International Cat Day 2025: All You Need to Know
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Charles Dickens once said “There is no greater blessing than the love of a cat” and it appears that many people agree with him as there are an estimated 500 million domestic cats worldwide. International Cat Day is the perfect time to share our collective love for cats and advocate for their welfare. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s International Cat Day?
👉 Official Name: International Cat Day
💚 Cause: Celebrate our feline companions and the unique bonds we share with them
📅 Next Date: August 8, 2025
🌐 Official Website: https://icatcare.org/international-cat-day/
🐦 Hashtag: #InternationalCatDay, #CatDay, #Catstagram, #CelebrateCats
Keep on reading to find out all the important information about International Cat Day at a glance, including its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.
The Most Important Information About International Cat Day at a Glance
1️⃣ The big picture: International Cat Day is a time to unite cat lovers around the world and celebrate the unique bonds we share with our feline companions. It’s also a day to raise awareness of cats and better understand their needs to improve welfare standards around the globe, as well as dispel some of the myths that surround this fascinating and much-loved species.
2️⃣ Why it is important: Cats are one of the most popular species to own as pets worldwide, a close second after dogs. Unfortunately, cats are also one of the most abused animals, with 5 cats a day suffering at the hands of humans in the UK alone. Neglect and hoarding are some of the most common forms of abuse, alongside physical abuse, leading to 3.2 million cats entering animal shelters every year in the US. In addition to this, there is a growing problem of homeless cat populations with 11 million unowned cats in the UK and up to 100 million in the US. These cats are vulnerable to deadly diseases such as feline AIDS, leukemia, and infectious peritonitis.
3️⃣ How you can get involved: You can get involved in International Cat Day by fundraising, raising awareness through social media, wearing pink, or connecting with other cat lovers:
- Fundraise for cats: Consider setting up a fundraising event in your local community to raise money for a local shelter or cat charity. There are so many unique ideas for you to try out including holding an afternoon tea event, organizing a treasure hunt, or even setting up a good old-fashioned street party in aid of cats.
- Spread the word on social media: Use the hashtags #InternationalCatDay and #CelebrateCats to post pictures of your own beloved felines or share how you are getting involved in the event. You can also post reputable tips and advice on cat care to support other cat owners or raise awareness of the cats in need of adoption from a local shelter.
- Wear pink: The color pink is a popular symbol of International Cat Day as well as the charity International Cat Care. So, raise awareness for cats by wearing something pink, and don’t forget to get your friends or work colleagues involved too!
- Volunteer with a cat charity: Cat charities and animal shelters are always looking for extra assistance, whether that’s helping to care for the animals, fostering a cat in need, or even donating much-needed items like pet food, newspaper, towels, and toys.
Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for International Cat Day:
A Brief History of International Cat Day
When was this event established: International Cat Day was founded in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare to raise awareness about the growing number of stray cats across the US, as well as educate the public about ways we can help and protect them.
How has it developed since then: in 2020, the custodianship of International Cat Day was passed onto UK charity, International Cat Care, which has been advocating for the health and welfare of domestic cats since its founding in 1958. Today, cat owners, veterinarians, feline-focused organizations, and anyone else who has an appreciation for cats are encouraged to organize events to raise awareness for domestic cats, advocate for their welfare, and inspire a love of cats around the world.
3 Interesting Facts About International Cat Day
- More cat days: Alongside International Cat Day, many countries now hold their own National Cat Day events to further celebrate their feline companions and raise public awareness of cat adoption. For example, the US celebrates National Cat Day on October 29, whereas a similar type of event is held on February 22 in Japan and February 17 in Italy.
- Cats and cream: Many popular kid’s shows and films depict cats happily licking at a bowl of cream. But, in reality, most cats are lactose intolerant so drinking milk or cream can cause digestive issues and even more severe problems such as pancreatitis.
- Famous cats: Cats have been popular in literature and film for centuries. For example, Felix the Cat, created in 1919 by Pat Sullivan, remains one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in film history. Plus, real-life cats get their moment in the spotlight too! For example, Maru, a Scottish Fold from Japan, has amassed over 29,000 followers on Instagram alone with his videos being viewed over 535 million times.
Upcoming Dates of International Cat Day
International Cat Day is observed every year on August 8.
| Year | Date | Day(s) |
| 2025 | August 8 | Friday |
| 2026 | August 8 | Saturday |
| 2027 | August 8 | Sunday |
Never Miss an Awareness Event Again
Sources
- Book My Painting: International Cat Day 2021
- International Cat Care: International Cat Day
- World Population Review: Most Popular Pets By Country 2024
- The Humane Society of the United States: Animal Cruelty Facts and Stats
- RSPCA: Cruelty to cats increased by 25% on last year
- Shelter Animals Count: Animal abuse facts and statistics 2024
- National Library of Medicine: When and Why Cats Are Returned to Shelters
- Cats Protection: Facts and Figures
- Catster: How Many Stray & Feral Cats Are There in the US?
- PETA: Feral Cats
- ICatCare: International Cat Day Fundraising Ideas
- Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities for Domestic Cats
- Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Animal Rescue Charities
- Impactful Ninja: 9 Best Charities to Adopt a Pet Animal
- Wikipedia: International Cat Day
- IFAW: Home page
- National Feline Research Council: Fast facts about the “feral cat problem”
- International Cat Care: Our History
- Catster: National Cat Day
- Japan Travel: National Cat Day
- OASY: Celebrating National Cat Day
- Catster: Can Cats Eat Cream?
- Preventive Vet: Pancreatitis in Cats
- Wikipedia: Felix the Cat
- Wikipedia: Maru
- Instagram: Maru
