Celebrating National Cat Day in Your Veterinary Practice

As any vet knows, cats have long been loved throughout history, so it’s no wonder we celebrate National Cat Day in October each year. National Cat Day happens on October 29. The date is about public awareness to actively celebrate the joy that feline friends bring to our lives.

If you own a veterinary practice in the United States, Canada, or halfway around the world, this October holiday offers you a purrfect opportunity to: 

• Connect with cat lovers
• Promote kitty welfare
• Save animals at your local shelter

Let’s look at ways to mark the day in your veterinary practice and what the impact has been on cats and those who love them.

Understanding National Cat Day

While Wikipedia lists holidays for almost anything, National Pet Day for dogs, cats, and other pets isn’t quite enough for these free-roaming felines to shine. National Cat Day stems from an unconditional love for cats and a passion to see more rescued cats and kittens, in particular.

History and Significance

According to the National Cat Day website page, pet and family lifestyle expert Colleen Paige started this auspicious holiday in 2005. It would raise public awareness around the increasing shelter population of domestic cats. 

Every October, vets and other proponents of cats encourage cat lovers to adopt kitties and full-grown cats from their local shelters, which take in approximately 3.4 million cats annually. Instead of the animals waiting to be euthanized, the act of intentional adoption ensures their lives are celebrated. The day reduces the burden on shelters while reminding cat keepers to prioritize spaying and neutering efforts.

As a passionate animal lover who also happens to be a family lifestyle expert, Colleen Paige understood the benefits of cat and dog ownership to family life. That’s why she also created: 

• National Dog Day
• National Pet Day
• National Wildlife Day
• National Puppy Day

Is There an International Cat Day? Looking at Global Celebrations

Each country commemorates National Cat Day on various dates, encouraging international cat care. For example, Canada celebrates National Cat Day on August 8. Italy, Brazil, and Poland celebrate it in February.

According to Wikipedia, the Japanese recognize National Cat Day in February, a move decided by the Executive Cat Day Committee in 1978. Interestingly, this Executive Cat Day Committee chose February 22 because the date resembles “meow meow meow” in the Japanese language. The date is celebrated in Japan with social media posts of your cat.

Why Veterinary Practices Should Raise Public Awareness for Cats

Did your veterinary practice join National Cat Day 2024? The October 29 National Day of Cats could help you engage with cat keepers at your practice while promoting animal health.

Connecting With Cat Lovers

Humans love their pets, which is why cats are celebrated all over the world. Building stronger bonds with the pet owners your veterinary practice serves also means they’ll visit more.

Animal Welfare

A veterinarian plays a critical role in supporting cat adoptions and wellness, particularly in spaying and neutering cats safely to prevent overpopulation. Supporting the mission of National Cat Day proves your practice truly cares.

Creative Ways To Celebrate National Cat Day

Whether you’re in the United States, Canada, or elsewhere, here are a few ideas to show your clinic cares on National Cat Day this year:

Special Promotions and Offers

Why not offer discounts on services like checkups or vaccines for cats on October 29? It should attract owners of pets while boosting the health of cats in your veterinary service areas. Agreeing to volunteer at a local shelter to provide key healthcare services to the cats in need also reflects well on your practice while helping cats live healthier lives.

Educational Workshops

Cat owners are only human, and everyone needs a little help to care well for their furry friends. Why not host workshops or seminars on cat wellness for pet owners, local shelters, or even less specialized veterinary practices?

National Cat Day Website and Social Media Engagement

On a lighter note, your veterinary practice could share fun and educational content about cats online. Curate feel-good adoption stories, talk cat care tips, and more, all of which will boost your brand.

The Impact of National Cat Day on Veterinary Practices

Once a vet has celebrated National Cat Day, what sort of impact might they see? There’s more benefit here than just helping cats access better health resources.

Success Stories

Global cat tales grace social media and news channels alike, whether it’s National or International Cat Day being celebrated. Take, for example, the news of a family who fled their home in Ukraine being reunited with their dear cat, San Diego’s Solace who has a new lease on life, and the National Cat Lady Day that Canada hosts. Vets have played a hand, and it shows.

Business Growth Opportunities

How could National Cat Day help you increase your visibility locally and online? You might offer half-off exams on this celebrated date and get 40% more appointments scheduled, each of which schedules a follow-up six months later. Whether you partner with the local shelter or gain customers, National Cat Day is an opportunity no vet should miss.

Start Planning for National Cat Day

While you may not have decided upon National Cat Day because the date resembles an adorable mew, its goals perfectly align with those of your veterinary practice. Will you get involved in National Cat Day this October? 

If you’d like even more opportunities to grow, get a demo of Weave’s latest veterinary practice management and client communication tools.