National Cat Day is on October 29th every year. This national holiday was created by Colleen Paige, a leading pet and family lifestyle expert, who's lifesaving mission is to create holidays such as National Dog Day and National Cat Day to help raise awareness for pets that need to be adopted or rescued from local animal shelters. Established in 2005, around the same time social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram started taking off, #nationalcatday has consistently been a # 1 hashtag across these platforms, successfully raising awareness for cats who need to be rescued from shelters. In Canada, National Cat Day is celebrated on August 8th.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL CAT DAY:

There are 4 fun ways you can celebrate National Cat Day this year:

1. Adopt a Cat: National Cat Day is all about bringing awareness to the cats at your local animal shelter who are waiting to be adopted into a forever home. Help bring that number down by opening your home up to a new feline friend. I can't think of a better way to celebrate National Cat Day!

2. Donate to Your Local Shelter: If you're unable to adopt a cat right now, help your local animal shelter out with a donation. Most of the time, shelters rely on public donations to give the animals in their care extras like toys, blankets, beds, etc. Consider donating supplies like this to help make the cats living in the shelter a little more comfortable as they wait for their forever home. Monetary donations are always appreciated as well.

3. Volunteer at Your Local Animal Shelter: 2020 has been a rough year for most of us. If you simply don't have the money right now, that's ok! Donate your time instead! Volunteering at your local animal shelter is still a great way to celebrate National Cat Day! You can help scoop litter boxes, clean cat spaces, and interact and play with the kitties in the shelter. It's a great way to really get hands on and celebrate this national holiday!

4. Celebrate With Your Cat at Home: To show your cat how much you love him, buy him some fun little toys and place them in random spots throughout your home for him to find throughout the day. Or get a wand and enjoy an interactive game of chase! Anything you can think of that involves you spending time with your cat is a good way to celebrate National Cat Day. Don't forget to make it Facebook or Instagram official and take a selfie with your cat and post it using #nationalcatday. For tips on taking the perfect selfie with your cat, click here.

WHY CATS MAKE GREAT PETS

Having a cat in your home creates fun, lasting memories. Unlike dogs, cats do not require a ton of attention. Cats usually spend most of their day lounging around the house and taking cat naps. Sometimes, you may only see your cat a couple times a day! But that's ok! Cats are independent creatures who enjoy spending their time doing what they want, when they want.

Besides being independent, cats are also very clean. Since they groom and clean themselves, they do not require baths. However, do not be afraid to give your cat a bath if he comes home covered in dirt or mud. Cats also prefer to use the restroom in clean, private spaces. So be sure to scoop your cat's litter box once a day and replace litter 1-2 times every two weeks. Doing this and staying on top of this chore will keep your cat doing his business in the litter box, and not in other parts of your home.

Having a cat as a pet is also very rewarding. Since cats usually spend their time alone, its fun and rewarding when your cat chooses your lap to lay on or comes up and purrs at you. Cats have a special way of showing us humans that they love and appreciate us. And when they do, it's the best reward of all.

If you're considering getting a cat for the first time and want to rescue or adopt, don't be afraid to reach out to your local animal shelter to see if you could spend some time down there getting to know the cats. Finding the right cat to match your personality and fit in, in your home is important. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the history of the cat. You'll want to make sure you're adopting the right one.

However you choose to celebrate National Cat Day this year, know your doing it for a great cause. The kitties at the animal shelters across the US thank you!