Ancient Egyptians worshipped, revered, and spoiled their cats (sound familiar?). They were seen as symbols of grace and poise — traits cats are still associated with today. There’s a lot of cat hugging going on all the time, but make an extra special attempt during National Hug Your Cat Day on June 4. The best way to celebrate? Scoop your regal cat right off the ground and snuggle the heck out of it until it feels the love. Sounds like a pleasant activity we can all get behind, no? So grab your kitty BFF and celebrate with us!
National Hug Your Cat Day timeline
In the Near East, cats are first domesticated.
The first cat is given to the emperor of China and quickly becomes a popular pet among the rich.
On October 18, Félicette becomes the first cat to go to space.
The number of cat videos on YouTube tops 2 million — higher than any other category of YouTube content.
National Hug Your Cat Day Activities
Hug away
Yes, this is obvious, but we'd be remiss if we didn't recommend it. Get your lint roller ready, and go in. (Then, count the number of seconds until your cat tries to wriggle out of your grip.)
Volunteer at a shelter
Not everyone has a kitty of their own to hug. If you fall in this category, satisfy your hugging desires by volunteering at an animal shelter! You'll be helping cats without homes, while getting in some quality snuggle time.
Host a kitty party
Human parties are good, we guess. But cat parties are even better. So grab your friends who own cats and bring them all together for a giant kitty rager! Just make sure you have enough catnip to go around — no one likes a party foul.
Why We Love National Hug Your Cat Day
Kitties deserve the best
While friends come and go, cats will always be there, demonstrating unconditional love and affection (though they often try to hide it). Hug Your Cat Day reminds us all to give our kitties a little TLC to thank them for their friendship and loyalty. So give your kitty some snuggles — if they don't like being touched, a new scratching post will do just fine.
Friends forever
Did your coworker just invite you to a happy hour you really don't want to attend? Trying to get out of an awkward Tinder date? Not a big deal. Stay home, put your feet up and hang with your very best friend in the world.
Picture day
We know you've showed off countless pictures of your feline friend. Friends may have even asked you to slow down; if they haven't, they're very polite, and you should hold them close. But today's practically a mandate to show the world another picture of your baby. Whether you post it on Instagram or email it to your mom, go wild.
National Hug Your Cat Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | June 4 | Thursday |
| 2027 | June 4 | Friday |
| 2028 | June 4 | Sunday |
| 2029 | June 4 | Monday |
| 2030 | June 4 | Tuesday |
