Cat- and Pet-Related Holidays

There are a number of pet-related holidays and “awareness days,” some serious and some just for fun.

After learning about the upcoming National Feral Cat Day (sponsored by Alley Cat Allies) on October 16, I wondered if there were any other cat holidays. I vaguely recalled reading about a few quirky ones in the past, such as Put Your Pets in People Clothes Day (January 14), What if Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs? Day (March 3) and Happy Mew Year for Cats Day (January 2), but couldn’t remember who sponsored them. A stroll down Google lane turned up a list of real cat- and pet-related holidays. Some additional funny cat holidays include:

• January 22 – Answer Your Cat’s Question Day (Wellcat.com)
• April 18 – Pet Owners Independence Day (Wellcat.com)
• April 28 – Hairball Awareness Day (ScienceDiet.com)
• May 19 – Hug Your Cat Day
• September 23 – Political Pets Day
• December 15 – Cat Herder’s Day (Wellcat.com)

Also featured are serious holidays, including:

• February – Pet Dental Health Month (PetDental.com)
• April – National Pet First Aid Awareness Month (PetTech.com) and Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month (ASPCA)
• First week of May – Be Kind to Animals Week (the American Humane Society)
• June – Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month (the ASPCA)
• August 19 – International Homeless Animals Day (the International Society for Animal Rights)

For a long list of unusual holidays and awareness days celebrating people, animals and a variety of inanimate objects, including Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, Penguin Awareness Day, Fruitcake Toss Day and World Hypnotism Day, visit Brownielocks & The 3 Bears Bizarre Holidays.

For more quirky cat stuff, see Cat Circuses Make a Comeback and Popular and Unusual Pet Names.