Search

Our Other Sites

International Cat Day 2023

International Cat Day takes place on 8 August every year.

As custodians of this important day, we’re encouraging cat owners to take five minutes a day to play with their cats to improve their physical health and mental wellbeing.

Just like dogs need walking every day, cats need daily play to keep them active and happy. Wand toy play provides cats with a safe outlet to perform natural behaviours and has many benefits.

Scroll down to discover more about Purrfect Play with your cat!

International Cat Day domino the cat playing with a wand toy

To learn more, check out our expert resources on this page and follow the campaign on social media @icatcare from 1 August.

All cats love to play

Cats of all ages love to play – from kittens to super seniors! Just like dogs, cats need daily physical and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy.  

Purrfect Play Every Day

Take five minutes a day to play with your cats to improve their physical health and mental wellbeing. Find out how here! (Your cat will thank you!)

Purrfect play for the whole family

Top tips to make sure everyone, from cats to kids, has a fun and safe time playing together!

Purrfect play with senior cats

Should we be encouraging our older cats to play every day?The answer is yes! But we need to make sure we take their unique needs into account.

Why is playing with my cat so important?

Learn more about how play can benefit your cat’s physical and mental wellbeing in our latest article for Your Cat magazine! Read it now here.

Download this fantastic FREE poster created by International Cat Care Feline Wellbeing Panel member Dr Mikel Delgado and illustrated by Lili Chin (creator of our ambassador cats Domino and McTatters), which shares her tops tips for cat play!

Available in ELEVEN languages:

Resource Library

Read more about cat play from the iCatCare experts!

Playing with your cat

Read Article

Playing with your Kitten

Read Article

Games to play at home with cats

Read Article

Choosing the best cat toys

Read Article

Play as a way to limit hunting behaviour in cats

Read Article

Why do cats like catnip?

Read Article

Elderly cats – special considerations

Read Article

Cat Friendly Play

Download infographic

Follow the Campaign
from 1st August 2023

To find our Cat Friendly Resources from International Cat Day 2022, click here.

References

 

Henning JSL, Nielsen T, et al. Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats, Animal Welfare, 2023; Available from: https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2023.2  

 

Henning JSL, Fernandez EJ, et al. Play and welfare in domestic cats: Current knowledge and future directions, Animal Welfare, 2023; 31 (4): 407-421. Available from: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/animal-welfare/article/play-and-welfare-in-domestic-cats-current-knowledge-and-future-directions/6266B8053099D0BB3F8D441F1ADF5CDA  

 

Bouma EMC, Reijgwart ML, et al. Family Member, Best Friend, Child or ‘Just’ a Pet, Owners’ Relationship Perceptions and Consequences for Their Cats. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022; 19(1): 193. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010193   

 

Slingerhand LI, Hazewinkel HAW, et al. Cross-sectional study of the prevalence and clinical features of osteoarthritis in 100 cats, Vet J., 2011; 187(3): 304-309. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.12.014  

 

Henning JSL, Nielsen T, et al. Factors associated with play behaviour in human-cat dyads, Journal of Veterinary Behaviour, 2022. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2022.05.007   

 

Ellis SLH, Rodan I, et al. AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2013. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X13477537  

 

Delgado M, Hecht J, A review of the development and functions of cat play, with future research considerations, Applied Animal Behaviour Science; 214: 1-17. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2019.03.004 

 

Cecchetti M, Crowley SL, et al. Provision of High Meat Content Food and Object Play Reduce Predation of Wild Animals by Domestic Cats Felis catus, Current Biology, 2021; 31(5): 1107-1111. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.044