Looking for a way to celebrate our feline friends this month? Here are some fun August cat activities.
NOTE: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many events have been cancelled or gone virtual.
A cat in the shelter. Photography by Okssi68/Thinkstock
All Month: Clear the Shelters
Find your new best friend during NBC- and Telemundo-owned stations’ sixth annual Clear the Shelters pet adoption campaign, which runs from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31. To help individuals and communities continue to practice safe social distancing measures, the month-long “Adopt & Donate” effort will feature virtual pet adoptions and make it easy for people to donate online to participating shelters and rescues. This year’s campaign features returning partners WeRescue, GreaterGood.org and new partner 24PetWatch. Users can use the WeRescue iOS app to locate adoptable pets near their zip code, submit their applications through shelters’ websites and ask questions directly to shelters. Those who want to donate to a shelter or rescue can visit GreaterGood.org’s Clear the Shelters donation site ClearTheSheltersFund.org. In addition, 24PetWatch is enabling shelters to increase their exposure through 24Petshelter.com/cleartheshelter, a free website providing a full list of participating shelters and their adoptable pets, along with a link to contact them. Total funds donated to shelters and rescues, as well as the total number of pets adopted from virtual platforms and any in-person adoption events, will be announced after Aug. 31. Visit ClearTheShelters.com for more information. Follow this adoption effort on Twitter @ClearTheShelter, and on social media using the hashtags #ClearTheShelters and #DesocuparLosAlbergues.
Join Kitten Lady and other experts to learn all about kitten and cat care.
Aug. 1: Catology Presents Kitten Lady and Friends
As a result of the quarantine, many Americans have fostered and/or adopted a pet. If you’re a little overwhelmed with the new responsibilities of cat ownership, social media sensation and kitten rescuer Hannah Shaw (aka Kitten Lady) will be starring in the newest installment of Royal Canin’s Catology series. Starting today, you can catch Hannah and other cat experts to learn about cat health tips like vet care for vulnerable kittens, cat nutrition and behavior and what to do once you’ve adopted or fostered a cat or kitten. All episodes will be streamed on both Kitten Lady’s and Royal Canin’s YouTube pages, as well as on royalcanin.com/cathealth.
Cat paws holding a globe. Photography ©Gumpanat | Thinkstock.
8 International Cat Day
Give your cat some extra love on this day of recognition for our beloved feline friends. Created in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, its purpose is to raise awareness for cats in need.
Who doesn’t love black cats?! Photography by Getty Images.
17 Black Cat Appreciation Day
This special day was created to show people that black cats are nothing to be afraid of and to help raise awareness about black cats in general. Because of outdated – and just plain wrong – superstitions about black cats, they tend to have a hard time getting adopted. If you’re looking for a new feline companion, consider adopting a black one! If you already have a black cat in your life, share photos on social media to spread the word about how wonderful black cats are.
An orange tabby cat at the vet. Photography by ckellyphoto/Thinkstock.
22 Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
Your cat is probably less than thrilled when it comes to vet visits, but annual exams are so important to your kitty’s health and well-being. That’s why National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day was created. We’re certainly not suggesting that everyone take their cats to the vet TODAY, but this day is a great reminder to schedule those important visits.
Thumbnail: Photography ©arkady2013 | iStock / Getty Images Plus