Why We’re All a Little Better with a Cat in Our Lives
To know a cat is to be enchanted, and that's what International Cat Day is all about. Their quiet confidence, curious intelligence, and boundless independence make them truly one of a kind.
Here in South Africa, cats are treasured members of households across cultures and communities. They curl up on city balconies and countryside porches alike, offering comfort, companionship, and the occasional stolen sock.
Why International Cat Day is More Than Just Cute Photos
International Cat Day may be filled with charming Instagram posts and adorable reels, but at its heart, this day is rooted in something much deeper: the well-being and protection of cats everywhere.
The day was first established in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, one of the world’s largest animal advocacy organisations. It was created to raise awareness about the millions of cats around the world who suffer from neglect, abandonment, and lack of access to veterinary care—particularly in under-resourced communities.
In 2020, stewardship of International Cat Day was passed to International Cat Care, a UK-based charity that has been working since 1958 to improve feline welfare through education, research, and veterinary partnerships. Their mission aligns beautifully with the spirit of the day: to help every cat live a full, healthy, and happy life.
Why August 8? While it’s not linked to any celestial event, August is a particularly symbolic time. In the Southern Hemisphere, it aligns with the tail end of winter, a time when many shelters are overcrowded from kitten season and outdoor cats face harsh conditions. Globally, it also falls during peak feline mating season, when unspayed cats are more likely to breed—contributing to a cycle of overpopulation that strains animal welfare services.
So while the social media buzz is lovely—and encouraged—it’s equally important to honour the original intent behind International Cat Day: To protect the vulnerable, educate the public, and celebrate the deep, enduring bond between humans and cats.
Because behind every viral video is a species that has walked alongside us for thousands of years—from ancient temples to modern homes, offering their love on their own terms, and teaching us how to love in return.
Nine Beautiful Ways South Africans Can Celebrate International Cat Day
1. Give a Forever Home: Adopt or Foster a Cat
There are thousands of cats across South Africa in shelters waiting for their next chapter. If you’ve ever thought about adopting, International Cat Day is the perfect push. Many organisations offer special adoption days or foster drives in early August, making it easier than ever to meet your new furry soulmate.
Not ready for a lifetime commitment? Fostering provides vital short-term care and socialisation—especially for kittens or older cats in recovery.
2. Be Their Hero: Volunteer or Donate
Rescue organisations rely on community support. This International Cat Day, you can spend time helping at a local shelter—feeding cats, cleaning enclosures, or just sitting quietly with a nervous rescue. If you’re short on time, donations go a long way—think food, blankets, toys, litter, or even a bag of treats.
Every small act is a big step toward a better life for a cat in need.
3. Spoil the One You Love: Pamper Your Cat at Home
Turn your home into a feline paradise—even if it’s just for a day. Surprise your cat with a new toy, a cozy blanket, or a gourmet treat. Carve out time for a long play session or a quiet cuddle. Some cat parents even create mini spa days with gentle grooming and catnip rewards.
Your cat may not show gratitude in words—but their soft purrs and relaxed stretches will say it all.
4. Home is Where the Meow Is: Make Your Space More Cat-Friendly
Enrich your cat’s environment this International Cat Day with little upgrades that make a big difference. Add a windowside perch so they can bask in the sun and watch the world go by. Swap out old toys for interactive ones. Install a scratching post or create a DIY hideaway using cardboard boxes.
Cats love novelty, safety, and vertical space. A few thoughtful changes can transform your home into a feline haven.
5. Share the Love: Celebrate Online with #InternationalCatDay
Take to your socials and share your cat’s story—or the story of a shelter cat who’s still waiting. Use #InternationalCatDay to join the worldwide celebration and inspire your friends to adopt, volunteer, or learn more about feline care.
You never know who’s one photo away from meeting their future best friend.
6. Grow Your Feline Wisdom: Learn, Teach, and Advocate
Attend a cat behaviour webinar, read up on feline nutrition, or learn the signs of stress in cats. Better still, share what you learn with your community. Education leads to empathy—and better lives for cats everywhere.
If you’re passionate about animal welfare, consider becoming an advocate in your neighbourhood or school. Raising awareness, even in small circles, is how we create lasting change. Click here to learn more about South Africa's National Kitten Day.
7. Support Spay & Neuter Campaigns Near You
One of the most powerful gifts you can give a cat is the freedom from unwanted litters and the health risks associated with unsterilised life. Spaying and neutering reduces roaming behaviour, fighting, vocalising, and even certain cancers.
