«Mockery of living beings». Belarusians outraged by conditions for cats at the «Murfest» exhibition in the capital
On September 19, the contact cat exhibition «Murfest» began its work at the «Chervensky» shopping and entertainment center in Minsk. Already the next day, concerned people began to raise an alarm for the animals exhibited there.
According to visitors, the cats already look exhausted, although the exhibition announced it would run until November 8 inclusive. Before this, the same animals toured Russia, where the organizers also faced criticism and calls to stop this mockery. In Chelyabinsk, local authorities even banned the «Murfest» exhibition, citing violations in the transportation and placement of the four-legged animals.
Belarusians who have already visited «Murfest» report that beneath the beautiful wrapping, they saw the organizers' desire to profit from the poor cats, who run from corner to corner hoping to find peace.
«Exhausted, as if under the influence of sedatives — the cats either sleep or try to escape from children who constantly hug them or poke them with sticks,» one visitor shared her observations on Threads.
«Some look sickly, very anxious, they are in a state of stress.»
«Why does no one at the exhibition control how animals are treated?» another Belarusian asks, having witnessed firsthand how the organizers ignored a cat's aggressive reaction to the touch of another visitor.
Visitors also questioned the space provided for the cats in the shopping center.
«For this 'Murfest', a rented room with a concrete floor and banners instead of walls. And when you go in, you don't see cats, but a huge crowd of people around them,» another Belarusian shares her impressions. «In the center — scratching posts, houses, a treadmill, and only three or four litter boxes for the entire room (some not even cleaned), about the same number of water bowls. Despite there being about 13-15 cats there.»
According to an eyewitness, rest for the cats is provided exclusively in cages, but only if exhibition staff allow it.
«Murfest» operates in the capital daily, except Monday, from 11:00 to 20:00. With such a schedule, the animals can only fully rest once a week from the stream of people who want to pet them because they paid money for it. Tickets for «Murfest» cost from 24 to 26 rubles — all this is presented as «cat therapy», but for the cats themselves, there is little pleasant here.
«Considering that before arriving in Minsk, the same cats toured Russia, this looks like terrible exploitation that can lead to stress-related illnesses,» says a veterinarian.
In Russia, the organization of «Murfest» traces its roots to entrepreneur Yury Tkachenko from Saratov (it was he who was denied a license in Chelyabinsk at one point).
In Minsk, the company «Exhibit», registered in Belarus in 2024 with its main activity being «organization of leisure and entertainment», is responsible for bringing the cats to the Chervensky shopping center.
A journalist from «Nashaya Niva» contacted the organizers of «Murfest» in Minsk as a private individual.
«We want to assure you that the exhibition strictly adheres to all norms and rules aimed at ensuring the well-being of animals and the comfort of visitors. All cats are under the supervision of professionals, and their health is monitored. We limit the number of visitors to create a comfortable atmosphere,» they commented.
However, the organizers evaded an additional question about the specific allowed number of visitors, vaguely clarifying that «there is no strict limit on the number of visitors, but we strive to regulate the flow of people.»
On the official Instagram page of the festival, the ability to comment was restricted on some posts. Where it is still possible, negative reviews are being cleaned up.
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