteer opportunities, whether they’re interested in fostering or helping at the facility.
Imagine spending a morning in a room surrounded by kitties who would very much appreciate extra head rubs.
That’s what you get at The Dancing Cat, a nonprofit in downtown San Jose that provides a comfortable environment for at-risk adult cats from the San Jose Animal Care Center.
Volunteering can involve spending time with the cats and helping them become more comfortable around people because human interaction is valuable for kitties waiting for their forever home, particularly those who need patience and space to show their personalities.
It’s also a nice way to spend a morning, provided you can accept that you may leave having fallen in love :)
A good fit for: People who want to help adult kitties without fostering at home.
If you’ve been considering fostering but aren’t sure if you can take it on financially, this is your reminder that you don’t have to buy anything yourself.
Many rescue organizations provide all of the supplies such as food, litter, and toys. Exactly what’s covered varies by organization and foster arrangement. But usually, all you’re expected to do is provide the space, time, and a little patience while your tiny guest adjusts.
Foster stays can range from a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the organization. But they often work with volunteers to suit their availability.
And regardless of what your availability may be, the impact is huge.
The kittens under your care would benefit from the 1-on-1 socialization and attention. And the adult kitties would have an easier time showing their purrsonalities in a quieter setting, helping adopters understand what life with them will look like.
It might not seem like much, but for a kitty cat waiting for a home, the arrangement is very important.
Before signing up, ask each organization about its requirements, available supplies, veterinary support, expected time commitment, and what happens if you need to end a foster placement early. Knowing the details in advance helps make the experience better for everyone.
San José Cat Day typically takes place on a Saturday in late March in downtown San José. The 2026 event was held on March 28. Follow San José Made on Instagram or check its website for announcements about future dates.
Not always. Some events, including past Summer Fairs, have featured a kitten lounge hosted by Mini Cat Town. Check the details for the specific event before attending if kitten time is high on your agenda.
Mini Cat Town, 13th Street Cat Rescue, and Cat Welfare Advocates are potential starting points. Visit their websites to learn about applications, orientations, and current foster needs.
Requirements vary by organization, and some may include an orientation or home assessment. During kitten season, foster homes can be especially important, so it’s worth reaching out early if you’re interested.
Absolutely. Many organizations offer opportunities that don’t require you to take an animal home. Depending on current needs, you may be able to help with cat socialization, transportation, events, or administrative tasks.
The Dancing Cat and Humane Society Silicon Valley are two places to explore if you’re interested in in-person volunteering.
Of course! You don't need to have a cat-shaped hole in your household to be part of the local cat community.
You can attend San José Cat Day, visit SJMADE events with kitten lounges, volunteer with a rescue, or explore fostering if your circumstances allow. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the company of cats and support their well-being without being a kitty parent yourself.
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