National Cat Day is a day dedicated to celebrating our beloved feline companions. Observed every year on October 29th, this special day highlights the joy that cats bring into our lives and raises awareness about the importance of adoption and responsible cat care. National Cat Day offers cat lovers an opportunity to show appreciation for the cats we share our homes with.
The day also serves as an important reminder of the many cats still in need of a loving home. With approximately 3.2 million cats entering U.S. shelters each year, National Cat Day encourages people to consider adopting a cat, supporting local shelters, or simply spreading the word about the joys of having a cat. It’s a day to not only celebrate the cats we know and love but also to think about how we can help more cats find their forever families.
National Cat Day shouldn’t be mixed up with other cat days like International Cat Day on August 8th or World Cat Day on February 17th. While they all celebrate our love for cats, each one has its own focus and date. National Cat Day is all about raising awareness for cat adoption on October 29th, while the others have their own ways of celebrating our feline friends.
➡️ If you want to learn more about cat days, check out our list of national cat days.
How Is National Cat Day Celebrated?
National Cat Day is widely celebrated in the media, with numerous platforms highlighting heartwarming cat stories, adoption drives, and pet care tips. Popular websites like BuzzFeed often feature special cat-themed content on this day, from adorable cat compilations to stories of cats finding their forever homes. On TV, National Cat Day often features special segments, like when Taylor Swift appeared on The View in 2014 to talk about her love for cats. Her appearance helped make the day more popular and connected with audiences by combining the appeal of cats with a celebrity everyone loves.
People typically celebrate National Cat Day on social media by sharing pictures of their cats and expressing what they love most about them. Alternatively, some like to share fun cat videos with the hashtag #NationalCatDay.
Speaking of hashtags, #NationalCatDay has already been used over 1,245,357 times on Instagram as of August 2024 and we expect that number to grow this October 29th considerably!
History of National Cat Day
National Cat Day was founded in 2005 by Colleen Paige, a pet and family lifestyle expert and animal welfare advocate. She also founded other animal-related holidays, including National Dog Day and National Pet Day. Paige’s inspiration for creating National Cat Day stemmed from her deep love for animals and her desire to raise awareness about the millions of cats that need rescuing. Interestingly, the day isn’t just about adoption; it’s also about promoting responsible cat ownership and recognizing the joy these animals bring into our lives.
When Is National Cat Day Celebrated?
National Cat Day is celebrated every year on October 29th. To help you plan your purr-fect celebration, we’ve prepared a table that shows the exact dates and corresponding weekdays for the upcoming years:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | October 29, Tuesday |
| 2025 | October 29, Wednesday |
| 2026 | October 29, Thursday |
| 2027 | October 29, Friday |
| 2028 | October 29, Sunday |
| 2029 | October 29, Monday |
| 2030 | October 29, Tuesday |
10 Cat Facts To Share on National Cat Day
Cats have captivated humans for thousands of years, and National Cat Day gives us the perfect excuse to indulge in some feline fun. From their quirky habits to their impressive history, cats never fail to amaze us. Here are 10 fun facts about cats to make you appreciate your furry friend even more—feel free to share them online and spread the cat love!
- Cats can jump up to six times their body length in a single leap, showcasing their strength and coordination.
- Cats have whiskers not just on their faces but also on the backs of their front legs, which help them sense their surroundings.
- Cats were worshiped in ancient Egypt, where they were considered sacred and often depicted in art.
- A cat’s purr can have therapeutic effects on humans, potentially aiding in healing and reducing stress.
- Cats possess a “righting reflex” that allows them to land on their feet when falling, making them highly agile.
- Cats can produce over 100 different sounds, allowing them to communicate in various ways with humans.
- Cats have an exceptionally sharp sense of hearing, capable of detecting even the faintest noises.
- When a cat licks you, it’s not just grooming but also a sign of affection and marking you as family.
- Cats instinctively find the warmest spot in any room, thanks to their finely tuned thermoregulatory system.
- Cats spend about 70% of their lives sleeping, which helps them conserve energy for hunting and play.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendars 2024-2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
