Prepare to unleash your inner lion and get ready for a purr-fectly delightful celebration because National Cat Day is around the corner!
Whether you're a devoted cat parent, a casual admirer, or a cat newbie, this holiday is all about honoring and appreciating our feline friends. We have five fun ways to celebrate National Cat Day on October 29 — or anytime you feel like pouncing into a world of meows, whiskers, and purrs.
1. Start with a giggle.
Take a moment to paws for a hiss-terical joke that will leave you feline fine!
Q. Why did the cat sit on the computer?
A. So it could keep an eye on the mouse.
2. Support a local nonprofit.
National Cat Day was established by Colleen Paige, a pet and family lifestyle expert (and also the creator of National Dog Day). Part of her mission for this day was to "galvanize the public to recognize the number of cats that need to be rescued each year."
Consider supporting a local nonprofit with a monetary or in-kind donation of cat toys or gently used blankets and towels.
If you've been thinking of adding a whiskered companion to your family, you can foster or adopt from one of these outstanding Colorado organizations:
- Cat Care Society (Lakewood)
- Denver Dumb Friends League (Castle Rock and Denver)
- Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue (Denver)
- Wild Blue Cats Animal Rescue and Sanctuary (Colorado Springs)
3. Get crafty.
Cat-themed arts and crafts can be a fun way to celebrate while encouraging creativity, improving fine motor skills, and developing an appreciation for cats.
Decorate paper plates to make cat masks. Go through old magazines to make a collage. Make homemade modeling dough and create an entire cat family.
If you want to be extra fancy, try making an origami cat. Use black paper, and your craft can double as Halloween decor.
4. Play a word game.
There was a cat owner whose pets were named Astrophe, Amaran, and Apult. When a friend commented on the unusual names, the owner replied, "Those are their surnames. Their first names are all Cat!"
There are 437 words in the English language that begin with "cat." How many can you think of? Once you've named as many as possible, check out the complete list at www.wordfinders.com.
5. Have a family movie night.
Cats have a reputation for being divas, so it makes purr-fect sense for them to be the star of the show! The movies below offer a mix of comedy, adventure, and heartwarming stories that will entertain the whole family.
Click the title of any film to borrow it from Englewood Library.
- The Aristocats (G): The animated story of a high-society cat and her three kittens who become stranded in the French countryside.
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (G): A heartwarming adventure movie that follows the journey of two dogs and a cat as they travel through the wilderness to reunite with their family.
- Oliver & Company (G): A retelling of the classic Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, with the main character being an orphaned kitten in New York City.
- Cats & Dogs (PG): The age-old rivalry between cats and dogs takes center stage as they engage in espionage and high-stakes action.
- Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (PG): Based on the classic book, this live-action film stars Mike Myers as the mischievous Cat in the Hat, who brings chaos and fun to the lives of two kids on a rainy day.
- Puss in Boots and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (PG): This spin-off of the Shrek franchise focuses on a swashbuckling and charming feline hero.
- The Secret Life of Pets (PG): While primarily about dogs, this animated comedy also features a quirky cat named Chloe.
