Cat Holidays & Special Observances
Mark your calendars for a full twelve months of cat holidays and special observances, all starring our favorite furry family members!
February
Beat the Heat Month.
Spay/Neuter Awareness Month (Humane Society of the United States)
National Prevent a Litter Month
Feb 14: Pet Theft Awareness Day
3rd week in Feb: National Justice for Animals Week
Feb 20: Love Your Pet Day
Feb 27: World Spay Day (Annual campaign by the Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States)
January
Walk Your Pet Month.
Jan. 2: National Pet Travel Safety 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.
November
Adopt a Senior Pet Month. By ASPCA.
National Pet Awareness Month.
National Senior Pet Month.
Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) and the Animal Cancer Foundation. (Also see May events).
Nov. 4-10: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. by The Humane Society of the United States. First full week of November.
Nov. 17: National Take a Hike Day.
Nov. 17: National Black Cat Day.
October
National Animal Safety and Protection Month.
National Pet Wellness Month.
October 4: World Animal Day.
1st Full Week of October. Animal Welfare Week. (AVMA)
Oct. 12: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day.
Oct. : National Veterinary Technician Week. Sponsored by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America. (TBA)
Oct. 29: National Cat Day.
Oct. 30: National Black Cat Day in the UK.
September
Happy Healthy Cat Month. Established by the CATalyst Council.
National Disaster Preparedness Month. Led by FEMA’s Ready Campaign, Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council, this effort encourages individuals, families, businesses and communities to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies. Visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov.
Sept. 11: National Pet Memorial Day. Established by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries (IAPC). Second Sunday in September.
Last full week in September. Deaf Pet Awareness Week. By Petfinder.com.
Sept. 13: Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day. A day dedicated to the issue of pet birth defects including information on identification, prevention and treatment. Sponsored by the MBJungle Foundation.
Sept. 27: Remember Me Thursday® Remember Me Thursday® is an international social media awareness day that brings attention to the millions of adoptable pets waiting in shelters and remembers those pets who never got a second chance. Share your rescue pet using #RememberMeThursday.
Sept. 28: World Rabies Day. Sponsored by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
August
Aug. 8: International Cat Day.
Aug. 15: National Check the Chip Day. AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) joined together to create “Check the Chip Day.”
Aug. 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day.
Aug. 18: International Homeless Animals’ Day®.
Aug. 22: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day.
Aug. 28: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day.
Aug. 30. National Holistic Pet Day.
July
National Lost Pet Prevention Month™. Learn how to keep your pets from becoming lost in this month-long observance launched by PetHub.
July 1: ID Your Pet Day.
July 4: Independence Day.
July 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day. Sponsored by the The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), ADT Security Services and the American Kennel Club® (AKC).
June
Adopt-a-Cat Month®. From the American Humane Association.
Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month. From the ASPCA.
National Pet Preparedness Month. This month, timed for the first month of hurricane season, urges people with pets to make preparations in case they should be hit by a disaster…and that includes making plans for what you would do with your cat in case of a hurricane, tornado, flood or other natural disaster.
June 4: Hug Your Cat Day.
June 3-9: Pet Appreciation Week. First week in June.
June 9: World Pet Memorial Day.
June 11: Just One Day.
Mid-June: Animal Rights Awareness Week.
June 24 [not confirmed]: Take Your Cat to Work Day.
May
National Pet Month. (US)
Responsible Animal Guardian Month.
Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by Pet Cancer Awareness and the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research. (Also see November events.)
Chip Your Pet Month.
May 3: National Specially Abled Pets Day.
1st full week: American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week. This week-long event has been celebrated since 1915. Always the first full week of May.
May 6-12: National Pet Week. Always held the first full week of May by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
May 8: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day.
April
National Heartworm Awareness Month.
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month. This event is an effort by the American Red Cross to draw attention to the need to know specialized pet first aid.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. (ASCPA)
National Pet Month. (UK)
April 6: National Siamese Cat Day.
April 7: Every Day is Tag Day.
April 11: National Pet Day.
April 8-14: Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week. 2nd full week in April.
April 15-21: National Pet ID Week.
April 18: Pet Owners Independence Day.
April 22: Earth Day.
April 15-21: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week. An effort by the Humane Society of the United States. Third week in April.
Third week in April. National Pet ID Week.
April 28: World Veterinary Day. This event from the World Veterinary Association is always celebrated on the last Saturday in April.
April 27: Hairball Awareness Day.
April 30: Adopt a Shelter Pet Day.
April 30: National Tabby Day.
March
Poison Prevention Awareness Month.
March 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day.
March 4-10: Professional Pet Sitters Week.
March 17: Saint Gertrude of Nivelles Day— patron saint of cats
March 18-24: National Poison Prevention Week.
March 28: Respect Your Cat Day