National Kitten Day
Kittens! Who doesn’t love tiny, adorable kittens? …their big heads, giant eyes, tiny pink paws and noses, and the adorable mews they make…. We can’t resist their cute and furry charms. Surprisingly Americans seem to like cats and kittens best: According to the American Humane Society, 95.6 million cats were owned, while 83.3 million households owned a dog. There is certainly nothing wrong with dogs, but a tiny kitten is irresistible! So join us on July 10, as we celebrate National Kitten Day!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL KITTEN DAY
Cats are an enigma, and we humans are utterly fascinated by them. Cats have been living with people for 12,000 years, according to scientists. We are still not exactly sure when cats became domesticated, especially since the skeletons of wild cats and domesticated cats discovered at archaeological sites are very similar. Still, most evidence suggests that the domestication of cats occurred more than 8,000 years ago.
As if cats were not already so irresistibly cute, they are even more adorable as kittens! Sweet little babies that we just want to hold and cuddle, and once they start purring, our hearts simply melt. National Kitten Day is when we spoil and pamper our little fur babies. Created by animal advocate and pet expert Colleen Paige, National Kitten Day is also an opportunity for abandoned kittens to be adopted into loving homes.
While many of our kittens will be given special treatment today, countless kittens don’t find homes. Left alone at shelters, on roadsides, or in the wild, National Kitten Day doubles as an awareness campaign to save these babies and give them the love they rightfully deserve.
5 FACTS ABOUT KITTENS EVERY CAT LOVER SHOULD KNOW
1.Fleas are a real threat
Kittens are especially vulnerable to fleas and can develop diseases.
2.They need help
They can’t go to the bathroom on their own.
3.Newborn kittens purr
Kittens start purring right away after being born.
4.All kittens are born with blue eyes
As they grow, their eye color changes.
5.It’s all in the whiskers
A kitten’s whiskers are as long as its body width.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL KITTEN DAY
A.Checking out kitten photos is actually good for your mental health
If you love kittens as much as the next person, chances are you’ve snuck in a few peeks at kitten photos throughout your day. Research shows that people who take short breaks to look at cute animals are more productive throughout the day. So go ahead look at those photos of kittens today!
B.Adopting a cat or kitten is good for your health
Besides looking at photos of kittens, having kittens and cats around is good for your health! Having a cat around can risk of cardiovascular disease, reduced risk of heart attack, reduced blood pressure, lower cholesterol, reduces stress, improved mood… need we go on?
C.Kittens are great for children!
Having children grow up with cats can reduce the risk of developing allergies and asthma later in life. Besides teaching them how to care for another creature, it encourages empathy, and can aide in learning and the development of a socially rounded and well adjusted person.
References:
“National Kitten Day” │ https://nationaltoday.com/national-kitten-day/