Celebrate Adoption, Awareness, and Cat Love This Month!
August is packed with important cat holidays and awareness days focused on adoption, shelter support, feline safety, and celebrating cats of all kinds—including those too often overlooked. Whether you’re advocating for shelter cats, checking your cat’s microchip, or simply enjoying a lazy day with your cats, these August cat holidays offer plenty of ways to honor and enjoy our feline companions.
What cat holidays are in August?
In August, we celebrate Clear the Shelters Month, International Cat Day (August 8), National Lazy Day (August 10), National Check the Chip Day (August 15), Black Cat Appreciation Day (August 17), and International Homeless Animals Day (on the third Saturday of the month).
August Is Clear the Shelters Month
In August, many extra cats are waiting in shelters for furever homes. This means overcrowded shelters, making August a critical time for adoption. So let’s help cats get adopted this month!
If you’ve been thinking about adopting, this is the perfect month to take the leap—and give a deserving cat a second chance. Good news is that Ginger can help you find your perfect match at Find the Right Cat for You.
For more information about Clear the Shelters Month, see: https://www.cleartheshelters.com/
August 8 is National Cat Day in Canada
The Canadian National Cat Day holiday was created to help Canada’s many homeless cats find a family of their own. It’s a day dedicated to celebrating cats while supporting rescue organizations and shelters.
Learn about all the national cat days, including when your country celebrates, at National Cat Day Celebrations.
August 8 is International Cat Day
International Cat Day is celebrated globally on August 8 to promote awareness of cats’ needs and how humans can protect and care for them. The holiday was originally created by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), an organization dedicated to protecting animals worldwide (TrailTimes.com).
Curious about cats around the world? Kwazi, Uli, and Ginger share about how many cats are in different countries at How Many Cats Are in the World?
August 10 is National Lazy Day
Kwazi, Uli, and Ginger demonstrate what to do on National Lazy Day.
National Lazy Day is a day when we humans can join our feline friends and fully embrace rest and relaxation. This lighthearted holiday encourages slowing down, recharging, and enjoying a low-key day—preferably with a cat curled up nearby.
Promoted through the Social Paws campaign and supported by animal welfare organizations, National Lazy Day reminds us that rest is essential for both humans and pets. See more at daysoftheyear.com
August 15 is National Check the Chip Day
Every year, approximately 10 million pets are lost in the United States. Moreover, cats without microchips are rarely reunited with their families. Sadly, studies show that around 98% of lost cats without microchips are never found.
National Check the Chip Day was created by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) to raise awareness about microchipping and keeping registration information up to date.
How to participate:
- If your cat is not microchipped, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian
- If your cat is microchipped, double check that your contact information is current in the registry
For more information, go to https://www.avma.org/events/national-check-chip-day
August 17 is National Black Cat Appreciation Day
Black Cat Appreciation Day celebrates black cats while challenging harmful superstitions that have caused some people to fear black cats for centuries.
Negative myths about black cats date back to the Medieval period, when black cats were falsely linked to witchcraft and evil. Sadly, these superstitions persist today, and research shows that black cats are often adopted more slowly than cats of other colors. (Leper, Kass, & Hart, 2002).
Kwazi demonstrates why black cats are special.
Those who know black cats understand the truth: they are affectionate, playful, and incredibly loving companions.
August 17 is the perfect day to:
- Share positive stories about black cats
- Support black-cat adoption efforts
- Help dispel outdated myths.
Help spread the word; Let’s end ridiculous superstitions about these loving animals🖤
The Third Saturday in August is International Homeless Animals Day.
International Homeless Animals Day brings together animal welfare organizations, rescue groups, veterinarians, and advocates from around the world to raise awareness about homeless pets.
This day emphasizes the importance of:
- Spaying and neutering
- Adopting instead of buying
- Supporting community cat programs
Spaying and neutering are proven ways to reduce overpopulation and prevent unnecessary euthanasia of cats worldwide (International Society for Animal Rights).
For excellent, free booklets and podcasts to help you learn more about saving the lives of cats and kittens via spaying and neutering, check out Alley Cat Rescue and Community Cats Podcast.
Celebrate Cats All Month Long!
Thank you for joining us! Please take time to celebrate some cat holidays in August. And share this page with your cat loving friends so more people can honor and support cats this month.
REFERENCES:
Leper, Kass, and Hart (2002). Prediction of Adoption Versus Euthanasia Among Dogs and Cats in a California Animal Shelter [accessed 2023 July]. http://www.animalsandsociety.org/assets/library/78_jaawsleeper.pdf
Sheldon, N. “Thou Shalt not suffer a Cat to Live”: Why Pope Gregory IX’s Vox in Rama Implicated Cats in Devil Worship. History Collection. 2018 [accessed 2023 July. https://historycollection.com/thou-shalt-not-suffer-a-cat-to-live-why-pope-gregory-ixs-vox-in-rama-implicated-cats-in-devil-worship/.
RESOURCES ABOUT SPAYING/NEUTERING:
AllyCat Rescue @ https://www.saveacat.org/ Retrieved July 16, 2023.
Community Cats Podcasts @ www.communitycatspodcast.com Retrieved July 16, 2023.