National Kitten Day
These furry little friends will make your heart melt. With their curious nature and soft fur, they're sure to bring joy into your life!
Drive pet product sales and veterinary services by celebrating kitten owners' emotional bond and encouraging indulgence, wellness check-ups, and adoption.
- Spoil Your Kitten: New toys, treats & accessories for the purrfect gift
- Kitten Health Reminder: Schedule vet visits and vaccinations this July
- Adopt Don't Shop: Partner with rescue shelters to highlight adoptable kittens
- Catnip & Treats: Celebrate with premium kitten products and wellness bundles
According to recent records, it is believed that cats and kittens have been domesticated for almost 10,000 years – or possibly even more. A long-time companion of humans, cats and their adorable kitten offspring, the ones who this day is all about, hold a unique place in the home and in culture.
Some ancient cultures, such as Ancient Egypt, revered cats and kittens. In fact, these feline friends were so beloved that they were often buried with their humans so that they could be reunited in the afterlife. Sometimes, when a cat or kitten died, the human family would mourn the loss by shaving their eyebrows to indicate their grief.
In modern times, kittens and cats continue to bring joy and delight to individuals, families and kitten lovers of all ages! With their fluffy fur and tiny pointy ears, it’s no wonder that people fall in love with them. Even when they grow up and act a bit like they rule the world, they are still valued and beloved members of the family.
Although some people would say that dogs are “man’s best friend”, other people would argue that kittens and cats are in the running for this title! And that’s part of the reason to celebrate National Kitten Day!
Colleen Paige, a pet lover, animal behaviorist, writer and author, founded National Kitten Day in 2012. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness for the plight of kittens and cats that need to be rescued each year. Many activists like to use this day to raise funds for charitable organizations that help kittens and cats, especially those who spay and neuter feral cats, helping to minimize the populations and making sure the world doesn’t have more kittens than it can take care of!
Spoil Your Kitten or Cat
Those who are already owners of kittens or cats might take advantage of National Kitten Day to splurge on them. Buy them a new toy, update their scratching post or give them an extra fancy dinner that they love. Sing them a song. Scratch them where they love it. Play with a laser pointer. And just give them some attention! While many kittens are too young for catnip, as they grow older to approximately 6 months or a year, most cats will begin to love it. So indulging your kitten with a bit of catnip in honor of the day is a great way to treat them.
Take Your Kitten or Cat to the Vet
National Kitten Day is also a great reminder for kitten and cat owners to take their beloved pets to the veterinarian. Most people don’t realize that they should take their healthy adult cats to visit the vet two times per year. Kittens should visit the vet once every 3-4 weeks during the first 16 weeks of their lives, allowing them to receive a series of vaccinations that will keep them healthy and protect them from getting dangerous and even life-threatening diseases.
Volunteer at a Pet Shelter or Kitten Rescue
Take care of the most vulnerable creatures by volunteering to help out at a rescue shelter. Most places are looking for a long term commitment (for example, 3 hours per month) and they’ll train their volunteers to do various odd jobs. Volunteers might clean cages or litter boxes, play with the kittens, train them, socialize them and more.
Adopt a Kitten or a Cat
Of course, pet adoption should be taken very seriously, and a kitten is a big responsibility. So people should only adopt kittens if they are certain that they can care for them well and are available to give them the extra attention they need. For those lovers of kittens who may not be quite ready for a long-term commitment, kitten fostering might also be a viable option that can help out in the short term. The best way to start doing this is to begin volunteering at a shelter or pet rescue center, gaining trust and building relationships with the organization.
Make a Donation to a Kitten Charity
For those who may not have time to be actively involved with adopting a kitten or volunteering at a shelter, another important way to celebrate National Kitten Day is by making a donation to a local, national or international non-profit organization that supports the plight of kittens. Consider the Winn Feline Foundation to the Alley Cat Allies. Look into the National Cat Protection Society or Hearts that Purr Feline Guardians. Whatever organization is chosen, certainly they’ll be able to make use of donations whether large or small. Helping kittens and cats is what they’re all about.