What is Global Cat Day
Global Cat Day, which takes place October 16, reminds us that educating, engaging, and empowering people to defend and protect cats is the right thing to do. They say dogs are man’s best friend. Perhaps, but it’s very likely cats are tied for first place in the informal and unscientific “Best Friend” category.
Global Cat Day Related Holidays
For cat lovers, April 6 is the ‘purrfect’ day. It’s National Siamese Cat Day. This is the day we celebrate these most elegant cats. Siamese cats, also known as “Meezers,” are one of the most popular cat breeds in the world. We love these gorgeous creatures, and we know you do, too.
Your kitty pal has been there when you were happy — your kitty pal has been there when you were sad. Your kitty has, and always will, be there for you. So, this March 28, acknowledge all the hard work your cat puts into being your loyal companion.
We’re giving cats a full 30 days of glory to get their health checked during February — Cat Health Month! Let’s make sure your feline friends have all the care they need.
History of Global Cat Day
Global Cat Day confirms one thing — we have loved our cats since the beginning of time — or close to it. In fact, the Ancient Egyptians were the first civilization to harness the glory of the feline. Nearly 4,000 years ago, they domesticated our four-legged friends by keeping them near food stores. (This helped control vermin and other pests.) Cats quickly earned a reputation as great hunters, and later, Egyptians worshipped them as gods. Nothing much has changed since the old days.
An advocacy group known as Alley Cat Allies, along with millions of supporters, will observe Global Cat Day with a commitment to save cats from being killed.
“The Global Cat Day Pledge includes the fundamental principle that all cats have the right to live their lives, and it guides everything we do to protect cats,” says Allies founder and president Becky Robinson. “We stand for humane, non-lethal programs for cats, and those who join us can take action to stop cats from being killed.”
Robinson’s asking everyone who values the lives of cats to sign the Alley Cat Allies’ Global Cat Day Pledge online.
The organization, which promotes humane treatment of all cats, reports that millions of cats and kittens are in life-threatening danger. That’s because felines are killed more than any other animal in shelters across the nation.
Global Cat Day demands that community leaders abolish policies that result in the killing of cats; equip communities with lifesaving, humane policies like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR); and change any policies that threaten cats’ health and safety.
TNR is the mainstream approach in which cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped and returned to the outdoor homes where they live and thrive. As sound public policy, TNR reduces shelter intake, “euthanasia” and calls to animal services, which saves taxpayer dollars.