Today is National Cat Day in Italy,  Brazil  and Poland. On behalf of Clowder Press,  Belvedere and I wish all gatti, gatos and koty a very splendid  National Cat Day.

National Cat Days are held to celebrate the unique bond between cats and their butlers and to raise awareness for less fortunate felines who have to fend for themselves. 

Italy led the way, when ailurophile journalist Claudia Angeletti created the Festa Nazionale del Gatto in 1990, sponsored by Tuttogatto magazine. The date was chosen by its readers. Brazil followed in 2005, when author and Pet Lifestyle Expert Colleen Paige established  Dia do Gato.  A year later, Poland joined in when Wojciech Albert Kurkowski, the editor-in-chief of Kot magazine launched Dzień Kota, a joint initiative with Cat Club Lodz to use the day as a fundraiser for cat shelters. 

I must warn you that some internet sources insist that National Cat Day is celebrated on February 22, which is National Cat Day in Japan. This may be sloppy research, or an error, but I suspect is the work of international feline activists who want more than one day dedicated to their gloriousness.  And why not.