If you’re not a fan of the dog days of summer, then maybe International Cat Day is more your speed.
International Cat Day is celebrated on August 8 every year. The day is dedicated to raising awareness for the health and welfare of cats. This includes the importance of microchipping a cat, the negative impact of declawing cats, the common plants that are toxic to cats, and unethical breeding practices.
Cats often have the reputation of being aloof, self-sufficient animals. While cats behave differently than a dog, cats need socialization every day to thrive as well. It is important to socialize cats so they interact well with other cats and with humans. Socialized cat behaviors can include:
- Vocalizations like chirping or meowing
- Approaching and allowing touch
- Kneading with their paws
- Raising their ears and tail
- Exposing their stomach
According to the ASPCA, more than 6 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. About 3.2 million of those animals are cats. Many cats are looking for their forever homes, so if you are looking for a furry companion, you can always adopt a pet or volunteer at a shelter.
The Clear the Shelters organization advocates for donations and adoptions throughout the month of August to help shelter pets find their forever homes. Check out the Yonkers Animal Shelter or the Humane Society of Westchester.
If you’re looking for any cat-themed reads to wrap up your summer reading, be sure to ask a librarian for a recommendation.
If you haven’t already, be sure to log your reading in Beanstack for our summer reading challenge! All ages are welcome to sign up. For every book you log until August 15th, your name will be entered into a drawing for a reader basket. Each library branch will host its own drawings for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, Children, Teens and Adults. Also worthy of note is that children get small prizes as they read books during the program. Register yourself and your family on Beanstack.
Alison Robles is a part-time page at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she graduated from Iona University in 2020 with a dual-degree in Marketing and Public Relations. She is pursuing a Masters in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.