August 8th is International Cat Day! It’s the purr-fect opportunity for you to show your feline friends some extra love. Here are five wonderful ways to celebrate:

1. Donate Your Time, Money or Social Media to Your Local Shelter

Shelters and rescues do so much good work to help keep kitties healthy and off the street. Often, they are overwhelmed by demand for their services. Help ease the burden by spending an afternoon at the shelter volunteering to care for the cats.

If volunteering doesn’t work for you or your schedule, consider donating money. The costs to give quality care to animals can be astronomical, and every little bit helps. If you are not able to donate money, consider posting about them on social media and highlighting the good work the service does. It may help to connect people in your community to the shelter and get more animals cared for and adopted.

2. Make Homemade Treats for Your Kitty

Everyone loves special treats, and cats are no exception. Look up recipes for healthy homemade treats for your cat that are made from high-quality ingredients and surprise them with them for International Cat Day! You can even use mini cookie cutters to cut them into cute cat shapes or little fish to make them extra fun. 

3. Give an Active Gift

Cats love to be active, so give them a gift that lets them keep on their toes while working their mind and body. There are many toys on the market designed to challenge cats both physically and intellectually, including puzzle toys, activity centers, interactive cat scratchers and more. Do some research and find one that your kitty will love or ask your veterinarian for recommendations.

4. Have Professional Pictures Taken

Few things are cuter than cat pictures, so why not schedule a session for some professional pictures to be taken of your furry friend? Many photographers offer pet-friendly options, with some even willing to come into your home if you’d prefer not to have to travel with your cat. Look for some cute accessories and costumes if you want to have your cat look especially fancy. With or without the extras, you'll treasure the pictures for a lifetime. 

5. Bring a New Cat a Home

Celebrate International Cat Day by inviting a new feline into your family. Check with your local shelter or rescue to see what options are available. Many people prefer kittens, but older cats can make wonderful adoptees as they are already litter-trained and likely have received all their shots.

Show your kitties the love they deserve for International Cat Day by giving them the care and attention cats crave. For more ideas on how you can celebrate your cat, check out Pet Hospitals of Hawaii's blog, and schedule a wellness check for the cute cats and kittens in your life.