International Cat Day History: Origin, Facts & Timeline
International Cat Day is observed every August 8. It was founded in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to raise awareness about cat welfare. In 2020, custodianship transferred to International Cat Care (iCatCare), a UK-based charity founded in 1958. Since then, iCatCare has run themed annual campaigns with global reach.
Every August 8, millions of people post cat photos, donate to shelters, and celebrate the animal that has lived alongside humans for over 5,000 years. But how did International Cat Day actually start? Who decided August 8? And why did the organization running it change in 2020?
Who Founded International Cat Day?
International Cat Day was founded in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), a global animal protection organization established in 1969 by Brian Davies. IFAW created the day to raise awareness about cat welfare and promote responsible ownership. The day was later handed to International Cat Care (iCatCare) in 2020.
About IFAW
The International Fund for Animal Welfare was founded in 1969 by Brian Davies, initially to oppose the commercial hunt for whitecoat seals off the east coast of Canada. From those origins, IFAW grew into one of the world’s largest animal welfare organizations, with programs covering elephants, marine mammals, disaster rescue, and domestic animal welfare.
By 2002, domestic cats had become one of the most owned and most neglected animals on the planet. IFAW launched International Cat Day as a way to put feline welfare on the global calendar.
When Was International Cat Day Created?
International Cat Day was created in 2002, with the first observance on August 8, 2002. It began primarily as an IFAW-led awareness campaign, initially reaching a modest number of countries through newsletters and early online channels. Over two decades, it has grown into one of the most widely shared animal awareness days globally, with iCatCare reporting an estimated 600 million cats worldwide both owned and unowned as of 2024.
Why Is International Cat Day on August 8?
There is no single documented reason why August 8 was chosen. The most plausible explanation is that IFAW wanted a fixed, memorable summer date to build global momentum. August also coincides with peak stray cat activity in the Northern Hemisphere, when cat shelters tend to see the highest intake of abandoned animals.
| Day | Date | Origin |
| International Cat Day | August 8 | IFAW (2002) |
| National Cat Day (US) | October 29 | Colleen Paige (2005) |
| National Black Cat Day (UK) | October 27 | Cats Protection (2011) |
| National Cat Day (Italy) | February 17 | Italian tradition |
Year-by-Year History of International Cat Day
| Year | Key Milestone |
| 2002 | Founded by IFAW; first observed on August 8 |
| 2009 | Facebook cat pages drive early social media growth |
| 2011 | UK’s Cats Protection creates National Black Cat Day (Oct 27) |
| 2013 | First major viral moment for #InternationalCatDay on Twitter |
| 2016 | iCatCare begins collaborating with IFAW on the day |
| 2020 | Custodianship officially transfers to iCatCare |
| 2023 | Theme: “Purrfect Play Every Day” (#PurrfectPlay) |
| 2024 | Theme: “Celebrate Cats!” (#CelebrateCats) |
| 2025 | Theme: “Cat Friendly Every Day” (#CatFriendlyEveryDay) |
| 2026 | Theme: “Think CAT” (#ThinkCAT) August 8, 2026 |
What Changed When iCatCare Took Over in 2020?
In 2020, custodianship of International Cat Day transferred from IFAW to International Cat Care (iCatCare), a UK-based global cat welfare charity. Under iCatCare, the day gained annual themed campaigns, a focus on veterinary education, and structured resources for cat owners, breeders, and clinics worldwide.
What Is iCatCare?
International Cat Care was established in 1958 originally called the Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) founded by Joan Judd, who saw a clear need for a central body to support cat caregivers and breeders. Over six decades, FAB evolved into iCatCare, a registered UK charity headquartered in Wiltshire, England.
Today, iCatCare:
- Runs the Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation program globally
- Publishes the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS)
- Operates the iCatCare Veterinary Society
- Offers free educational resources to owners, caregivers, and vets
The 2020 handover aligned International Cat Day with iCatCare’s science-backed, welfare-focused mission and marked a shift from awareness-only campaigns to structured, themed education.
What Has Each International Cat Day Theme Been?
Under iCatCare, each year’s campaign has focused on a specific welfare topic:
| Year | Theme | Focus |
| 2023 | Purrfect Play Every Day | Encouraging 5 minutes of daily play for cats |
| 2024 | Celebrate Cats (#CelebrateCats) | Community celebration and welfare advocacy |
| 2025 | Cat Friendly Every Day (#CatFriendlyEveryDay) | Cat-friendly environments at home and in clinics |
| 2026 | Think CAT (#ThinkCAT) | Cat Friendly care, Annual vet checks, Tips for all life stages |
Before 2020, IFAW did not publish formal annual themes. The day functioned as a general awareness campaign rather than a structured educational initiative.
