Our kittens are so special that they deserve a whole day dedicated to them! National Kitten Day is the purr-fect time to show your small furry friend how much they’re appreciated. And because kittens seem to have an endless capacity for energy, there’s no better time to try out some fun and exciting activities.
Whether you’re the pet parent of a new kitty, an older cat, or you’re just a cat lover in general, you’re in the right place! In this blog we’ll cover all the things you need to know about National Kitten Day, as well as give you some ideas of how you can celebrate it with your cute companion.
When is National Kitten Day?
National Kitten Day 2025 is celebrated on the 10th of July. Although the day is named after kittens, older cats can get involved too! It’s a great way to shower our feline friends with even more love than we already do.
If you haven’t celebrated the day before, then now is a great time to start. You can use some of our ideas to create your kitty’s dream day.
What is National Kitten Day?
National Kitten Day was first created by animal advocate Colleen Paige in 2012. The day aims to raise awareness for kittens that are homeless or in shelters, encouraging people to help or adopt a kitten in need if they can.
It was originally hosted in December, but it was moved to July two years after it was founded. July is the perfect time to host an event to raise funds for shelters or take a catnap with your kitten in the sun!
Ways to Celebrate National Kitten Day
If you’ve been dreaming of your own furry friend, one way you can celebrate International Kitten Day is by adopting a kitten. You can visit local shelters to learn more about the kittens available for adoption. However, if you don’t feel quite ready for a long-term commitment, you can try fostering instead. Fostering allows for cats to socialize and habituate to life in a human home and also helps to create more space at the rehoming centre for other cats in need of shelter.
Of course, if a cat is already a part of your family, and you’re not ready to introduce another, there are other ways you can celebrate your kitten’s day. Try one of our ideas below!
1. Host a Kitten-themed Party
What’s a celebration without a party? National Kitten Day is a great opportunity to host a party that’s themed around your kitten.
You can include kitten-themed decorations, games, and snacks like cat-shaped biscuits. You could also do some cat-themed crafting, like painting a picture of your cat or crocheting them a handmade toy.
Just remember, if you’re having the party around your kitten, it’s important not to overwhelm them with lots of people and noise. If your cat needs some extra reassurance, FELIWAY Optimum can reduce signs of stress, helping them feel more comfortable in their home.
Your cat may be prone to hiding when there are people visiting the house, retreating to their safe space. If this is the case, you can host the party for your family, or just for you and your kitty to enjoy together!
2. Volunteer or Donate to Your Local Shelter
Offering your time to help out at a local rehoming centre is another great way to celebrate National Kitten Day in 2025. There are many centres out there that would be grateful for volunteers helping them.
Ideas you can do to help include:
- Community fundraising
- Raising local awareness
- Caring for the animals
- Becoming a fosterer
If you don’t have much free time to volunteer, you can also donate food or supplies to support local shelters.
3. Spoil Your Furry Friend
If you have a kitten or cat, spend the day spoiling them with their ideal routine.
We all know that cats love treats, so why not give them something special for International Kitten Day?
After your cat has enjoyed their delicious treat, you can give them an exciting gift or a new toy! A new toy can keep your cat’s playtimes fun and interesting. Toys such as scratching posts or puzzle feeders can be both entertaining and mentally stimulating for your kitty. Spending some extra time playing with your kitten is also a great way to celebrate, and to strengthen your bond too!
4. Raise Awareness
National Kitten Day can also be a chance to raise awareness. You could help spread awareness, by posting your kitty on social media using #NationalKittenDay. You can also highlight the work of local rescue or rehoming organizations, or even host a fundraising event in your area to support them.
If you’re adopting a kitten, it can also be beneficial to use National Kitten Day to read up about how to best take care of your new furry friend. It’s important to know things like a kitten’s nutritional needs, how to create a safe space for them, understanding the signs of cat stress, and much more!
At FELIWAY, we have a range of articles that can help answer all of your questions before becoming a pet parent. At times, adopted cats can be very nervous when moving into a new environment, so keep this in mind. To help, FELIWAY Optimum can help reduce the signs of stress for your kitty.
For more information about adopting and caring for a kitten, be sure to explore our other articles online. Or to receive the latest news straight into your inbox, sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you in the loop with all the latest FELIWAY guides and info.