Happy International Cat Day! The day takes place on August 8th every year. It was created in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. It was a day to raise awareness for cats, and to learn about ways to help and protect them. In 2020, custodianship of International Cat Day passed to International Cat Care, a not-for-profit British organization working to improve the health and welfare of domestic cats worldwide since 1958.

Ways to celebrate International Cat Day

Honestly, you know your cat better than we do, and would know the best way to celebrate with your favorite feline. So whether it’s a special treat, toy, or time with your kitty, enjoy the day.

Volunteer at a cat shelter

A great way to help the cause and reason for the holiday to exist, is to help other cats. Yes, have fun, but also help raise awareness about the many cats who don’t have homes. Animal shelters are always in need of volunteers and resources. Check out your local shelter to see what their specific needs may be. You could also do something special for the staff at the shelters, so they know how much they’re appreciated. Here’s a list of approved shelters and rescue organizations from Mass.gov.

Adopt a cat

May seem like an obvious choice, but one of the best things you can do to celebrate cats today is to adopt one from a shelter. Cats are pretty low maintenance and could bring a whole lot of love to your home. Rescue a cat, and I’m sure they’ll rescue you right back.

Visit a local cat cafe

If you can’t get enough of cats, you might want to visit a local cat cafe. Kitty Cat Cafe is Massachusetts only cat cafe.

Coffee, tea, or cats? A new cafe in Peabody caters to feline fanatics. - The Boston Globe

People are waiting weeks for a reservation to hang at the Kitty Cat Cafe.

Whatever you do to celebrate, it’s no surprise that cats are loved for lots of reasons. While you’re here, check out some fun and fascinating cat facts.

  • A group of kittens is called a kindle

    Three kittens. Two gray ones on the outside, and an orange and white one in the middle.

    No it’s not just an e-reader! A kindle is the word used to describe a group of kittens born to one cat. Meanwhile, a group of full-grown cats is called a clowder.

  • Cats LOVE being clean

    An orange and white cat licking it's paw

    It’s believed that cats spend 30-50% of their day grooming themselves. This behavior serves several purposes: It helps cats tone down their scent so they can avoid predators, it cools them down, it promotes blood flow, and it distributes natural oils evenly around their coat, allowing them to stay warm and dry. 

  • Egyptians mourned their cats in a unique way

    Group of cat mummies

    The mummies of cats and other felines are displayed after the announcement of a new discovery carried out by an Egyptian archaeological team in Giza’s Saqqara necropolis, south of the capital Cairo, on November 23, 2019. – Egypt today unveiled a cache of 75 wooden and bronze statues and five lion cub mummies decorated with hieroglyphics at the Saqqara necropolis near the Giza pyramids in Cairo.
    Mummified cats, cobras, crocodiles and scarabs were also unearthed among the well-preserved mummies and other objects discovered recently. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

    When a family cat died in ancient Egypt, family members would shave off off their eyebrows as a sign of mourning. 

  • Cats have fewer taste buds than dogs or humans

     

    Cat licking an ice cream cone

    Cats have about 473 taste buds, which is far fewer than people or dogs. We have 9,000, and dogs have 1,700. Cats can taste savory, salty, bitter, and sour flavors, but they don’t taste sweets. Scientists believe that it’s due to a genetic mutation that affects key taste receptors.

  • Cats are more popular

     

    A gray and white cat rubs his head up against the face of a golden retriever

    This may come as a surprise, but cats are actually more popular in the United States than dogs are. There are around 88 million pet cats versus 75 million pet dogs. 

  • Male cats have barbed penises (ouch!)

    African lions mating

    This is just wrong on so many levels. Apparently this is true, and the barbed penises serve a purpose. The barbs stimulate the vulva, allowing the female to ovulate, and they also keep her from escaping mid-coitus. Again, just so wrong. 

  • Cats have more bones than you do

    A fake cat skeleton on a lawn for Halloween

    Cats have 244 bones in their bodies. That’s even more than humans, who have 206. 

  • In cat life, a year is not a year

    gray and black cat sticking out their tongue

    The first year of a cat’s life equates to around 15 human years. The second year is about nine human years, and every year thereafter is approximately four human years. It’s said this fascinating cat fact helps us better understand the age and life stage of our feline friends.

  • Cats are power nappers

    Gray and white cat stretched out on the floor sleeping with stomach up

    Cats are well-known for their sleeping habits, and are reportedly knocked out for an impressive 12 to 16 hours daily! This means cats spend approximately 70% of their lives in asleep. Despite their reputation for laziness, cats are incredibly alert when awake and spend considerable time hunting.

  • Many cats are lactose intolerant

    White cat with a black spot over left of head licking milk out of a bowl

    Contrary to popular belief, many cats are lactose intolerant. After weaning, cats cease producing the enzyme that allows them to digest lactose, so feeding cats cow’s milk can often lead to digestive issues.

  • Cats do dream

    cat sleeping on a table with a diffuser and a plant

    Just like humans, cats go through different stages of sleep, including REM sleep, which is when dreaming occurs. So, yes, your cat likely dreams!

  • Felines are very fertile

    Cream and white cat nursing several kittens

    A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just seven years. That’s a lot of cats! That’s why spaying and neutering are so important!

  • Longer life for neutered and spayed cats

    Black cat being examined by a vet with a stethoscope

    Neutered male cats live an average of 62% longer than unneutered ones, while spayed female cats live an average of 39% longer than unspayed ones.

  • Six-toed kittens are common in Boston

    A black and white cat with six toes

    Six-toed kittens are so common in Boston, as well as surrounding areas of Massachusetts, that experts consider it an established mutation. 

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