International Cat Day
08 August 2026 - 08 July 2026
Region(s): Nationwide
Type(s): national Events
International Cat Day is an annual celebration on 8 August. It was created in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare and is a day to raise awareness for cats and learn about ways to help and protect them and also responsible ownership.
Cat lurking in the grass
Is this cat a pet or a pest? Is it lurking or simply observing its environment? How do words like pet, pest or lurking influence your thinking about the cat in this image?
But are they just adorable furry companions or ruthless killers? Free-roaming cats are known to negatively affect wildlife through predation, fear and disease, and have contributed to wildlife extinctions in Aotearoa New Zealand and also in other countries. It can be an ethical delimma for many pet owners. There is a also big difference between feral cats and pet ones. Explore our content below on this issue.
Related content
Find out more about the issue of domestic cats in Cat fight and the Connected article Keep your cat inside.
Read about Scientists using fake smells to stop predators killing endangered birds discover an alternative innovative pest control method.
Read about the research project that investigated the number of invasive mammals, including cats, in Wellington in the article Invasive animals in cities.
Visit our Dogs, cats and science Pinterest board.
Activity ideas
Should cats be allowed to roam freely? The Hub has four activities that explore this vexing question of values and ethics:
Should cats be allowed to roam freely? (includes an interactive graphic organiser)