2016 Pet Calendar of Holidays Every Cat Lover Needs To Know

We like to plan our editorial calendar well in advance and find it handy knowing about cat-related causes and pet holidays. It seems like there is a pet-related holiday every day but we can’t celebrate everything. Our cats might differ and say every day with cats is a reason to celebrate. This is our curated 2016 pet calendar for 365 days of feline fun and wisdom..

Feel free to bookmark, print or share. Mouse over for links. Some have tips from us or other valued info. Circle the holidays relevant to you. Remember to add your cat’s birthday or gotcha day. May your year be full of feline love and joy!

Check the Severe Weather Calendar for events in your state by the month.

JANUARY

Walk Your Pet Month (consider learning to leash train your cat.)

January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day.

January 14: Dress Up Your Pet Day

January 22: National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day.

January 24: Change a Pet’s Life Day (ASPCA).

FEBRUARY

Pet Dental Health Month (AVMA).
National Cat Health Month.
Beat the Heat Month. ASPCA.
National Spay/Neuter Month (Humane Society of the United States).
Responsible Pet Owners Month.
February 14: Valentine’s Day and Pet Theft Awareness Day (via Last Chance for Animals).
February 20: Love Your Pet Day.
February 23: World Spay Day (Humane Society International and HUSUS– last Tuesday of February).

MARCH

Pet Poison Month and Poison Prevention Week
March 20-26

March 2 – Dr. Seuss Read Across America Day.
March 3 – If Pets Had Thumbs Day.
March 6 – 12: Professional Pet Sitters Week.
March 20 – 26: National Poison Prevention Week.
March 16 – 22: National Flood Safety Awareness Week.

APRIL

Animal Cruelty Prevention Month (ASPCA).
National Heartworm Awareness Month (American Heartworm Society).
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month.
April 11: National Pet Day.
April 10 – 16: National Volunteer Week.
April 10 – 16: National Animal Control Appreciation Week.
April 17 – 23: National Pet ID Week.
April 17 – 23: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week (Humane Society of the United States).
April 19: Pet Owners Day.
April 22: Earth Day.
April 26: National Kids & Pets Day
April 27: Free Feral Cat Spay Day (Alley Cat Rescue).
April 29: Hairball Awareness Day.
April 30: National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day.
April 30: World Veterinary Day (World Veterinary Association).

MAY

National Pet Month and National Pet Week
Responsible Animal Guardian Month.
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.
Pet Cancer Awareness Month (Sponsored by Pet Cancer Awareness and the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research).
Chip Your Pet Month.

May 1 – 7: Be Kind to Animals Week (AHA).
May 3: National Specially-abled Pets Day.
May 1-7: National Pet Week (AVMA).
May 8: Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
May 23: National Heat Awareness Day (prep for summer safety).

JUNE

National Pet Preparedness Month (in advance of hurricane season).
Adopt-a-Shelter Cat Month (ASPCA).
Adopt-a-Cat Month (AHA).
June 5 – 11: Pet Appreciation Week.
June 4: International Hug Your Cat Day. Or May 30.
June 9: Meezer Show Your Colors Day.
June 11: Just One Day (One day of no-kill in shelters worldwide).
June 12: World Pet Memorial Day.
Mid-June: Animal Rights Awareness Week.
June 19: International Box Day.
June 23 – 25: Blogpaws and Cat Writers’ Association Annual Conference (Wild Horse Pass Sheraton Resort – Phoenix, AZ).

JULY

JULY 15: National Pet Fire Safety Day. Awareness is needed re: fireworks, bar-b-ques and bonfires on Canada Day (July 1 ) and U.S. July 4th celebrations.

JULY 21: National Craft For Your Local Shelters Day.

AUGUST

August 8: World Cat Day or International Cat Day.
August 15: Check the Chip Day. Microchip awareness (AVMA).
August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day.
August 20: International Homeless Animal Day (International Society for Animal Rights).
August 22: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day.
August 30: National Holistic Pet Day.

SEPTEMBER

Catalyst Council’s Happy Healthy Cat Month.
National Disaster Preparedness Month.
National Food Safety Awareness Month.
September 11: National Pet Memorial Day (International Association of Pet Cemeteries).
September 19: International Meow Like a Pirate Day.
September 22: Remember Me Thursday (Helen Woodward Animal Center). Be The light!
Sept. 28: World Rabies Day (Global Alliance for Rabies Control).
Last full week in September: Deaf Pet Awareness Week and Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable Pet (Petfinder.com).

OCTOBER

Black Cat Awareness Month™ (National and International founded by Cat Wisdom 101 and our nonprofit Black Cats Tell All initiative to raise awareness and increase shelter adoptions).

National Veterinary Technician Week October 9-15
National Pet Wellness Month.
October 9 – 15: National Veterinary Technician Week.
October 12: National Pet Obesity Day.
October 16: National Feral Cat Day (Alley Cat Allies).
October 29: National Cat Day. In the U.K. October 27 is National Black Cat Day.

NOVEMBER

Adopt a Senior Pet Month (ASPCA).
National Senior Pet Month
Pet Cancer Awareness Month.
Pet Diabetes Month.
November 6 – 12: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week (HSUS).
November 17: National Black Cat Day

DECEMBER

December 15: National Herding Cats

Since December is oddly devoid of holidays we propose December 1 as Holiday Pet Safety Day to learn and exchange tips on keeping our cat happy, safe and healthy during the holiday season.

And how about Shelter Cat Secret Santa Month. Shelters need donations of cat toys all year round. Why not be a secret Santa to deserving cats at your local shelter. Drop off a package of new cat toys especially small catnip toys mice, balls that bounce, roll or crinkle and mini cardboard scratchers for cages.

There is one holiday I feel is needed and our feline muse, Merlin may address that on Monday. Meanwhile, today, Jan.14 is Dress Up Your Pet Day. It’s pure silliness but as always, respect your pet. Not every pet wants to get dressed up. A simple bow tie is the least invasive way to be festive as Merlin demonstrates.