National Hug Your Cat Day
National Hug Your Cat Day, celebrated on June 4th is the perfect occasion for you to find a good excuse to cuddle your cats.
Cat parents dote on their cats so much that it surely annoys our feline friends, which is why we need a reason good enough to cuddle them.
This day is dedicated to encouraging cat owners and cat lovers alike to cherish the happiness and companionship that cats bring to their lives.
Origin of Hug A Cat Day
Humans and cats have shared a deep and meaningful relationship that goes back to domesticating cats in the Near East around 7500 BC. By 3500 BC, cats had demonstrated their worth to farmers by regulating pests such as rodents and establishing a mutually beneficial partnership.
Ancient Egyptians paid homage to cats with grand ceremonies and even built specialized cat cemeteries with thousands of mummified felines somewhere around 3000 BC.
The late 20th century witnessed the cultural significance of cats rise up with the evolution of iconic characters like Garfield in 1978 that leads to the celebration of National Garfield The Cat Day on June 19th.
In 1979, The International Cat Association (TICA) was founded to promote global appreciation of cats through genetic research and education.
Although, the exact date is unknown, National Hug Your Cat Day was founded in the 1980s with the aim to increase warm interactions between people and cats. It was celebrated for the first time in 1986 and workshops on how to take care of cats and recognize their behavior were organized along with cat hugging contests.
This day quickly gained popularity in other countries, and many countries began observing it to promote cat ownership by 1990.
The Divine Status Of Cats In Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egyptian culture, cats were loved and worshiped, which truly highlights this ancient bond. They worshiped numerous animals, but cats were considered to be the most special one, as Egyptians believed cats were divine creatures who brought good luck to the people who had them.
Wealthy families used to dress their cats in jewels and feed them royal food to honor them. They also mummified the cats after they passed away, and the owners used to shave off their eyebrows as a sign of mourning and would continue to mourn until the eyebrows grew back.
Several ancient Egyptian arts contain paintings and sculptures, including every type of cats. If someone accidentally killed a cat, they were sentenced to death as they were considered so special.
In Egyptian mythology, it was believed that gods and goddesses possessed the ability to shape-shift into various animals. Among them, the goddess Bastet held the unique power to transform into a cat.
The city of Per-Bast was renowned for its magnificent temple dedicated to Bastet, attracting visitors from far and wide who sought to behold its grandeur and reverence the goddess.
How To Participate In Hug Your Cat Day Activities
If you want to be involved in the celebrations, start by hugging your cat and if you do not own a cat, this might be a good excuse to get one. You can also feel that you are not ready to be a cat parent, so bond with your neighborhood cats, go to a shelter, and donate to NGOs.
You can also bring gifts to your friends' cat and attend workshops on learning more about cat ownership and responsibilities of having a cat.
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