NATIONAL KITTEN DAY

NATIONAL KITTEN DAY July 10

NATIONAL KITTEN DAY

National Kitten Day on July 10 purrfect condition to celebrates the cuddly warmth of a kitty. The miniature fur balls of energy snuggle their way into our hearts with no effort at all. Within a flick of their tiny ears, we're in love.

#NationalKittenDay

National Kitten Day reminds us that while kittens are well equipped to find their way into our hearts, many don't find homes. They're abandoned at shelters, on the side of the road, or wild and feral. Spaying and neutering our pets, including our cats, is vital to their health and keeping the stray population down.

Another goal of awareness campaigns like this one is to encourage adoptions. Instead of purchasing a kitten from a pet store, adopt from a shelter. Many kittens are born in shelters. While their ages may vary, all kittens do become cats.

7 Adoption Tips

Follow the shelter's guidelines and keep these tips in mind when adopting:

  1. There's an application process. Read through it and understand it. The guidelines are for the safety of the animals, the employees, and you.

  2. Ask questions. It's important there's an understanding between you and the shelter. Most shelters have volunteers and paid employees. However, they work on a very tight budget. Please don't expect any special accommodations.

  3. A good shelter will place the interests of the animal first. They want the cat to have a successful placement. Some animals have anxiety while others get along with anyone and all types of animals.

  4. Consider the size of your home and where you live - an apartment or house.

  5. Who lives with you? That includes people and pets - does everyone get along and does anyone have allergies?

  6. How much time do you have for a pet?

  7. So you've spotted the kitten for you. Be sure to make several visits to the shelter. Play with the kitten. Spend time grooming them. See how the kitten reacts to other cats. Learn the kitten's behavior.

Maybe Fuzzy Bear has health issues or doesn't get along with children. Perhaps another kitten gets along better with dogs. All these factors will be considered on your application.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL KITTEN DAY

  1. Consider Fostering: If you aren't ready for a long-term commitment, look into becoming a foster parent. Shelters are often overwhelmed with litters during "kitten season," and fostering saves lives by freeing up valuable shelter space.

  2. Donate Much-Needed Supplies: Reach out to your local animal shelter or rescue group to see what they need most. Items like kitten milk replacer (KMR), heating pads, high-quality wet food, blankets, and toys are always in high demand.

  3. Educate on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR): Learn about feral cat colonies in your area and support community TNR programs. Spaying and neutering community cats stops the cycle of unwanted litters and improves their quality of life.

  4. Sponsor an Adoption Fee: If you can't bring a new pet home right now, consider calling your local shelter and paying the adoption fee for a kitten. This makes it easier for a loving family to take them home.

NATIONAL KITTEN DAY HISTORY

Colleen Paige, Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert, Author, and Animal Advocate, founded National Kitten Day to encourage adoption and celebrate the joy kittens bring to our lives.