Brussels, May 11 (IANS): The 44th edition of 'Festival of the Cats' was held in the Belgian town of Ypres and was attended by over 50,000 people from around the world.
The festival, also known as 'Kattenstoet', is held every three years on the second Sunday of May, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.
Ypres prospered in the Middle Ages owing to the cloth industry, however, wool sheets stored in the town's Cloth Hall attracted thousands of mice.
Cats were brought-in to check the problem, but the town was soon overwhelmed by cats, which led the people getting rid of the feline animals by throwing them out of Cloth Hall tower.
During the festival, locals of the town dress like cats, the shops sell a variety of cat toys and memorabilia.
According to sources, the festival has helped strengthen the local tourist economy around Ypres town.