International Cat Day
Another year, International Cat Day is celebrated in Europe. These cats have been with humans for thousands of years. Since then, they have helped us control rodent pests, kept our homes free of insects, and dazzled us with their elegance and beauty.
Today they are the kings of the internet. Many cats have their own social media profiles with millions of followers. And of course these kittens stole our hearts with their purring, their antics and their infinite tenderness.
So, it is normal to ask ourselves: although they have thousands of followers on the networks, why are they still being persecuted, mistreated and sacrificed in thousands of places on the planet? Why not give them not just one but five days out of the 365 that complete a year?
Why an International Cat Day?
Although it has been celebrated in Europe since 1900, the idea was reborn most strongly after the death of Socks , the Clinton family cat. Adopted by the daughter of the President of the United States, Bill Clinton, in 1989. This cat flooded the press when he moved into the White House.
The news of the kitten’s euthanasia due to a tumor was published on February 20, 2009. Since then, and with the heyday of social media, this day is celebrated all over the world.
A specific day was also chosen to promote the adoption of cats, as in the United States these animals fill shelters and animal protection centers.
When is International Cat Day?
As we said, depending on which region of the planet you are in, you will celebrate International Cat Day on one date or another. In the United States and much of the world, this day is February 20th.
Both the International Animal Welfare Foundation and other animal protection centers have set this date to honor cats and remind us of the importance of respecting animals.
In Europe, the chosen day was February 17th. On that day, but in the year 1900, the famous Italian journalist Claudia Angeletti, published her readers’ survey where they chose that day to honor the cats. The reasons seemed to be many, including that February is the month of “witches”, always accompanied by cats.
On the other hand, animal welfare activist, photographer, designer and feline rehabilitator Collen Paige has established October 29 as International Cat Day. Paige set this date because of the alarming number of stray cats in her country, the United States.
In Russia, where more than 50% of families have at least one pet cat, International Cat Day is March 1st. In this country, cats are adored and royalty. A curious fact is that in one of its famous museums, the Hermitage, more than 70 cats live.
Finally, another day to honor the cats is August 8th. The initiative was also carried out by the International Foundation for Animal Welfare or IFAW. Established that day as another reason to defend animals.
Love on the internet and abuse on the streets: the case of stray cats
It is clear that the cat is an animal loved all over the world and that arouses interest and adoration, in person and through social networks, and that is why there are those who spend hours in front of the computer watching videos in which the felines are protagonists. .
However, it should not be denied that there is still a completely opposite reality: the mistreatment of stray cats, that is, those cats that were born and have lived their entire lives on the streets. They are animals with little or no socialization with humans.
In many cities, they form colonies where, in addition, some people abandon their felines, which die soon after, as they do not know how to survive on the streets.
Stray cats were systematically chased, captured and killed in shelters after brutal mistreatment. That’s because putting an animal with these characteristics in a cage with other animals is against animal welfare.
A different method
Currently, the CES method is beginning to be implemented, which consists of capturing cats from a colony, neutering them and returning them to their territory.
Thus, it is possible for a designated caregiver to visit each colony daily, in order to defend the cats’ well-being. Also, these caregivers can report if they see someone abandoning a cat at the location. Thus, this measure allows:
- Controlling diseases.
- Reduce the presence of internal and external parasites.
- Control the number of animals in a colony.
- Make cats less visible, as by neutering them they roam less.
In fact, cats are a serious problem for both urban wildlife and natural ecosystems because they are unfailing hunters. But the fault is not theirs, but those who abandon them in the streets.
On International Cat Day, it is worth reflecting on this reality, on the care we have with our feline at home and on what aspects we can improve from now on.
