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National Cat Day Here are some ideas for a special day with your favorite feline
October 29, 2021
NATIONAL CAT DAY TIMELINE
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4000 B.C. CATS WORSHIPPED BY EGYPTIANS
Considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians, many pictures and statues of cats have been passed down through the millennia.
500 B.C. CATS REVERED BY THE SONG DYNASTY
The first cat is given to the emperor of China and quickly becomes a popular pet among the rich.
100 A.D. CATS TAKE A PERMANENT EUROPEAN VACATION
Egyptian traders introduce cats to Europeans, specifically the Greeks and Romans, who use them as pest control.
National Cat Day is celebrated on October 29. It was created by Colleen Paige to bring awareness to the number of cats that need to be rescued each year. Cats remind us that just when you think they’ve lost interest in you, they’ll turn around and melt your hearts. When it appears they’re too busy staring out at passing cars, chasing nylon mice, and sending tiny multi-colored balls to their under-the-refrigerator graves, they’ll somehow let you know that their very world revolves around you. Just wait. It’ll happen when you least expect it. Cats have their own timetable.
WHEN IS NATIONAL CAT DAY 2021?
National Cat Day is observed on October 29 each year with the same holiday being celebrated in Canada on August 8.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CAT DAY
Lifestyle writer Colleen Paige has taken credit for establishing National Cat Day in 2005. Her stated mission: “To help galvanize the public to recognize the number of cats that need to be rescued each year and also to encourage cat lovers to celebrate the cat(s) in their Fall 2021 lives for the unconditional love and companionship they bestow upon us.”
We cat-egorically believe her. She appears to love all cats — domestic and feral — and we’re certainly in favor of that.
Science magazine reports that cat domestication goes back 12,000 years. That encompasses a lot of toys and even more naps. The process appears to have taken place in the Middle East — think Israel, Iraq, and Lebanon. Domestication did not happen overnight. Cats did not go from wild beasts to softly purring pets — just, sort of, one day.
Per National Geographic: “DNA analysis suggests that cats lived for thousands of years alongside humans before they were domesticated. During that time, their genes have changed little from those of wildcats, apart from picking up one recent tweak: the distinctive stripes and dots of the tabby cat.”
Another study from University of Rome scholar Claudio Ottoni reveals that ancient sailors would bring cats along to “help protect food storages on board by killing rodents. This allowed cats to spread across the world.”
We’re glad they spread. Like dogs, who get all the credit for being lovable, cats feel everything we do. They can gauge our moods and emotions — and act accordingly. They have also given up a lot of their natural cravings to live in homes and apartments. (Especially indoor cats.)
Take a moment on National Cat Day to appreciate all the love they bring. Yes, they’re on the aloof side, but they’ve come a long way.
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14.2% 34.9%
5.10%
45.8%
ARE YOU A CAT OR A DOG PERSON?
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL CAT DAY
Cats Are Easy to Maintain
They can clean themselves, use a litter box, and don't need outdoor exercise. Cats can somehow adapt seamlessly to any home environment, from a small one-bedroom apartment in the city to a spacious cottage in the country.
Cats are so chatty
Although cats are primarily nonverbal communicators, they will talk to you — if you talk to them. The more you talk to your cat, the more she will respond back to you. You may both be talking about totally different things, but there's definitely a conversation going on there.
A Schnoz That's One of a Kind
Have you ever closely examined a cat's nose? Those bumps and ridges are exclusive to each individual cat and can be used as an identifier— just like a fingerprint can be used to identify a human.
Sylvia and her cuddle buddy Tiger
Meow Mix
Natural Balance
Royal Canin
IAMS
Taste of Wild
Hill’s Science Diet
Purina
Blue Buffalo
Fancy Feast
9Lives
WholeHearted
Nature’s Recipe
Friskies
Other
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
NATIONAL CAT DAY ACTIVITIES
Adopt a Cat
National Cat Day is all about raising awareness of shelter cats and reducing the number of unwanted cats that flood shelters every day. What better way to celebrate National Cat Day than by adopting a cat from your local shelter?
Donate to Your Local Shelter
Can't adopt a cat? You can still improve the lives of your local shelter cats. Consider donating food, blankets, or toys to your local shelter or other animal welfare organization. Those kitties living in shelters will feel a bit more comfortable while they're waiting for their forever homes.
Volunteer at Your Local Shelter
Shelter cats need love too. Stop by your local shelter and volunteer to play with the kittens, clean their spaces, scoop their litter boxes, and help with any other chores. Your visit is sure to be a bright spot in any shelter cat's day.
NATIONAL CAT DAY
"Time spent with cats is never wasted."
- Sigmund Freud: Neurologist, Psychoanalyst
THE FACTS
44%
More than four-in-ten people surveyed own at least one cat! 57% of these cat owners have just one.
46%
Just under half of people surveyed responded say that they tell their cats "I love you."
25%
A quarter of people surveyed stated that their cat is their best friend.
