World Cat Day

 

Gather round all cat lovers and feline enthusiasts! Today is World Cat Day, which takes place on the 8th of August every year. This year, World Cat Day falls on a Saturday (shall we call it Cat-tur-day?) and was established by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), one of the largest animal welfare charities globally. Their fundamental objectives when launching this international day were to promote cat welfare, responsible ownership, and the protection of felines, as well as to celebrate their species overall. This very much remains their primary focus to this day. A large number of cat shelters also organise and run special adoption events or alternatively campaigns to raise awareness of cat protection and care on the 8th of August every year.

 

Some fun facts about felines…

 

  • There are approximately 600 million cats worldwide. This includes pets, feral cats and strays.
  • Having a cat neutered and spayed helps reduce the number of homeless cats and improves their overall health.
  • The longest living cat lived until the age of 38! Born on the 3rd of August 1967, Creme Puff exceeded the average lifespan of an indoor domesticated cat (12-18 years) before eventually passing away in the year 2005.
  • Following on from the previous fact, Creme Puff’s owner, Jake Perry, also owned a cat called Rex who exceeded the average feline lifespan, living to the age of 34! Rex held the record for the longest living cat prior to Creme Puff.
  • We share the same emotional regions of the brain as cats, so, cognitively, humans may be more like cats than we think!
  • The average cat has 18 toes, distributed between its front and hind paws. However, most cats have a condition called polydactylism, which causes them to be born with extra toes.
  • Cats, on average, sleep for a maximum of 15 hours a day, which takes up an estimated 70% of their lifespan in total!
  • In Ancient Egypt, cat owners would shave their eyebrows off as a ritual of mourning when their cat passed away. Cats, like humans, were also mummified after death and buried in tombs with their owners.

 

How you can support the cause…

 

There are many ways in which you can make a positive difference for our feline friends, whether it is from home, digitally or out in the local community.

 

  • Spreading the Word: Probably one of the easiest ways to support the cause – you can share any posts, pictures, stories or factual information on your social media channels to promote awareness regarding cat protection, care and advocacy.
  • Donate or Raise Money: You can make a one-off or regular donation to cat shelters and charity organisations, or provide any used items you are clearing out, such as towels or blankets. If time and resources allow, you can even organise a fundraising event or activity within your local community.
  • Treat your Feline Friend: Give your own cat some spoiling this International Cat Day! Treat them to a grooming session, a new toy or even some cuddles on your lap.
  • Volunteering: If you have a bit of spare time and perhaps want to send some of that around cats, you can volunteer to help out at a local cat shelter or rescue group, which could involve tasks such as bathing, feeding and socialising the cats there.

By Rachel Downie

 

Photo by Raoul Droog Unsplash

 

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