Hug Your Cat Day, which falls on June 4th, isn’t a public holiday in New Zealand….yet. But we think it should be. And did you know June is also Adopt a Cat Month? Which means we just had to talk about hugging cats and shelter cats all at once.
Like the felines themselves, the Hug Your Cat Day is a bit of a mystery. We don’t know exactly how, why, or when it came about. Aside from the obvious theories that it was a cat lover who would take any excuse to hug their cats. Fair enough!
Hugs for all cats?
Dog lovers had their hearts broken recently when the news got out that they don’t like your hugs. (To be clear, they still like cuddles – just not tight bear hugs where they might feel trapped!)
As for cats, they’re all individuals. They’re not all into bear hugs. Some are into snuggles, some are into strokes, some just want to be nearby, and some can be…well…aloof.
Shelter cats often fall into the ‘don’t touch me for too long, human’ category – though it’s not a given. But they do tend to have a higher incidence of trauma and abuse than kittens who have been bred and raised in loving homes from the get-go. And like any animals, a history of trauma is more likely to make cats wary or timid.
But with a bit of love and consideration, shelter cats will be purring away this Hug Your Cat Day. Here are five ways to spread the love and make life a little easier for a shelter cat this June 4th.
1. Adopt a shelter cat
Some shelters in New Zealand are reporting a “pandemic boom” in the numbers of homeless cats and kittens.
Although we’d like to think it’s only because people are more likely to spot and help strays nowadays than in previous years, it’s also because many families are experiencing extra financial pressure post-COVID. Although Kiwis love their pets, there’s an increasing number of homeless cats and kittens in shelters.
Unfortunately shelters tend to lack resources, time and money – so the sad fate that awaits some of these lost and abused pets is euthanasia. Whether they’re your average house cat or a fancy purebred cat, there’s no reason they shouldn’t all have a warm and loving home.
So of course, one of the best ways to make a real difference to shelter cats this Hug Your Cat Day is to make your way to your local rescue centre to adopt a cat. And don’t be put off if there are no kittens. Adopting an adult cat has plenty of perks too.
2. Foster a cat or kitten
We’d love it if everyone could go out and adopt a cat right away for Hug Your Cat Day. But not everyone can commit to permanent cat ownership, and doing so would be irresponsible. If this is you, perhaps you could consider fostering cats or kittens?
Sometimes kittens need more intense supervision and care than a shelter can offer. In other cases, a cat or kitten might need fostering while they recover from an injury or illness. And sometimes, shelters prefer to place animals in foster homes because it helps them become well-socialised, human-loving pets who are more likely to find their forever home.
Whatever the reason, fostering a cat could alleviate some pressure on shelters and let you help cats. And who knows, maybe you’ll find your long-term feline companion in the process.
3. Visit your local cat café
Hug Your Cat Day can be a social event too! A cat café is a great way to spend time with cats (and maybe people too?) while also supporting shelters.
Often, though not always, cat cafes are partnered with shelters or welfare organisations. In some cases, the cat café adopts cats you can interact with – which means they already have forever homes and you can happily pet and hug the cats without feeling the need to own them.
In other cases, the cats you can interact with during your visit are actually up for adoption too. You know, just in case it’s love at first sight.
4. Donate time, money, or items
Any cat lover will know that animal rescue shelters are always short of time, people, money, food, and more. Not only are there huge bills associated with vets, admin staff, carers, and so on, but there’s also always new animals coming in and out. Not to mention the need for things like social media updates, photographs, answering phone calls, and more.
You can help make a difference to shelter cats this Hug Your Cat Day by donating to welfare and rescue organisations. Donating time is always valuable, but if your schedule is already packed then you can also donate money or supplies.
Not sure what to bring? We spoke to experts on National Pet Day to find out what items shelters are always in need of.
5. Give a cat a virtual hug with pet insurance
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. The best gift for your pet is pet insurance. If someone you know is considering adopting a shelter cat, you’re bringing one home yourself, or you want to spoil a kitty you saw at the shelter, a cat insurance plan might be just the ticket.
Shelters will be relieved knowing owners are less likely to surrender sick or injured pets because they can’t afford medical care, and cats all over the country would be better protected if all owners took out pet insurance. After all, you’re basically telling them you’ve got their back – and that they can get vet treatment without their humans worrying about the price.
Plus if you sign up with PD Insurance, you get FREE pet insurance for one or more months. So you could even donate your premium savings to a shelter this Hug Your Cat Day!