Why Is International Cat Day Celebrated?
International Cat Day is celebrated to honor one of the world’s most popular pets, raise awareness of cat welfare issues, and encourage responsible ownership. With an estimated 600 million cats on Earth both owned and unowned the day also highlights the needs of stray and feral cat populations globally.
8 Cat Facts Worth Knowing on International Cat Day
Most “cat facts” lists recycle the same trivia. Here are some that go deeper:
- Cats have 32 muscles in each ear, giving them precise directional hearing and the ability to rotate each ear independently to locate sounds.
- A domestic cat’s purr vibrates at 25–150 Hz, a frequency range that research associates with muscle and bone repair. Cats may purr not only when content, but when stressed or in pain.
- Cats cannot taste sweetness. According to a study published in PLOS Genetics, the gene responsible for sweet taste receptors (Tas1r2) has been non-functional in cats for millions of years a result of their evolution as obligate carnivores.
- A group of cats is called a clowder. Two or more cats together are technically a clowder; a group of kittens is called a kindle.
- Cats sweat exclusively through their paw pads. They have no sweat glands elsewhere on their bodies.
- Male cats tend to be left-pawed; females tend to be right-pawed. Research into cat laterality (paw preference) has found this gender-linked pattern, though individual variation is common.
- Cats can jump up to six times their body length in a single bound, thanks to powerful hind leg muscles and a flexible spine.
- iCatCare was established 44 years before it became custodian of International Cat Day. Founded in 1958 62 years before taking over the observance in 2020 the charity had long established itself as a trusted voice in feline welfare.
Who Are the Notable Figures Behind International Cat Day?
- Brian Davies Founded IFAW in 1969 and initiated the first International Cat Day in 2002.
- Joan Judd Founded the Feline Advisory Bureau in 1958 (now iCatCare), the organization that became custodian of the day in 2020.
- Colleen Paige Unrelated to International Cat Day but relevant context: Paige founded National Cat Day (US) in 2005, observed on October 29, to raise awareness about homeless cats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded International Cat Day?
International Cat Day was founded in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), a global animal protection organization established in 1969 by Brian Davies. Custodianship transferred to International Cat Care (iCatCare) in 2020.
When did International Cat Day start?
International Cat Day started on August 8, 2002. It was the first globally recognized day dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness for domestic cats.
Why is International Cat Day on August 8?
No officially documented reason explains the August 8 date. IFAW chose it as a fixed global date; August also coincides with high stray cat intake at shelters in the Northern Hemisphere.
Who decides what happens on International Cat Day each year?
Since 2020, International Cat Care (iCatCare) has been the official custodian of International Cat Day. iCatCare sets the annual theme, creates campaigns, and distributes resources for cat owners and veterinary professionals.
Is IFAW still involved in International Cat Day?
IFAW transferred custodianship to iCatCare in 2020. iCatCare now fully manages the day, though broader animal welfare organizations often participate in the campaign.
What was the first official theme for International Cat Day?
Prior to 2020, no formal annual themes were used. Under iCatCare, themed campaigns began with focused welfare topics the 2023 theme was “Purrfect Play Every Day,” emphasizing daily interactive play for cats.
How many cats are there in the world?
According to iCatCare, there are an estimated 600 million cats worldwide, including both owned and unowned animals. Separate pet ownership data from CatAbroad (2026) estimates 350–373 million cats are kept as pets.
How is International Cat Day different from National Cat Day?
International Cat Day (August 8) is a globally observed day founded by IFAW in 2002. National Cat Day (October 29) is a US-specific observance founded by Colleen Paige in 2005 to highlight cat adoption and welfare domestically.
When did iCatCare start?
iCatCare was founded in 1958 as the Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) by Joan Judd. It was rebranded as International Cat Care and became the custodian of International Cat Day in 2020.
Can cats hear better than dogs?
Cats have 32 muscles in each ear and can hear frequencies up to approximately 64,000 Hz significantly higher than dogs (approximately 40,000 Hz) and humans (approximately 20,000 Hz). Their rotatable ears allow precise sound localization.
