2026 Cat Fair Summer draws cat lovers to Seoul

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• H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Wild Cat in Seosan H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) virus has been detected in a wild cat found dead in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province. This marks the second confirmed case of infection in wild mammals in South Korea, following the first detection in a wild cat in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do, in March of last year.The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs reported that the dead wild cat was discovered near Ganwolho in Buseok-myeon, Seosan, on October 23, following a visitor's report. The National Wildlife Disease Control Institute conducted a detailed examination and confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic AI on November 2. This is the first detection of highly pathogenic AI in wild mammals this winter.The wild cat is classified as an endangered species (Level II) and primarily feeds on rodents and birds. Authorities plan to analyze the virus's genetic characteristics and origins to assess the potential for further infections among surrounding wildlife.Upon detection, the Ministry of Environment immediately shared the situation with relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Disease Control Agency. Special surveillance measures, including searches for dead wild mammals and on-site investigations, are being conducted within a 10-kilometer radius of the detection site. Local governments, including Seosan City, have been requested to implement emergency disinfection and access control measures.The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has initiated monitoring and testing to prevent the virus from entering local poultry farms. They are enforcing cleaning and disinfection protocols for farms and related facilities, as well as restricting access to prevent the entry of wild animals and external personnel.Health checks for individuals who may have come into contact with the infected wild cat are also underway. The Korea Disease Control Agency and South Chungcheong Province are monitoring the health status of responders, including the person who discovered the cat and staff at the rescue center, considering a 10-day incubation period. So far, there have been no reported symptoms.The National Wildlife Disease Control Institute has been investigating the AI infection status in carnivorous and omnivorous wild mammals through reports from wildlife rescue centers and monitoring of major migratory bird habitats. A total of 245 samples from wild mammals were tested from January to October this year.Authorities urge the public to refrain from touching or moving any dead wildlife or animals exhibiting abnormal behavior and to report such findings to local governments. Visits to wildlife habitats, such as migratory bird sites, should be minimized, and when visiting, individuals should avoid contact with wild animals and their droppings or bodily fluids. After visiting, it is important to follow personal hygiene practices, including disinfecting shoes and vehicles and washing hands, while avoiding entry into livestock farms.Lee Chae-eun, director of the Ministry of Environment's Nature Conservation Bureau, stated, "As highly pathogenic AI has been confirmed in wild cats again this year, we will strengthen monitoring and testing to closely investigate the potential for further infections in wildlife. If anyone discovers a dead wild animal, please do not touch it and report it immediately."* This article has been translated by AI.
• 2026 Cat Fair Summer draws cat lovers to Seoul AJP Han Jun-gu Visitors browse cat products at the '2026 Ganatgimo Cat Fair Summer' held at SETEC in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, July 31, 2026.
• Whiskers and wallets: cat show at KINTEX Visitors browse cat-related products during the 2026 Nyangnyang Punch Cat Show at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on April 24, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) -The air at KINTEX hums with a different kind of energy this week — softer, furrier, punctuated by the occasional impatient meow. At the “2026 Nyangnyang Punch Cat Show Ilsan,” aisles fill quickly as visitors weave through rows of pastel-toned booths, peering into carriers, testing treats, and pausing for photos with cats that seem, at times, more composed than their human companions. From the entrance, the scale is unmistakable. Around 140 companies and 200 booths stretch across Hall 7, turning the exhibition floor into a marketplace of feline lifestyles — not just products, but identities. Premium feed brands tout grain-free formulas and tailored nutrition. Designers showcase sculptural cat towers that double as living room centerpieces. Even litter has evolved, marketed with the language of sustainability and wellness. Visitors browse cat-related products during the 2026 Nyangnyang Punch Cat Show at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on April 24, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun At one booth, a vendor demonstrates an automated litter system, its quiet rotation drawing a small crowd. Nearby, a seminar space hosts a talk on feline nutrition, where attendees jot notes as if preparing for an exam. Elsewhere, visitors crouch low, coaxing shy cats forward with feather toys — small, intimate moments unfolding amid the commercial buzz. Visitors browse cat-related products during the 2026 Nyangnyang Punch Cat Show at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on April 24, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun The crowd itself tells a story. Young couples, families with children, solo visitors — many carrying cats in transparent backpacks or cradling them gently — move through the space with a mix of curiosity and care. Conversations drift between product specs and personal anecdotes: allergies, aging pets, adoption stories. This is not casual browsing. It is, in many ways, caregiving in public. Visitors browse cat-related products during the 2026 Nyangnyang Punch Cat Show at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on April 24, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun Visitors browse cat-related products during the 2026 Nyangnyang Punch Cat Show at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on April 24, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun