International Hug Your Cat Day
International Hug Your Cat Day, which is observed on May 30, is an opportunity to lavish your cat with hugs and pamper it as it deserves. Of course, you should already be doing this, but International Hug Your Cat Day is the one day dedicated specifically to doing so. The ‘domestic cat’ is a species in the Felidae family that is often distinguished from the wild members of the larger cat family. Cats are classified as either house cats, farm cats, or feral cats, which roam freely and avoid human contact. Domestic cats are of great importance and value to humans for companionship and their ability to kill rodents. Cats can hear sounds that are too faint or occur at high frequencies beyond human hearing, such as those made by mice and other such small mammals.
If you’re looking to treat your cat to something special then check out our lists revealing the best cat beds and best litter boxes on the market.
History of International Hug Your Cat Day
Cats were revered by the ancient Egyptians, and the Egyptian goddess Bastet is frequently depicted as a cat, sometimes in the fighting stance of a lioness. According to Herodotus, a Greek historian, killing a cat was forbidden in ancient times, and whenever a household cat died of natural causes, the entire household mourned the death of the cat and shaved their eyebrows as if it were one of them.
When a cat died in a Greek family, the dead cat was taken to the sacred city of Bubastis, where it was embalmed and buried in sacred repositories. Herodotus was taken aback by the sight of domestic cats in Egypt, as he had only ever seen wild cats. Keeping cats as pets shares a similar tradition with the ancient Greeks and Romans, who kept weasels as pets because they were considered best for killing rodents. The earliest clear evidence of Greek domestic cats can be found in two coins from Magna Graecia dating from the middle of the fifth century B.C.
The coins depict Iokastis and Phalanthus, the legendary founders of Rhegion and Taras respectively, playing with their pet cats. Back in the day, the Greek word for ‘cat’ was ‘ailouros,’ which meant ‘having the waving tail.’ Apart from that, cats are rarely mentioned in ancient Greek literature. In his book “History of Animals,” Aristotle stated that “female cats are naturally lecherous.” The Greeks later syncretized their own goddess Artemis with the Egyptian goddess Bastet, appropriating Bastet’s associations with cats and attributing them to Artemis. When the deities flee to Egypt in animal forms in Ovid’s “Metamorphoses,” the goddess Diana allegedly transforms into a cat.
International Hug Your Cat Day Activities
1.Volunteer at a cat shelter
For International Hug Your Cat Day, you can volunteer at a cat shelter, if you don’t have a cat. These homeless cats need a warm home, and if you have some space, adopt one! Or two!
2.Host a cat party
If you’re a cat owner, invite other cat owners and host the purr-fect party. Don’t forget the wool balls and some warm milk.
3.Hug your cat
Hug. Your. Cat! This is the entire essence of the holiday, so kindly get to hugging.
Why We Love International Hug Your Cat Day?
A. Cats are adorable
Cats are really cute, and so we just love to hug them. Especially when they roll on their backs and expect you to play with them!
B. Cats are useful for rodent-control
Cats are really good at hunting rodents and helping us rid the house of them. This is particularly helpful for larger households and farms.
C. Cats are social
Cats are social animals and they can be really fun to be around. Go ahead, get to playing with your cat today!
Reference:
“International Hug Your Cat Day” │ https://nationaltoday.com/international-hug-your-cat-day/