August 8 is International Cat Day — a day to celebrate one of man’s most commonly known and ancient pets. They have even been worshiped as gods (we see you, Egypt.) Well, it is not surprising, Cats are one of the coolest beings on the planet: they are independent, inquisitive, adventurous, have an amazing physiognomy, and the power to heal by themselves — at least most of the time. Even though modern house cats are really just small furry carnivorous mammals — for the most part — with four legs, a tail, and claws, they’re much more than that to the humans who have domesticated them as pets since ancient times.
Thought to have descended from the African Wildcat used to catch vermin, according to the website National Today, the first historical human record about cats could be found in Ancient Egyptian Civilization’s culture. We all seem to relate cats with Egyptians, because of their adoration and consideration of cats as gods. Mafdet was the first known cat deity and was regarded as the protector against snakes, scorpions, and evil during the First Dynasty, so for them, cats were not just deities, but also protectors.
Later, after the Egyptian Dynasty collapsed, Cats became popular everywhere! Greeks and Romans used them as pest control, and in the East, cats were originally owned by rich and wealthy people. But during the Middle Ages, in Europe, Cats became associated with superstition and suspected of carrying the disease during the Black Death of 1348, that is the reason why too many cats got killed in that era, and it wasn’t until the 1600s that cats’ reputation started to recover.
In America, cats were part of the cargo on the colonization ships to minimize vermin and disease, so those cats went ashore and flourished. Nowadays, cats seem to be one of the pop icons in modern society – we have about half of a billion among us. And, since 2002, thanks to the “International Fund for Animal Welfare” cats have their own holiday! This celebration was announced to highlight methods about protecting cats from abuse.
Since 2020, feline charity, International Cat Care (iCatCare), has been the custodian of International Cat Day. The organization is a British non-profit group that has been working to improve the health and welfare of domestic cats all over the world since 1958.
International Cat Day (also known as World or Global Cat Day) holds a lot of importance for cat lovers. Not every cat is fortunate enough to live in luxurious houses, sleep on soft couches, and get tasty food. There are many stray felines who are not treated nicely and even go through abuse. So, this day holds a significance for not just cat lovers, but all those who are real animal lovers. International Cat Day is a big occasion for those who want to protect and provide comfort to these creatures.
You can celebrate International Cat Day by adopting a stray cat or a one from your local shelter. There are many unfortunate kittens who don’t get food for days. A lot of these felines die due to lack of protection from extreme weather conditions or abuse by human beings. To protect your furry friends, you can simply adopt them. You can also buy your cat a new toy. It will surely appreciate that. Also, don’t forget to give them your time. A pet will appreciate nothing more.
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