In South Africa, sterilisation campaigns are essential to control feline overpopulation—especially in informal settlements, rural areas, and during kitten season (which peaks in late winter and early spring). Support your local clinic or welfare group by sponsoring a spay, volunteering at mobile clinics, or spreading the word about its importance.
Even if you can’t donate or assist directly, simply encouraging friends and family to sterilise their pets can make a life-changing difference.
8. Teach the Next Generation to Love Cats
The future of feline welfare lies in the hands of young people. Teach children in your family or community how to approach cats gently, why indoor safety matters, or what to do if they find a stray.
Many shelters offer school outreach or youth education programmes around International Cat Day. You can also start small: read a cat-themed book together, draw kitty portraits, or write stories about your pet. Encouraging compassion, curiosity, and respect for cats at a young age helps build a generation that sees animals as companions, not commodities.
Kindness to cats starts with knowledge—and that knowledge can start with you.
9 Lives Deserve Lifelong Care: Keep Your Cat Healthy & Happy
Loving your cat also means caring for their health. As cats age, they're more prone to conditions like dental disease, kidney issues, arthritis, and weight problems—but many of these are manageable with early detection.
Veterinarians across South Africa recommend annual wellness exams, even for indoor cats. Don’t wait until there’s a problem—proactive care ensures your kitty enjoys every one of their nine lives to the fullest.
Keep fresh water available, feed high-quality food, and make time for daily movement—even if it’s just chasing a laser across the floor.
August Whiskers & Moonlight Serenades: Why This Month Matters
If your cat’s been extra vocal or affectionate lately, it’s not just the cooler evenings. August marks the height of mating season, especially for unspayed or unneutered cats. Unfortunately, this also leads to overcrowded shelters and many unplanned litters.
Spaying and neutering is one of the most powerful ways we can support cat welfare in South Africa. It reduces health risks, prevents behavioural problems, and most importantly—saves lives.
Make International Cat Day the day you book that vet appointment, or donate to a local sterilisation campaign.
The Heart of International Cat Day: Compassion in Action
Cats may be quiet companions, but the joy they bring is profound. They make us laugh, they soothe our anxiety, and they’re there for us in life’s quiet moments. International Cat Day gives us the chance to say, “Thank you.”
It also challenges us to look beyond our own homes—to extend that love to cats still waiting for a warm bed, a gentle touch, or a second chance.
Wrap It in Purrs: Final Thoughts
International Cat Day, falling on Friday, August 8, 2025, is more than just a date on the calendar—it’s a tender invitation to pause, reflect, and act with love.
Across South Africa, whether in bustling cities or quiet rural towns, cat lovers are coming together to show their affection—not just to the cats curled up in their homes, but to the ones still waiting behind shelter doors, wandering the streets, or quietly struggling in silence.
So let this be your sign.
If there’s room in your heart and home, adopt a cat who’s
longing for a second chance.
If you have time, volunteer.
If you have resources, donate.
If all you have is love—share it, loudly and kindly.
Even the smallest gesture can mean the world to a cat in need. Because when we care for them, we honour the trust they've placed in us over thousands of years—a silent, purring loyalty we should never take for granted. There are many animal rescues in South Africa, like Cast Aways, Mdzananda Animal Clinic and Arnial Rescue Team.
This #InternationalCatDay, let’s move beyond admiration and into action. Let’s speak for those who meow. Let’s make the world gentler, safer, and more loving—one rescued cat at a time.
Go on—be their miracle.
Cat-Lover's Map: Must-Visit Cat-Friendly Spots in South Africa
Looking to connect with more cat people or support amazing work? Check out these feline-friendly gems across the country:
- Cape of Good Hope SPCA – Cape Town-based, offering adoption, mobile vet services, and public education
- TEARS Animal Rescue – Western Cape shelter known for Catapalooza and strong community outreach
- Johannesburg SPCA – Leading Gauteng shelter supporting adoption, sterilisation, and awareness
- Kitty Care-Durban – Established in 2013, it is an organisation which is involved with helping the cats across KZN. They rescue, foster, home, trap, sterilise, release and feed.
- Western Province Cat Club – Hosts cat shows and welfare events for pedigree and rescue cats alike
- Pet Expo South Africa – National expo with feline exhibitors, rescue stands, and cat-care education
- Established in early 2017, Cat Heaven Rescue Cat Cafe, Cape Town, was the first Cat Cafe on the African continent
- St Francis Animal Rescue – a charity run by a small group of volunteers, all of whom are passionate animal lovers.
- Furever Fixed - East London: a sterilisation organisation. They are committed to solving the problem of homeless animals. They trap and sterilise the stray and feral cats of East London and surrounds.
