International Cat Day 2024 is on Thursday, August 8, 2024: Feb 17th - an International Cat Day?

Thursday, August 8, 2024 is International Cat Day 2024. Happy international cat day — Catmoji Happy international cat day

Hi, I haven't heard that it is ... though October 16th is National Feral Cat Day:

And in 1999, Whiskers declared March 17th as St CatTricks Day:

Timid scared cats travelling..?

Here is some advice I found online:

1. Research international requirements at least three months prior to your departure. Many countries require animals to be inoculated two months prior to departure. If you're moving your pet internationally, you need to have an identification chip implanted.

2. Investigate the container requirements for whichever airline you choose. Generally,you will be safest purchasing a lockable hard sided plastic container with holes on all four sides. It must also be large enough for your pet to be able to stand up and turn. In-cabin carriers must fit under the seat, and may count as part of your carry on limit.

3. Get the animal shipping containers well before your flight date. This gives the cat time to acclimatize to the container. One way of speeding the acclimatization period is to feed your cat inside the cage or basket. Also, choose a container large enough to hold a small litter box during transit. An in-cabin carrier will be smaller, so should always be lined with an absorbent and waterproof pad. Disposable diapers are a good substitute

4. Attach your easily visible contact information to the container securely, so that it will not be accidentally pulled off.

5. Ensure that your pet has passed its health inspection within one month prior to departure. Some countries require that your pet visit a national government inspection center as well. You will need to find this out for the specific country that you're going to or coming from.

6. Check with the local TSA supervisor to fully understand security screening procedures at your departure airport, and at other airports you plan to visit. Be prepared to remove the animal from the container during screening.

7. Check to see what your airlines regulations are regarding shipping pets. You may need to change airlines to find one that accommodates pets. Be prepared for this.

8. Reconfirm with your airline 48 hours before departure that you will be bringing animals.

9. Reduce your cat's food to roughly half the usual the day before transport. However, ensure that it has an adequate water supply during the entire transit.

10. Arrive at the airport three to four hours early in case there are any last-minute problems.

11. Realize that most airlines charge to transport pets, and the charge is usually identical to the cost of an additional piece of luggage. Try to either pay this beforehand, or be prepared to pay on the day of your flight.

12. Cover your feline container with a light blanket. Something to calm the cat from sights and sounds and such, but which allows air to get to the cat.

* A leash and harness are a must!! When passing through checkpoints you will often need to remove the animal, so have the harness on and the lead ready during the check in process. Help your pet get use to the harness by starting several weeks ahead of time.

* Include several of your cat's favorite toys in the transport container - very few cats will say 'no' to catnip.

* Remember to place a small litter box with high sides in the transit container.

* Check with local cat breeders who typically show cats on the show circuit. The breeders should know the best airlines to use for flying your feline.

* Do not sedate your cat. The decreased air pressure in the airplane will magnify the effect of the drugs on your feline. This could harm or kill your cat.

* Even the calmest pet can be frightened by strange sights smells and sounds - so keep your animal confined or leashed at all times. You do not want to be chasing a frightened animal around a strange airport in the middle of a distant city. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

Good luck!

how to start showing cats?

Cat shows around the country are either TICA (The International Cat Association) or CFA (Cat Fanciers of America) and are sponsored by various cat clubs (ie, a local one here was a Maine Coon group, another was an all-breed cat club) If your cat has a pedigree and you have its papers then you can compete against other cats in the same breed. I participate in the TICA shows with my two rescued Persians. They compete in the Household Pet category since I don't have papers for them.

You can participate in one show as unregistered but after that you must register. For TICA go to www.tica.org and for the CFA go to www.cfa.org. Personally I prefer the TICA shows. Both sites will give you a calendar of shows around the country.

Fees vary according to several factors - numbers of days for the show (most are two day but there's some three days ones), cage space (in most shows your cat is given a 22 x 22 x 45 wire cage to stay in during the show. You can opt for a double cage (which I always do) for an additional fee) and whether you want a "grooming space" which is an adjacent 22 x 22 x 45 foot area for you to put grooming supplies, etc. A lot of the breeders opt for this so they have a space to put up photos of cats in the cattery, info about their particular breed. I do this because I promote local animal shelters and use the space to put up before and after pics of my rescue kitties and flyers and giveaway items from the shelters. To give you an idea of price I've paid about $100 for the two day shows - $80 for the show and $20 for the double cage space.

The shows often have cage decorating contests which enable to win free entry into future shows. The first show we were in last October I won best cage (it was a Halloween theme) and was given a voucher for free entry, free double-cage space and free grooming space at the cat clubs Feb show. At that show (Valentine theme) we were a runner up and got a voucher for a free double-cage space and grooming space. So get a little creative and you can save some money on future shows!

Cat shows are great fun. I didn't think they'd be as fun as they ended up being. I met SO many great people and have made some really nice friends. There's also a lot of people from the general public coming to see the shows so it's fun to show off your kitty to everyone. The competition is fun, too, and even the Household Pet category enables you to earn points and totals just like the purebreds. There's also lots of vendors with all kinds of giveaways and things to buy at the shows as well as educational seminars about cat care and/or specific breeds. The shows I've been to also had professional photographers there that you could get pictures of your kitty done with - both of whom are regular photographers for catteries around the country and always on the cover of Cat Fancy magazine - quite cool!

Get involved - you'll love it!

- Laura and Percy cat