If you’ve ever planned your year around your cat’s birthday, gotcha day, or favorite nap schedule, you’re in the right place. Cats don’t just get one day a year — they get lots of them.
This 2026 cat holiday calendar brings together widely recognized cat holidays, awareness and rescue days, remembrance dates, and a few fun, unofficial cat holidays that pop up every year in the cat community. Whether you’re a cat parent, a rescue supporter, or someone who just loves an excuse to celebrate their cat, this list gives you a full year of meaningful (and sometimes silly) reasons to do exactly that.
January
January 2 – Happy Mew Year for Cats
A lighthearted day to ring in the new year with your favorite feline.
January 22 – Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day
A fun, unofficial day acknowledging the many demands cats place on their humans.
February
February 22 – Walking the Cat Day
A day celebrating adventurous cats who enjoy safe, supervised walks.
March
March 2 – International Rescue Cat Day
A day recognizing rescue cats and the organizations that help them find homes.
March 28 – Respect Your Cat Day
A reminder to honor cats’ boundaries, personalities, and independence.
April
April 6 – Siamese Cat Day
A day celebrating Siamese cats and their distinctive personalities.
April 19 – Cat Lady Day
A day embracing cat lovers and the joy of living life with cats.
May
May 3 – National Specially-Abled Pets Day
A day recognizing pets with disabilities and the caregivers who support them.
May 30 – National Memorial Day for Pets
A day to remember and honor beloved pets who have passed.
June
June 4 – Hug Your Cat Day
A day encouraging extra affection (as approved by your cat).
June 15 – Spoil Your Cat Day
A fun, unofficial day encouraging extra treats, attention, and indulgence for cats.
June 24 – Cat World Domination Day
A humorous, unofficial day celebrating the idea that cats secretly rule everything.
July
July 10 – National Kitten Day
A day celebrating kittens and raising awareness for adoption.
August
August 8 – International Cat Day
A globally recognized celebration of cats and their impact on our lives.
August 17 – Black Cat Appreciation Day
A day dedicated to celebrating black cats and challenging common myths.
August 22 – National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
A reminder to prioritize routine veterinary care for cats.
September
September 4 – National Stray Cat Awareness Day
A day focused on the challenges faced by stray and community cats.
Second Sunday of September – Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
A day dedicated to remembering pets who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
September 19 – Meow Like a Pirate Day
A playful, unofficial cat-themed twist on Talk Like a Pirate Day, popular on social media.
Fourth Thursday of September – Remember Me Thursday
A day honoring shelter pets waiting for homes and remembering those who didn’t make it.
October
October 16 – National Feral Cat Day (U.S.)
A day raising awareness about feral and community cats and promoting humane care and management programs.
October 16 – Global Cat Day
A worldwide day celebrating cats and advocating for their welfare and protection.
October 27 – National Black Cat Day (U.S.)
A U.S.-recognized day celebrating black cats and promoting adoption.
October 29 – National Cat Day (U.S.)
A day celebrating cats and encouraging adoption and appreciation.
November
November 2 – All Souls’ Day
A traditional remembrance day often observed by pet owners honoring lost companions.
November 14 – National Senior Pet Day
A day recognizing senior pets and the special care they deserve.
December
All Month – National Cat Lovers Month
A month-long celebration of cats and the people who love them.
December 15 – National Cat Herders Day
A humorous day acknowledging the challenge of managing the unmanageable.
Cats have a way of marking time for us — from the day they came home to the moments we’ll always carry with us. This calendar isn’t about celebrating every single day, but about recognizing the many ways cats shape our lives throughout the year.
If you bookmark or save just one thing for 2026, let it be this list. Whether you use it to plan content, support rescue efforts, remember a beloved companion, or simply enjoy another excuse to appreciate your cat, these dates are here when you need them.
Because let’s be honest — every day belongs to the cats anyway.