2024-07-01T19:09:36.402ZHundreds of people participating in the seventh annual the Wedge Cat Tour. The event is held in Lowry Hill East, also called “the Wedge,” every June. (Wedge LIVE!)The cat tour started small.John Edwards thought it would be hilarious — and somewhat ridiculous — to lead a walk through his Minneapolis neighborhood admiring the many felines who live there.“It’s the kind of densely populated neighborhood where if you’re walking around, you’re going to see a lot of cats,” said Edwards, who lives in Lowry Hill East — often called “the Wedge” due to its wedgelike shape — where there are roughly 9,300 residents.About a dozen people showed up for the impromptu cat tour, led by Edwards, seven years ago. Over a two-mile walk, the group stopped to see some 20 cats peeking through their windows.A local cat greets tour visitors through the window. (Wedge LIVE!)Edwards — who runs a hyperlocal media publication called Wedge Live — never anticipated his cat tour concept would catch on. But people loved it and wanted more, so Edwards began organizing an annual cat tour.It grew every year.“It was a joke, and now it’s real,” said Edwards. “I just thought it would be a funny theme for an event, and it turned into a thing hundreds and hundreds of people wanted to come to.”Edwards welcoming everyone at the start of the 2024 tour. (Paula Chesley)On the evening of June 26, about 500 people of all ages congregated at a local park, ready to start the seventh annual cat tour. Many held signs saying “show us your cats,” and people also wore official “Cats of the Wedge” T-shirts, tank tops and totes. Local reporters were there to cover the tour.Edwards, left, leading the 2024 cat tour, with Ryan Brown, who helped organize the event. (Paula Chesley)“It’s incredibly weird,” Edwards said of his yearly event, which is free to attend. “I love to do weird, goofy stuff like this.”Other people love it, too. While the cat tour is mainly attended by locals, some travel from surrounding suburbs — or farther — to be there.This year's event drew about 500 people. (Taylor Dahlin)“Last year, we even had a guy who came specifically for the cat tour from Oklahoma City,” said Edwards. “He said he had it on his bucket list and flew in.”Now that the event has grown considerably, Edwards requests that residents who want to feature their felines in the tour register in advance. This year, there were about 22 stops along the one-hour tour, though there were several “bonus cats” (as Edwards calls them) whose owners saw the commotion outside and decided to bring out their furry friends to join in the fun. There was also a memorial for a former tour cat named Princess Pickles.A memorial for Princess Pickles along the cat tour. (Taylor Dahlin)While many cats remain inside their homes, others come out to mingle. The large group blocks traffic, but drivers don’t seem to mind.“It really is just getting together with your neighbors, going for a walk and looking at cats,” said Taylor Dahlin, who lives in a nearby neighborhood and has attended five cat tours over the years. “I’ve never heard of anything like that. It’s just such a fun way to spend an evening.”While some cats stay inside, others come out to mingle. (Wedge LIVE!)Paula Chesley is also a big fan of the cat tour. For three years, she showed off her cat Billie Jean. She brought her outside in a stroller to socialize with people.“She loved it,” said Chesley, adding that she has met many friends through tour.Billie Jean passed away last July, but Chesley was still eager to participate in the event.“It’s very whimsical,” she said. “I think it just brings out peoples’ sense of silliness.”Participants brought out their cat gear, including this cat hat, for the tour. (Taylor Dahlin)Chesley hopes her new rescue cat, Elvis, can be showcased in next year’s cat tour when he is less skittish. In the meantime, she loved meeting the other neighborhood cats.“It’s a very joyful event,” she said.David Montgomery’s cats, Coda and Margeaux, posed for people in their window. Montgomery is also taking care of a litter of kittens and placed them in another window for tour attendees to offer their oohs and aahs.People on the cat tour visiting David Montgomery’s cats, Coda and Margeaux. (David Montgomery)“People loved it,” said Montgomery. “I love showing off our cats and getting to see everyone.”Montgomery moved to the Wedge last year and said the cat tour is a staple gathering for residents.“It’s one of the highlights of living in this neighborhood, both the event itself, and the kind of community that being able to host an event like this reflects,” he said.Community building is Edwards’s main goal for the annual tour.“I’ve come to really appreciate how much people enjoy it,” he said.Margeaux posing for visitors during the cat tour. (David Montgomery)Edwards did, however, want to clarify one thing: He does not have a cat. He described himself as more of a dog person.“I love all animals, but I kind of pref