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National Cat Lovers Month 2026: When & What It Is

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National Cat Lovers Month is every December, and this year is no exception. It’s a month specifically set aside for you to sit back and spend a little extra time with your cat, and there are many different ways you can do this.

While National Cat Lovers Month isn’t the most well-known month to celebrate, if you love cats, it’s a great excuse to love up on them a bit more and spend a little extra time with your favorite furry friends!

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The 5 Ways to Celebrate National Cat Lovers Month

Now that you know when National Cat Lovers Month is, it’s time to figure out how to celebrate it. There’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the month, and the only thing limiting your ways to celebrate is your imagination!

1. Donate Volunteer at a Local Animal Shelter

One of the absolute best ways to celebrate National Cat Lovers Month is to spend time with or support cats that don’t always get the resources and attention they deserve. Shelters often have way more cats than they can handle, and while you don’t want to adopt one on a whim, that doesn’t mean you can’t support them in other ways.

Volunteering is great, but you can also give them some money to help support their operations, or you can ask them what they need and donate things.

two women adopting cats at the shelter
Image Credit: BearFotos, Shutterstock

2. Spend Some Extra Time With Your Cat

If you already have a cat (or a few cats) at home, one of the best ways to celebrate the month is by giving them a little extra time throughout December. It’s not as straightforward or easy as buying them something, but it’s probably what your cat will enjoy most.

Spend some extra time petting them, playing games with them, brushing them, and interacting with them in other ways and you’re sure to have one happy cat throughout all of December.


3. Get Your Cat a Special Treat

If your cat is like ours, they simply can’t get enough treats. Whether it’s catnip or something else entirely, get them some of their favorite treats or something new to try. You don’t want to give them loads of treats throughout the entire month, but a few extra treats now and again aren’t a big deal, and your cat will love the special attention.

Another unique way to get your cat a new treat is to make them yourself, which requires a bit more work but is a more personal way to give them something special.

woman hang giving treat to a cat
Image Credit: StockSnap, Pixabay

4. Buy Your Cat a New Toy

If you want something that isn’t food for your cat, you can bring them a new toy to play with. One perk of going with a new toy instead of treats is that toys generally last longer than treats, although some cats are experts at destroying toys.


5. Spread Awareness for Local Shelters and Rescues

Another great way to support local shelters and rescues is by spreading awareness. Simple things like sharing Facebook and Instagram posts can make a big difference. Sharing posts about donation drives can lead to more supplies, sharing posts about cats that need homes can help them find them, and sharing all their posts in general can lead to more volunteers!

cat at an animal shelter
Image Credit: JW Design, Shutterstock

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Final Thoughts

Now that you know a little more about National Cat Lover Month and when it is, all that’s left is for you to start planning how you will celebrate this year. Whatever you choose to do to celebrate the month is up to you, but it’s an excellent opportunity to spend a little extra time with cats, which is perfect for cat lovers.

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Featured Image Credit: evrymmnt, Shutterstock

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