Where would we be without the fluffy friends that show us an endless amount of love? We love to appreciate our pets all year with 75 pet holidays.
| Date | Holiday | Category | Tags | Region |
|---|
| Happy Mew Year for Cats Day | Animal | Cat | U.S. |
| National Bird Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Dress Up Your Pet Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Penguin Day | Animal | Wildlife | U.S. |
| National Squirrel Appreciation Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Answer Your Cat's Questions Day | Animal | | U.S. |
| World Spay Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Hedgehog Day | Animal | Wildlife | U.S. |
| Doggy Date Night | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Golden Retriever Day | Animal | Dog | U.S. |
| National Love Your Pet Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Walking the Dog Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day | Animal | Pet | World |
| National Dog Biscuit Day | Animal | | U.S. |
| National If Pets Had Thumbs Day | Animal | | U.S. |
| National K9 Veterans Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Puppy Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| Respect Your Cat Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Siamese Cat Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Hug Your Dog Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Pet Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day | Animal | Dog | U.S. |
| International Guide Dog Day | Animal | Dog | World |
| National Hug Your Cat Day | Animal | Cat, Pet | U.S. |
| National Take Your Cat to Work Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| Ugliest Dog Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Take Your Dog to Work Day | Animal | Dog | U.S. |
| National Kitten Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Pet Fire Safety Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Mutt Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| DOGust 1st: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs | Animal | Dog | U.S. |
| Work Like a Dog Day | Animal | Dog | U.S. |
| International Cat Day | Animal | Cat, Pet | World |
| National Spoil Your Dog Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| International Homeless Animals Day | Animal | | World |
| National Black Cat Appreciation Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day | Animal | Cat | U.S. |
| National Dog Day | Animal | Dog, Lifestyle, Summer | U.S. |
| National Holistic Pet Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Meow Like a Pirate Day | Animal | Pet | World |
| National Dogs in Politics Day | Animal | Dog, Historical, Weird National | U.S. |
| National Bunny Day | Animal | | World |
| World Rabies Day | Animal | Pet | World |
| National Black Dog Day | Animal | Dog | U.S. |
| National Fire Pup Day | Animal | Dog | U.S. |
| World Animal Day | Animal | Pet | World |
| National Pet Obesity Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| Global Cat Day | Animal | Cat | U.S. |
| National Feral Cat Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Fetch Day | Animal | | U.S. |
| International Sloth Day | Animal | Wildlife | U.S. |
| National Pets for Veterans Day | Animal, Cause | | U.S. |
| National Reptile Awareness Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Reptile Day | Animal | Wildlife | U.S. |
| National Pit Bull Awareness Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Black Cat Day | Animal | Cat, Pet | U.S. |
| National Cat Day | Animal | Cat, Pet | U.S. |
| National Cook For Your Pets Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Bison Day | Animal | Wildlife | U.S. |
| National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Mutt Day | Animal | Pet | U.S. |
| National Llama Day | Animal | Wildlife | U.S. |
| National Horse Day | Animal | | U.S. |
| National Train Your Dog Month | Animal | | U.S. |
| Unchain a Dog Month | Animal | | U.S. |
| Walk Your Dog Month | Animal | | U.S. |
| Dog Training Education Month | Animal | | U.S. |
| National Cat Health Month | Animal | | U.S. |
| Pet Dental Health Month | Animal | Cat, Dog | U.S. |
| Responsible Pet Owners Month | Animal | | U.S., World |
| National Pet Month | Animal | | U.S. |
| Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month | Animal | | U.S. |
| National Pet Week | Animal | | U.S. |
| National Hug Your Cat Day | Animal | | U.S. |
| International Assistance Dog Week | Animal | Dog | U.S. |
| Animal Pain Awareness Month | Animal | Cat, Dog | U.S. |
Where did pet holidays come from?
Did you know that pet holidays weren't created just to celebrate the animals we love? They actually originated to "bring attention to the plight of animals and encourage adoption." That's according to Colleen Paige, who started some of the first pet holidays in America.
In 2004, she originated National Dog Day (Aug. 26) to draw attention to all the dogs that need adoption—and all the dogs who work tirelessly every day to make sure we're happy and healthy. After it rocketed to success, she spun it off into other holidays like National Puppy Day, National Mutt Day, and National Cat Day to celebrate all types of animals large and small.
She unwittingly started a holiday movement—and now we have holidays celebrating everything from feral cats to ugly bulldogs! Do you have a favorite pet holiday?
Submit Your Favorite Pet holidays
If you don't see your favorite pet holiday here, submit it to us at our holiday submission page. Give us a little bit of information about your holiday when you submit it. Who started it? How many people celebrate it, and where? Once you've compiled a bit of background, we'd love to hear from you!
