National Feral Cat Day — October 16, 2027

Categories:: Animal
Tags:: Pet
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every October 16
Holiday emoji:: 🐈

National Feral Cat Day advocates for the humane treatment and welfare of feral cats every October 16. This day aims to destigmatize these independent felines and promote effective solutions like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. Learn how to support local community cat initiatives and help improve the lives of cats in your neighborhood.

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Expected National Feral Cat Day Deals

National Feral Cat Day focuses on advocacy and fundraising rather than commercial deals. Organizations like Alley Cat Allies, the ASPCA, and The Humane Society of the United States often run awareness campaigns and solicit donations to support their Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts. Many local shelters and rescue groups may host special adoption events or fundraising drives. Pet supply retailers like Chewy and PetSmart, through their charitable arms, may offer donation matching programs for cat food, litter, and medical supplies to local rescues. Look for opportunities to contribute to TNR programs or volunteer your time at a local shelter. We will update this page with confirmed live initiatives as October 16 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Feral Cat Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalFeralCatDay. Share heartwarming stories or photos of community cats, highlighting successful TNR efforts in your area.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalFeralCatDay. Share educational posts about feral cat behavior and the benefits of TNR programs.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalFeralCatDay. Tweet about local feral cat initiatives, advocate for humane treatment, and share links to reputable animal welfare organizations.

National Feral Cat Day Hero

Becky Robinson

Becky Robinson is the founder and president of Alley Cat Allies, a pioneering organization in the feral cat movement. She established National Feral Cat Day in 2001 to raise awareness and promote humane solutions like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for community cats. Her tireless advocacy has transformed perceptions of feral cats and saved countless lives, making TNR a widely accepted and effective practice.

History of National Feral Cat Day

The expansion of cats throughout the world is thought to have originated in Egypt. Traders and monks brought them to Europe and Asia to help control rat populations. Eventually, Roman armies brought them to Britain, and ever since cats continued to be introduced to new countries via sailors or settlers.

Though not traditionally considered pack animals, feral cats sometimes live in groups called colonies. These colonies don’t have an official system of dominance, but they have been observed to display different methods of hierarchies such as despotic, linear, and relative. There are also managed colonies, in which a human provides food, water, shelter, and health care for the cats.

Human leaders of cat colonies might also find potential foster homes, implement trap-neuter-return initiatives, and socialize the cats to get them ready for adoption. However, roughly half of the 146 million cats in the United States are feral or unowned. Considering nearly 70,000 kittens and puppies are born every day, there will never actually be enough homes to take in the number of feral cats. Though these apex predators are extremely adorable, they are actually considered harmful to the environment. In fact, conservation biologist say they are one of the worst invasive species on the planet. Which is why managed colonies implementing trap-and-neuter initiatives are so important, as they take on multiple cats at once: helping control the feral population as best as they can while keeping our furry neighbors healthy.

National Feral Cat Day timeline

2,000 BC

The Rise of Cats

Cats, thought to have been domesticated in Egypt, begin spreading around the known world, forming feral populations known as colonies.

300 BC

Rise of the Roman (Cat) Empire

The Romans continue to spread cats around Europe through their conquests expanding the population even more.

1700s

Sea Cats

Feral cats are introduced to all corners of the world during imperial sailing missions by several countries.

1990

Cat Friends

Alley Cat Allies forms to develop solutions to the world's feral cat problem.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Feral Cat Day

Local businesses can honor National Feral Cat Day by hosting donation drives for cat food, blankets, and medical supplies to benefit local TNR groups or animal shelters. Pet stores can offer educational workshops on feral cat care and TNR, or partner with a local rescue for an adoption event. Veterinary clinics can offer discounted spay/neuter services for community cats or host a ‘fundraiser day’ where a portion of proceeds goes to feral cat welfare organizations. Emphasize humane treatment and community support.

National Feral Cat Day FAQs

When is National Feral Cat Day?

In 2027, National Feral Cat Day will be observed on Saturday, October 16. This annual event encourages humane solutions for feral cat populations.

How many feral cats live in the U.S.?

While an exact count is challenging, experts believe the feral cat population in the U.S. ranges from 30 to 80 million. This significant number highlights the ongoing need for public education and community involvement in their care.

What is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)?

TNR is a comprehensive program designed to stabilize and improve the health of feral cat colonies. By preventing new litters and providing vaccinations, TNR reduces suffering and addresses concerns about overpopulation more effectively than lethal methods.

What's the difference between a stray and a feral cat?

The key distinction lies in their socialization. Stray cats can often be re-socialized and adopted, while feral cats are typically wild animals who thrive in outdoor colonies and are best managed through Trap-Neuter-Return programs.

National Feral Cat Day Activities

Take part in a Trap-Neuter-Return effort
Anyone can make a big difference by taking part in a Trap-Neuter-Return effort. This entails humanely trapping a feral cat in a boxtrap, taking it to a vet to be spayed or neutered, then letting it go in its wild home. This keeps the cat safe, but is also an investment in the future to ensure the feral cat population remains contained.
Adopt a cat
TNR is a great method for controlling pet populations, but if adoption is a possible method for you, this is also an instrumental way to make a difference in the lives of feral cats. On October 16, there will be several shelters hosting adopt-a-thons, so find one near you and bring home a new member of the family.
Volunteer with Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies, which formed in 1990, has done amazing work to spread awareness about this problem and develop solutions for it. Through the organization you can help hold spay/neuter clinics and food/supply drives, encourage official governmental proclamations regarding TNR policies, and more.

Why We Love National Feral Cat Day

It raises awareness of a serious problem
For many, feral cats are simply seen as a part of the community, and there’s not much we can do to improve their lives. However, what many don’t realize is that feral cats have an average of 1.4 litters each year, with an average of 3.5 kittens in each litter. That adds up to 420,000 kittens over seven years.
It introduces a novel idea
For many, the best way to control the feral cat population and prevent euthanization is a strategy called trap-neuter-return, or TNR. This method, as opposed to adoption, makes it easy for anyone to do their part to control the pet population.
It saves cats’ lives
Every year, nearly nine million dogs and cats are put down because the shelters can’t find a home for them. By lowering the number of strays that are put in shelters in the first place, we can drastically cut back the number of animals that must be euthanized.