5 Heartfelt Charities & Fundraisers for International Cat Day 2026

Maybe you’ve been following the rise of International Cat Day, or perhaps you’re just hearing about it for the first time. Either way, there are several excellent ways to get involved—you just have to know where to look.

What is International Cat Day?

Founded in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, International Cat Day (ICD) takes place every year on August 8. It's an event to raise awareness of cats and ways to promote their well-being. Since 2020, the day has been sponsored by International Cat Care, which is a British non-profit dedicated to improving the welfare of cats.

International Cat Day and other animal fundraisers are for everyone on any budget, so don’t turn away because you think you need to spend a ton of money to get involved!

The 5 Heartfelt Charities & Fundraisers for International Cat Day

1. Buy Rope

If you’re looking for a fundraiser to help cats and want to support a great company, Buy Rope is donating 100% of its profits to animal rescue centers and charities on August 8. While that's impressive enough, it’s far from the only time this fantastic company has reached out and helped animals in need.

Their program runs throughout the year and provides meals and support to local shelters and aging cats. Even better, Buy Rope does its best to support local charities and shelters, which means more of your money goes to helping animals.

Of course, with this fantastic fundraiser, you also get a high-quality rope product in the process. Whether you need a rope for arts and crafts or workout equipment, Buy Rope has you covered, and it will help save some cats in the process.

2. Bonfire

Although it's not as prominent as the Buy Rope fundraiser, the American Kitefliers Association (AKA) has a year-round promotion. The proceeds of T-shirt sales go to support the San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition.

The coalition exists to work toward controlling San Antonio’s feral cat population as humanely as possible. It might not seem like a big deal, but with so many feral cats, someone needs to do something, and the San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition is stepping up in a way that matters.

For each AWA shirt you purchase, just under $5 is sent to the San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition. You get a cool t-shirt, and they get much-needed funds to make a difference.

3. PAWS Wild Week

Every year, PAWS hosts an online week-long auction, and the proceeds go to support various animals in need. This year, they’ll host their auction from October 3–9, but you must register to bid after September 1. They also host an in-person Gala in Seattle on October 9, but they only have 250 tickets available, and they start at $200 apiece.

PAWS Wild Week is a great fundraiser that raises money to help animals in need, but it’s also a more expensive option. Not everyone has a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to drop in donations. Still, it’s a cool fundraiser to check out to see the unique offerings!

4. Best Friends

Best Friends has a few animal sanctuaries that help animals in need. The organization is, perhaps, best known for its No-Kill 2025 campaign, which aims to eradicate euthanasia in shelters across the country. You can sign up to volunteer at any of their animal sanctuaries, or you can send a donation to help animals in need.

While those activities require you to be near a specific location, you can also sponsor an animal for as little as $25. You can make a one-time donation or a monthly contribution, or you can even set up your own fundraiser!

What’s unique about how Best Friends is that there are several ways to help, and you can set up an event to make even more of an impact. You can sign up for a Best Friends Credit One credit card and have 1% of all your purchases go to Best Friends. Credit One Bank has also pledged $1 million toward the Best Friends no-kill agenda.

You don’t need to spend any extra money, and you can support an outstanding charity that helps animals.

5. ASPCA

Maybe the ASPCA isn’t exactly a “fundraiser,” but they make a difference. There are plenty of ways you can help animals with the ASPCA. Of course, you can send them money, but they also have other ways to get involved, no matter where you live.

They have several regional programs, including a foster kitten program in Los Angeles, foster programs in New York City, and a behavioral rehabilitation center in North Carolina. They also have a National Field Response team you can sign up for and help out with if there’s an animal crisis in your area.

The ASPCA allows you can to get involved and make a difference, and what better way is there to celebrate International Cat Day?

Why Is International Cat Day on August 8?

International Cat Day started in 2002 when the International Fund for Animal Welfare set up the day to raise awareness for cats and learn about ways to help them.

While many countries have their own International Cat Day dates, August 8 is the date that’s catching on. With International Cat Day gaining popularity every year, it’s a great way to give back to cats that need help.

Other Ways to Get Involved with International Cat Day

While there are plenty of charities you can donate to on International Cat Day, that’s not the only way you can get involved. Below, we’ve highlighted four ways you can support International Cat Day.

Adopting a cat on International Cat Day only to surrender them later isn’t the best outcome for anyone.

Final Thoughts

There are between 60 million and 160 million feral cats in the United States alone, and many are abused cats. With such alarming statistics in the United States, it’s no wonder that there’s a rising need for something like International Cat Day to raise awareness.

So, whatever you do, get involved on August 8 and make a difference.

See Also: 

• 11 Best Cat Affiliate Programs

• Top 10 Pet Trade Shows in North America

Featured Image Credit: Hemin Xylan, Shutterstock