'Taking over the world one cat video at a time'

Sheffield Cat Shelter mascot Travis and manager Rebecca Hollingworth

From Grumpy Cat to Lolcat, cats have been called the "unofficial mascot of the Internet".

In 2019, director Will Braden took the trend and created CatVideoFest, a film screening of internet cat videos to raise money for shelters. This year it had its UK debut in Sheffield.

This weekend, about 150 people will be helping to raise money for the Sheffield Cat Shelter by watching cat videos at Sheffield's Showroom Cinema.

US-based Mr Braden watches more than 15,000 submissions before compiling a 75-minute compilation of videos, animations and internet memes from all over the world.

Screenings are taking place in Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Singapore.

Mr Braden said it was the biggest year ever for the event and a step forward in its "quest to take over the world one cat video at a time".

Kate Hobbs says her cat Harry has been known to speak English

Kate Hobbs, a community worker, dressed especially for the Sheffield event, wearing a cat-patterned dress.

She said: "I watch cat videos online every day and I like to go on the Sheffield Cat Shelter website and read the bios of the cats because they're often really nicely written and I love hearing about the cats.

"In the evening me and my boyfriend, we often go on Instagram and watch a load of cat videos to relax, it's a nice part of the day."

Ms Hobbs has had her own cat, Harry, for 15 years.

"He's a beautiful fat, black cat and I adore him," she said.

"My mum thought he said 'Hello' once. It sounds really good the idea of your cat starting to speak English but actually it's terrifying and I think maybe that's part of why they're so funny on camera because they're not talking or communicating in the same way."

He favourite online cat video involves a kitten with a non-speaking part.

"There's one I really like of this kitten and someone cooking a rotisserie chicken on a spit and there's medieval music in the background and the kitten is getting excited eating all the meat. And then the caption is something like 'chill out bro it's all yours'."

Katie Richardson's cat Galaxy was a rescue from the RSPCA

Katie Richardson, whose rescue cat Galaxy came from the RSPCA, said she had come along to support the shelter.

She said: "I've always had rescue animals, I've had rescue dogs before, so I think it's really important the work they do.

"I love watching cat videos online. They're so funny. My favourites are the ones where they fall over or fly in the air."

Sadly, she has never been able to capture Galaxy getting up to any antics.

"My cat's quite a lazy girl so I don't have too many funny clips of her. Sleeping is her favourite hobby."

Milly Guthrie adopted two cats from Sheffield Cat Rescue 20 years ago

Milly Guthrie began volunteering with Sheffield Cat Shelter after she adopted two cats from them 20 years ago.

She was aware of CatVideoFest after seeing it in America.

She said: "I really enjoyed the film. I can remember seeing it years ago when I used to live in New York. People were laughing all the way through it. It's an interesting and fun idea."

One of her cats died last year but the other still keeps her on her toes.

"My cats climb up things. We could never have a Christmas tree when the cats were quite small because they would climb up and throw things at each other and at us."

Sheffield Cat Shelter has been helping animals since 1897 when it was founded by Jane Barker and called Miss Jane Barker's Home For Starving Cats.

Today it is based in Broomhall and has charity shops at Hillsborough Barracks and Eccleshall Road.

Rebecca Hollingworth, the charity's cat welfare manager, said the event was about raising awareness.

She said: "We didn't know about CatVideoFest before this year.

"Our own cats and the shelter cats are always doing something fun. So we don't need to go on YouTube."

Her own cat Bradders has his own quirky behaviours.

"He's a little senior chap now but he doesn't look it and he doesn't act it. He's wonderful.

"He's a daddy's boy and he likes to spoon with his daddy of a night-time. He'll come into the bed and then he gets in, does a few laps under the quilt, plonks himself on an arm and goes to sleep for the night."

There are three screenings at Showroom Cinema this weekend with 10% of ticket proceeds going to the Sheffield Cats Shelter. Later in December the film will be screened at Bristol Watershed cinema.

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