Cats are not just pets, they are family.
Cats observe their own holidays and special observances throughout the year. Some of these observances are well-known and celebrated by cat lovers around the world. Others are more obscure, but still worth mentioning for those who might be interested in celebrating them with their cats.
This is a list of some of the most popular cat holidays and special observances that you can celebrate with your cats this year:
January Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
Walk Your Pet Month
Special Days/Holidays:
Jan 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day
Jan 2: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
Jan 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
Jan 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
Jan 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day
February Cat Holidays
All Month/Week Long:
National Drink Wine with Your Cat Week (3rd full week in February)
National Justice for Animals Week (Feb 20-26)
Beat the Heat Month
Black Dog and Cat Syndrome Awareness Month
National Cat Health Month
National Prevent a Litter Month
Pet Dental Health Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month
Spay/Neuter Awareness Month (Humane Society of the United States)
Special Days/Holidays:
Feb 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day
Feb 17: Cat Day (Dzień kota) in Poland.
Feb 17: Cat Day in Italy.
Feb 20: International Cat Day or El Día Internacional del Gato.
Feb 20: Love Your Pet Day
Feb 22: Cat Day in Japan.
Feb 22: Marie Day
Feb 4th Tuesday: World Spay Day
March Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Special Days/Holidays:
March 1: National Cat’s Day in Russia.
March 2: International Rescue Cat Day
March 3: What if Cats & Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs Day
March 3: International Tripawd Awareness Day
March 6-12: Professional Pet Sitters Week
March 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day (UK).
March 14-21: Pet Theft Awareness Week (UK).
March 17: Saint Gertrude of Nivelles Day — patron saint of cats
March 3rd Week: National Animal Poison Prevention Week
March 23: Cuddly Kitten Day
March 28: Respect Your Cat Day
April Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
National Heartworm Awareness Month
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
National Pet Month (UK)
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month (ASCPA)
Special Days/Holidays:
April 1-7: National Raw Feeding Week
April 4: Every Day is Tag Day
April 4: World Stray Animals Day
April 6: National Siamese Cat Day
April 7: National Pet Health Insurance Day
April 10-16: Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week
April 11: National Pet Day
April 17: Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day
April 17-23: National Pet ID Week
April 3rd Week: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week
April 18: Pet Owner’s Independence Day
April 19: National Cat Lady Day
April 19: Sylvester the Cat’s Birthday.
April 22: Earth Day
April Last Sunday: National Pet Parents Day
April 26: National Kids and Pets Day
April Last Friday: Hairball Awareness Day
April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
April 30: World Veterinary Day
April 30: National Therapy Animal Day
April 30: National Tabby Day
May Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
Chip Your Pet Month
National Foster Care Month
National Pet Month
Pet Cancer Awareness Month
Pet Sitter Safety Month
Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Special Days/Holidays:
May 1-7: American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week
May 1-7: National Pet Week
May 3: National Specially Abled Pets Day
May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
June Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
Adopt-a-Cat Month (The American Humane Association)
Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month (ASPCA)
National Foster a Pet Month
National Pet Preparedness Month
National Microchipping Month
Social PETworking Month
Special Days/Holidays:
June 4: Hug Your Cat Day
June 1st Week: Pet Appreciation Week
June 8: Best Friends Day
June 11: Just One Day
June 14: World Pet Memorial Day
June 19: National Garfield the Cat Day
June 3rd Week: Animal Rights Awareness Week
June 19: National Pets in Film Day
June 20: Take Your Cat to Work Day
June 20-24: Take Your Pet to Work Week
June 24: Cat World Domination Day
June Last Saturday: World Day Against Pet Abandonment.
July Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
National Lost Pet Prevention Month
National Pet Hydration Awareness Month
Special Days/Holidays:
July 1: ID Your Pet Day
July 5: Pet Remembrance Day (UK)
July 10: National Kitten Day
July 11: All-American Pet Photo Day
July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day
July 16: Feline Leukemia Day
July 21: National Craft for your Local Shelters Day
July 22: AAHA-Accredited Hospital Day or AAHA Day
July 3rd Week: National Feed a Rescue Pet Week
August Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
Clear the Shelters.
Itchy Pet Awareness Month
Special Days/Holidays:
Aug 8: International Cat Day
Aug 8: National Cat Day in Canada.
Aug 10: National Lazy Day
Aug 15: National Check the Chip Day
Aug 20: International Homeless Animals’ Day®.
Aug 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day
Aug 17: National Nonprofit Day
Aug 22: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
Aug 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
Aug 30: National Holistic Pet Day
September Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
Animal Pain Awareness Month
Happy Cat Month
National Disaster Preparedness Month
National Pet Insurance Month
Pet Sitter Education Month
World Animal Remembrance Month
Special Days/Holidays:
Sept 1: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day – Chris Roy founded Ginger Cat Appreciation Day in 2014 to pay tribute to his longtime companion, Doobert, an orange cat.
Sept 5: National White Cat Day
Sept 11: National Pet Memorial Day – National Pet Memorial Day takes place on the second Sunday in September every year. This year it is on the 11th of September. This is a day to remember your pet friends who have passed away.
Sept 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day – A day to bring awareness to pet birth defects and their mental health. Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day was founded in 2014 by Davis Rogers, founder of MBJungle Organization.
Sept 18-24: Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week
Sept Last Week: Deaf Pet Awareness Week
Sept 19: National Meow Like a Pirate Day
Sept 19: National Cat DNA Day
Sept 22: Remember Me Thursday.
Sept 24: World’s Largest Pet Walk.
Sept 28: World Rabies Day
Sept 29: Maneki-Neko Day or Beckoning Cat Day
October Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Pet Wellness Month
World Animal Month
Special Days/Holidays:
Oct 1: CATober – October 1 has been designated CATOBER – it’s the unique birthday for all cats who live in shelters.
Oct 1st Week: Animal Welfare Week – Animal welfare is a big issue that affects animals who are abused and neglected by humans. So every year, we celebrate the first week of October with “Animal Welfare Week.”
Oct 4: World Animal Day
Oct 10: World Animal Road Accident Awareness Day
Oct 12: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
Oct 14: Vet Nurse Day
Oct 16: Global Cat Day
Oct 16-22: National Veterinary Technician Week
Oct 21: National Pets for Veterans Day
Oct 27: National Black Cat Day (UK).
Oct 28: Plush Animal Lovers Day
Oct 29: National Cat Day
Oct 30: National Treat Your Pet Day
November Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
Adopt a Senior Pet Month (ASPCA)
National Senior Pet Month (NAPPS)
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
Pet Diabetes Month
Special Days/Holidays:
Nov 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
Nov 1: International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
Nov 6-12: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
Nov 12: World Animal Enrichment Day
Nov 17: National Black Cat Day
Nov 18: National Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Awareness, Research and Education Day
Nov 17: National Black Cat Day (UK)
December Cat Holidays
All Month Long:
National Cat Lover’s Month
Special Days/Holidays:
Dec 1: Celebrate Shelter Pets Day (Humane Society of the United States)
Dec 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine.
Dec 10: International Animal Rights Day
Dec 15: National Cat Herders Day
