National Cat Day 2026 fell on Thursday, 29 October. It’s a US awareness day, started back in 2005 by pet lifestyle writer Colleen Paige, and the whole point is simple: get more shelter cats adopted, and give the cats already on your couch a bit of extra love. Missed it? No stress. Most of the ideas below work any day of the year, and your cat honestly won’t know the date (spoiler, it also doesn’t want a costume).
And if you’ve seen “Black Cat Day” all over your feed this week, that’s a different one. More on that below.
National Cat Day 2026 at a Glance
- Date: Thursday, 29 October 2026
- Where: mostly the US, though cat people everywhere have kind of adopted it
- Started by: Colleen Paige, in 2005
- The idea: shelter cat adoption, plus celebrating the cats we already have
- Not to be confused with: International Cat Day (8 August) or Black Cat Day (27 October in the UK)
What Is National Cat Day, Exactly?
It’s one of those awareness days, but it’s got a real reason behind it. Colleen Paige set it up in 2005 to shine a light on how many cats are sitting in shelters waiting for a home, according to National Today’s write-up on the day. Shelters lean into it every year with adoption events, reduced fees and social posts of their longest-stay cats.
For the rest of us it’s an excuse, honestly. An excuse to buy the fancy treats, clear an afternoon for play, book the vet check you’ve been putting off, or donate to the rescue down the road.
Why It Matters More in 2026
The numbers this year are a bit of a mixed bag. In early October, the ASPCA shared Shelter Animals Count’s 2026 mid-year data, and cats were the story. Cat intake went up by about 59,000 (3.5%) compared with the first half of 2025, which was nearly the whole national increase.
Kittens were a huge part of it. 674,000 of them came into shelters and rescues in the first six months alone, and 311,000 “juvenile” cats too, the highest mid-year number on record. SAC expects around 3.6 million cats to go through shelters and rescues by the end of 2026.
The good news? Cat adoptions hit 1 million in that same half-year, up 2.1% on last year. Best mid-year for cat adoptions in over a decade. So people are adopting, there are just a lot of cats. That’s exactly what this day is for.
National Cat Day vs Black Cat Day: What’s the Difference?
Easy to mix up, they’re two days apart. Black Cat Day is 27 October, and it comes from the UK. The charity Cats Protection started it in 2011 because, in their words, black cats in their care took about a week longer to find a home than cats of other colours, as this history of Black Cat Day explains. By 2019 they said that gap was down to around two days. Progress!
The US has its own black cat day too, Black Cat Appreciation Day, but that’s in August (the 17th). So today’s buzz is the UK one, and Thursday is the big US one. Celebrate both, your cat won’t object.
Here’s the full calendar of cat days, in case you want to keep the party going.
| Day | Date | Mostly marked in | What it’s about |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Cat Day | 8 August | Worldwide | Cats in general, welfare |
| Black Cat Appreciation Day | 17 August | US | Black cats and their bad rap |
| National Feral Cat Day | 16 October | US | Community and feral cats, TNR |
| Black Cat Day | 27 October | UK | Getting black cats adopted |
| National Cat Day | 29 October | US | Shelter adoption, loving your cat |
National Cat Day 2026 in the UK (and National Black Cat Day 2026)
Nope, the UK doesn’t have an official one. Kind of wild for a country where half the people I know have a cat in their Instagram bio.
The 29 October date is American. A woman called Colleen Paige started it in 2005. Brits just borrowed it, and fair enough. Scroll on the 29th and you’ll find loads of UK cats getting their moment.
But the UK has its own thing two days before. It’s for black cats.
National Black Cat Day 2026 fell on Tuesday 27 October. Cats Protection kicked it off in 2011. Back then they called it Black Cat Awareness Day, and the reason was a bit sad: black cats in their centres sat there about a week longer than the others before anyone picked them. Did it help? Looks like it. By 2019 the wait was only around two days longer, and they say 65,000+ black and black-and-white cats found homes through them since it started.
Quick UK cat calendar so you don’t mix them up:
- 27 October: National Black Cat Day (the British one)
- 29 October: National Cat Day (from the US, still big here)
- 8 August: International Cat Day
Want to actually do something? Cats Protection and Battersea let you sponsor a cat for a few quid a month. Or check your local rescue’s Facebook page. Loads of them post a wish list this time of year, food, litter, old blankets, that kind of stuff.
Already got a black cat on the sofa? Then you probably know the habits. If yours keeps putting a paw on your face or sniffing your face first thing in the morning, that’s basically a cat saying hi.
15 Ways to Celebrate National Cat Day
None of these need a big budget. Most of them, your cat will enjoy way more than a new outfit.
For your own cat
- Proper play session. Wand toy, ten minutes, let them actually “catch” it at the end. That last bit matters, it’s the hunt finishing.
- Puzzle feeder. Put part of dinner in a treat ball or an egg box with kibble hidden in it. Free, and surprisingly good for bored indoor cats.
- A new box. Yes really. A cardboard box with a hole cut in the side is still elite cat entertainment.
- Window seat. Clear a sill, add a folded towel. Bird TV, all day.
- Brushing session. Lots of cats love it, and you’ll spot any lumps, scabs or fleas while you’re at it.
- Book that vet check. Cats are sneaky about hiding pain. If it’s been more than a year, now’s a good excuse.
- Update the microchip details. Moved house or changed number? Takes five minutes online.
- Grow some cat grass. A pot of wheatgrass from the garden centre, cheap and most cats go nuts for it.
