Get ready to celebrate our kitties in style because National Cat Day is right around the corner, happening on October 29th. This special day, founded by animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige in 2005, serves to shed light on the pressing issue of rescue cats in need of loving homes. In the United States alone, a staggering 3.2 million cats enter animal shelters every year, but sadly, only about 1.6 million of them find their forever homes, while approximately 860,000 are euthanized.
Apart from encouraging adoption, National Cat Day is also a perfect opportunity to honor and celebrate your cat’s existence. Well, we all know that our feline friends demand nothing short of adoration every single day of the year, right? But there are days when they rightfully deserve the spotlight and full on royal treatment—just like today.
How Famous Celebrities Spoil Their Cats
While National Cat Day is yet another excuse for us regular folks to spoil and pamper our pets, many famous celebrities treat every day as if it were a special holiday.
Karl Lagerfeld’s white Siamese cat Choupette, has two personal maids who are tasked to satisfy its every whim. This fashionable feline even received part of Karl’s $200 million fortune after his passing. Taylor Swift’s Scottish Fold cats Meredith and Olivia, on the other hand, get to tag along with their jetsetting superstar hu-mom in custom-made carriers all over the world. Then of course, there’s Katy Perry’s cat Kitty Purry, which is also another furry jetsetter in its own right.
Although most of us can’t pull off the same over-the-top gestures of love of these rich and famous cat parents, we can still make our cats feel loved and special today without breaking the bank.
Different Ways to Spoil Your Cat This National Cat Day
Whip up some do-it-yourself cat treats
Homemade cat treats are not only fun to make, they’re also healthy (READ: no preservatives), easy on the pocket, and will surely please even the finickiest of felines.
Your cat will surely go crazy with these easy to make cat treats made with all-natural ingredients such as chicken, turkey, sardines, egg yolks, and catnip. You can watch the step by step video here!
Get your cat a new toy
Just like with us humans, new toys will always be such a delight to have for cats. Lasers, catcher wands, catnip toys, scratching posts, and cat balls will surely have your feline friend bouncing around the house with joy for hours. Can't decide what to get them? Get them an assortment of natural, high-quality treats, toys, and other goodies each month with a monthly subscription to KitNipBox.
More of a DIY person? Create your own toys using readily available stuff around the house such as boxes, paper bags, old socks, old rugs, and toilet paper rolls. It’s really not necessary to splurge on the latest cat toys because even the simplest of things can pique your cat’s interest.
Give your cat a relaxing massage
Although some cats are aloof and hate it when their hoo-mans get all cuddly, most cats still enjoy gentle caresses and massages we give them. Apart from relaxing your cat, massages can also strengthen the bond between you and your pet.
To give your cat a massage, you need to wait first for your cat to approach you to ensure that it’s in the mood for some cuddle time. Talk to your cat softy and affectionately, then try to slowly caress its face, while making gentle small circular motions with the tips of your fingers. If your cat refuses contact and reacts negatively, keep your hands off your cat right away. On the other hand, if your cat seems to enjoy what you’re doing, then continue massaging it down to its neck, spine, and belly.
Groom your cat
Apart from bossing around their humans and judging other pets, there’s nothing in this world that cats love more than grooming themselves. Cats love it when their coat gets some TLC, so give them a good brush to make them happy today. It’ll also help you get rid of those pesky hairballs which are such a pain to clean up.
Provide new hangout spots
Cats love to observe their surroundings from a lofty vantage point. Treat your cat to a new cat condo or install more vertical shelving in your home so your feline friend can hover overhead.
In addition, since cats also love to sleep, try to create new spots around the house where your cat can curl up and doze off.
Do a photoshoot
Let your cat take the spotlight and have an impromptu photoshoot around the house. Post them on your social media accounts or even print them out and put on display. If you’re feeling extra and want to take things to a higher level, you can hire a professional photographer to shoot magazine-worthy shots of your furry pal.
Celebrate National Cat Day Even Without a Cat
No cat? No problem! National Cat Day isn’t just for people who own cats. You can still celebrate the existence of our favorite social media meme star in your own little way. From getting lost in a blackhole of cute cat videos and hilarious cat memes online, to visiting a cat café, or even getting a catnap—there are so many ways to celebrate our favorite felines whether you’re a cat lover or not.
Holiday with a Purr-pose
National Cat Day is all about raising awareness on the growing number of shelter cats. These shelters surely need a hand in maintaining these pets while waiting for their forever homes. Shelters will always need food, blankets, or even toys, so help out however you can. Shelter cats are also deprived of love and attention, so they could also use some of your free time for their play time as they wait for their forever families.
Clearly, cats are well-loved and have been the source of joy of so many people around the world. No matter how you choose to celebrate National Cat Day, be sure you do something to make a cat feel special today.
