When is National Cat Day 2024?

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National Cat Day is one of our favorite events on the annual pet calendar. If you also live to celebrate our feline friends and want to help ensure every cat on the planet has a safe and warm forever home to call their own, then this is one holiday you're going to want to get involved with.

It may fall just once a year – although there is a National Pet Day, too – but this magical day is all about going big and celebrating all that’s wonderful about cats. Whether you're looking to adopt a kitty, shower your current pet with some extra love or just spend the day soaking in all things cat-related on social media, National Cat Day has something for you.

So, without further ado, let's paw through those all important details so that you can be National Cat Day ready!

What is National Cat Day? 

National Cat Day was founded in 2005 by pet and family lifestyle expert, Colleen Paige and aims to raise awareness in several areas, including the importance of spaying and neutering to prevent the overpopulation of cats around the world.

The crew that run National Cat Day believe every kitty should have a forever home where they are safe, loved, and cherished as member of the family. Instead of buying a cat from a pet shop, Paige believes in adoption to help reduce the number of cats that are sitting in shelters around the country.

National Cat Day is a day to spoil your fur baby a little more than you usually would, perhaps by buying them one of the best cat toys, giving them a few of the best cat treats or indulging in extra cuddles. It’s also a day to donate to shelters around the country that support cats and to be aware of the great advocacy work that Paige and her team do throughout the year.

When is National Cat Day?

National Cat Day is celebrated each year on October 29th, which falls on a Tuesday in 2024.

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How can you celebrate on National Cat Day?

1. Adopt a cat from your local shelter

One of the best ways to get involved this National Cat Day is to adopt a cat or kitten from a shelter or cat rescue organization in your area. You can search for an available pet by using the Shelter Pet Project or pop in and have a chat to the friendly shelter staff in your neighborhood.

Adopting a pet is a big responsibility and requires a commitment for the life of the cat, so make sure you feel you’re in the right position financially and lifestyle wise before bringing home a new forever friend. Here are some considerations for adopting a kitten and, if you need them, 32 reasons to adopt a cat.

2. Volunteer at a shelter

Don’t quite feel ready to adopt but are desperate to have some kitty love in your life, why not sign up to be a volunteer? Animal rescue shelters are always looking for people to play with cats that are up for adoption and to clean cages and litter boxes.

If you feel like you can spare a few hours or wish to volunteer on an ongoing basis, speak to the team at your local shelter who will be more than happy to talk you through the process.

Fancy roping in a friend to help, too? Here are some excellent reasons to volunteer with an animal rescue if they need convincing.

3. Bake up a storm

Love hitting the kitchen and whipping up tasty treats? Why not turn your love of baked goods into a fundraiser. You can either make tasty treats designed for human consumption or do something a little different and sell your own homemade cat treats. After you’ve sold out (and you will!) you can donate the proceeds to your local shelter.

4. Get snap happy

One of the simplest ways to get involved in National Cat Day is to spend some time taking photos of you and your cat and then posting them on Facebook or Instagram with one of the following hashtags to join in with the online community of cat lovers.

• #NationalCatDay

• #CatsOfInstagram

• #AdoptDontShop

• #CatLovers

• #RescueCats

• #Purrfection

• #CatWelfare

5. Treat your kitty to a new accessory... or two!

Whether it’s splurging on one of the best interactive cat toys, getting one of the best cat trees, there are plenty of amazing accessories on the market that can bring your feline friend tons of joy.

National Cat Day only comes once a year, so spoiling your companion is the purr-fect way to say I love you!

What's the difference between National Cat Day and International Cat Day?

International Cat Day is celebrated on August 8th each year and was created by the International Fund for Animal Welfare as a way to raise awareness for cats and learn about ways to help protect them. National Cat Day is only celebrated in the US – although there are other versions around the world, such as Japan’s National Cat Day. And there’s even a National Black Cat Day that aims to change the narrative around black cats and bad luck.