For shelter cats
- Adopt. If you’ve been thinking about it, lots of shelters run fee-reduced events this week.
- Foster. Not ready to commit? Fostering even one cat frees up a kennel space.
- Donate the stuff they actually need. Call ahead, but it’s usually litter, wet food, towels and laundry detergent.
- Share a long-stayer. Repost that grumpy-looking senior cat your local shelter has had for months. It does help.
- Volunteer to socialise cats. Some shelters just need people to sit and be calm around shy cats. Nice gig.
Just for fun
- Take a decent photo. Natural light, get down to their eye level, wait for the slow blink.
- Pick a name for your next one. Need ideas? Our trending pet names for 2026 list has plenty.
Short on time? Here’s a quick way to pick, depending on how much you want to spend.
| Budget | Ideas | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Play session, box fort, window seat, brushing, sharing a shelter post | Every cat, every owner |
| Under $10 | Cat grass, wand toy, small bag of litter for the shelter | Bored indoor cats |
| Under $50 | Puzzle feeder, scratching post, a donation | Busy owners, local rescues |
| Bigger step | Fostering, adopting, a vet check-up | If you’re ready for it |
Is Your Cat Actually Happy? Little Signs to Watch
Cats don’t exactly wag. But they do tell you stuff, if you know where to look. A slow blink at you from across the room is basically a cat “I love you”, try slow-blinking back. A tail held straight up with a little hook at the end when they walk over is a happy hello.
Kneading on your lap, that “making biscuits” thing, is usually a comfy, content cat. So is a cat who flops over and shows you their belly (which is trust, by the way, not always an invitation to rub it, ask anyone with scratched arms).
Now the other side. A bored cat often tells you too, just less politely. Zooming around at 3am, knocking things off shelves while staring right at you, scratching the sofa you just bought, over-grooming one patch until it’s thin. A lot of that is a cat with energy and nowhere to put it.
That’s why the play session at the top of the list matters so much. Two short ones a day, before meals if you can, then food straight after, it copies the hunt-catch-eat rhythm and a lot of cats settle down noticeably. If the over-grooming or any sudden change in behaviour doesn’t ease off, though, that’s a vet visit, not a boredom thing.
Thinking of Adopting? Read This First
Lovely idea. But go in with your eyes open, yeah? Cats can easily stick around 15 years or more. So the boring questions count: who feeds them when you’re away, could you cover a surprise vet bill, is your landlord okay with pets.
The shelter staff know these cats better than anyone, so let them help match you. A shy adult cat who’d hate a busy house with toddlers might be perfect for a quiet flat. And don’t skip the older ones, adult cats come with their personality already “done”, so you know what you’re getting.
Bringing home a little one? Our new kitten checklist covers everything to have ready before day one.
Black Cats, Halloween and Adoption Holds
Some shelters pause black cat adoptions in the run-up to Halloween, worried about people wanting them as “props” or worse. Others say that’s an old myth and keep adopting as normal, like the shelter featured in this Fox 4 report. It really depends on the shelter, so just ask.
Whatever colour your cat is, keep them inside on Halloween night. Doors opening every five minutes, costumes, doorbells, it’s a lot. Our Halloween pet safety guide goes through candy, costumes and decorations to watch.
National Cat Day FAQ
When is National Cat Day 2026?
This year it falls on a Thursday, 29 October. The date never moves (always the 29th), it’s only the day of the week that changes.
Who started National Cat Day?
That was Colleen Paige, back in 2005. She writes about pets and does a lot of animal welfare stuff, and the whole idea was getting more shelter cats into homes.
Is National Cat Day the same as International Cat Day?
Nope. International Cat Day is 8 August and it’s marked all over the world. National Cat Day is 29 October and it’s mainly a US thing, though it gets shared everywhere online now.
Is Black Cat Day on 27 October?
In the UK, yes, that’s Cats Protection’s Black Cat Day. Over in the US it’s a summer thing instead, Black Cat Appreciation Day on 17 August.
What’s the best way to celebrate National Cat Day?
Honestly? A proper play session with your own cat, and then one small thing for shelter cats. Adopt, foster, drop off a bag of litter, or just share a post. It all adds up.
Do shelters have adoption deals on National Cat Day?
Lots do, but it changes from place to place. Check your local shelter’s website or socials this week, many announce reduced or waived fees.
When is National Cat Day 2026 in the UK?
Same day as the US, Thursday 29 October 2026. It’s not an official UK day though. The British one is Black Cat Day on the 27th.
Why do black cats wait longer to get adopted?
Nobody’s 100% sure. Old superstitions don’t help, and shelter staff often say black cats are just harder to photograph, so their adoption pics look flat online. Some people also think they all look the same. They don’t, ask anyone who has one.
What can I do for National Black Cat Day?
Share a black cat from a local shelter, donate a bag of food, or just post your own black cat with #NationalBlackCatDay. If you’re thinking of adopting, ask the shelter which cats have been there longest. It’s often the black ones. Then have a read of our new kitten checklist, figure out indoor vs outdoor, and check how much wet food to feed a cat before day one.
One Last Thing
Your cat doesn’t know it’s National Cat Day. What they’ll notice is you on the floor with the wand toy for ten minutes, or the window seat that suddenly appeared. That’s the celebration.
How are you marking it this year? Tell us in the comments, and if your cat does something ridiculous on Thursday, we want to hear about it. Curious why yours does the biscuit-making thing on your lap? Here’s why cats knead.
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