October 29 is National Cat Day, a date recognized by the Animal Miracle Foundation and cat lovers across the country as a day to celebrate cats and the unconditional love and companionship they provide. This special day has two goals: to honor the cats in our lives and to rescue cats from homelessness and abuse. This is an opportunity for us to recognize and appreciate the value and importance of cats in our society.
Each day, in shelters across our country, cats need us to save them from homelessness, neglect and abuse. Approximately 4 million cats enter shelters each year and as many as half of those cats are euthanized. Many of those that are euthanized are healthy and adoptable, but the shelters simply do not have enough space for them. The goal of National Cat Day is to facilitate the adoption of 10,000 shelter cats.
Cats are frequently overlooked and underappreciated because they don’t have “jobs” like dogs do. Have you ever heard of a “watch cat” or a “search and rescue cat?” However, cats provide their owners with health benefits (lowered blood pressure) and offer unconditional love and companionship.
National Cat Day is recognized by cat lovers nationwide and is the day that shelters, businesses and humane organizations throughout the country host adoption events and other gatherings to encourage feline adoptions and donations to local shelters and organizations that help save homeless pets. It is also an opportunity to educate the public about the number of cats that need to be rescued
For more information:
What you can do:
- Adopt a new feline family member at your local shelter or rescue organization. Click here to go to the Petfinder website to locate an available cat in your community
- Volunteer or donate on a regular basis at a local shelter
- Host your own event, such as a bake sale or kitty “birthday party” and donate the proceeds to a local shelter
- Promote the adoption of shelter animals in your community
- Collect pet food from your friends, co-workers and neighbors to donate to a local pet food bank. Click here to find a pet food bank in your community.
- Give your own cat a special day with treats, a new toy and some extra time together