How to Celebrate National Cat Day

Spending Quality Time With Your Cat

Buy or make toys for your cat. To celebrate National Cat Day, spoil your cat with fun toys to play with. Visit a pet store and buy toys like puzzle feeders, which you can place treats in for you pet to work out, and which come in a variety of shapes and colors. You can also try to make your own cat toys with household objects such as string, aluminum foil, cardboard boxes, or paper towel rolls.

Give your cat catnip. For a fun diversion, give your cat catnip, a herb that causes a moderate "high" in many cats. Purchase catnip at a local pet store in dried, pellet, plant, or spray form. Try inserting a small amount of dried catnip into refillable cat toys, or making your own catnip spray to apply to areas like your cat's bed or scratching post.

Cuddle your cat. Cuddling your cat can be a great bonding experience, but it shouldn't be pushed or forced. Be gentle and avoid touching its tail, which cats are often sensitive about. Focus on petting your cat's back and under its chin, and give your cat space if it gives you signs that it has had enough (e.g. swatting away your hand or distancing itself from you).

Helping Cats in Need

Give money to a local cat shelter or rescue group. To celebrate National Cat Day by helping cats in need, make a tax-deductible donation to a local cat shelter or rescue group. Most cat-friendly organizations will take donations by credit card, cash, or check, either as a one time payment or part of a regular payment schedule (e.g. monthly pre-authorized payments). Donations can also be made in the form of memorial gifts (the Humane Society of the United States, for example, sends personalized cards to recipients touched by the loss of a loved one, for amounts of $10.00 and over.)

Volunteer with cats. Check out local animal shelters or cat rescue groups to volunteer your time. Call or visit their website to see if they are looking for volunteers, and to apply if they are. Volunteer duties may range from cleaning cages and litter boxes to meetings with prospective adoptive individuals, and training is usually provided.

Adopt a cat. Celebrate National Cat Day by giving a shelter cat the gift of a new home. Visit a local shelter to adopt your new pet, or look online for listings of available cats in your area. Visit http://www.aspca.org/adopt-pet/adoptable-cats-your-local-shelter to search by state, size, sex, and breed of dogs.

Doing Cat-themed Activities

Visit a cat café. Cat cafes originated in Taiwan and came to the states in 2014. Essentially, cat cafes are establishments where customers can order food and beverages while observing and playing with the café’s resident cats, which in many cases are foster cats from local shelters. Browse local business listings to find a cat café near you, or plan a special road trip around your visit to one. For instance, visit Cat Town Café, the first cat café opened in the U.S., located in Oakland, California.

Watch cat videos online. Watching cat videos online is an excellent way to celebrate National Cat Day and to improve your mood. Cat videos give you a boost of energy, increase positive thoughts, and decrease negative feelings. Visit sites like Facebook, YouTube, Buzzfeed and I Can Has Cheezburger to view funny and cute cat videos, then share them with your friends and fellow cat fans on social media.

Do cat-themed crafts. Get kids, friends, and family involved in National Cat Day celebrations by doing fun, cat-themed crafts and activities. Get creative and use household items to make cat toys and decorations. Some ideas may include: Making cat ears Drawing cats Making polymer clay cats Cat face painting Making a stuffed cat Decorating a cat cake