Paws for Applause: A Humorous Guide to National Cat Day

Posted on 29/10/2025 by Ol' Big Jim

October 29th is not just any other day. It’s the day our feline overlords allow us to celebrate them a little more extravagantly than usual. That’s right, it’s National Cat Day! Founded in 2005 by pet lifestyle expert Colleen Paige, this day is dedicated to raising awareness about cat adoption and celebrating the mysterious, magnificent creatures that deign to share our homes.

So, fluff up that cat bed, break out the extra-tempting treats, and let’s get ready to worship properly.

A Memo from Management: The Feline Demands for October 29th

In honor of this sacred day, the following memo was discovered, presumably typed by a cat deftly batting a keyboard. It has been reproduced verbatim.

TO: The Human Staff

FROM: Squeaky The Cat

DATE: Today (Every day is about me, but especially today)

SUBJECT: Official Protocol for National Cat Day

Congratulations. You have been made aware of my official holiday. To ensure your performance meets our standards, please adhere to the following schedule. Failure to comply will result in a judgmental stare and the knocking of a precious item off a shelf.

The Official Schedule of Celebrations

Time of Day | Feline Expectation | Notes for Human Staff |

| :— | :— | :— |

| 5:03 AM | Early Morning Wake-Up Call | Do not be fooled by the “snooze” button. This is not a drill. My food bowl must be filled immediately. The fact that it is my day means the food should be gourmet. Think lightly seared tuna. |

| 10:00 AM| First Nap of Celebration | My throne (the sunbeam on the carpet) must be warm and undisturbed. You may take this time to admire my peaceful form. Photography is permitted, but no flash. |

| 1:00 PM| Gift-Giving Ceremony | Present the new cardboard box you ordered for me. I will ignore the expensive cat tree you also bought and play in the box for four hours. This is the way. |

| 3:00 PM| Demanding Cuddles… on My Terms | I will meow piteously at your lap. You will provide the lap. I will sit for precisely 47 seconds before deciding I have business elsewhere. |

| 7:00 PM| Evening Entertainment | I require a laser pointer to chase. I am aware the red dot is a lie, but the chase is my birthright. Let me have this. |

| 11:00 PM| Final Zoomies of the Day | I will suddenly remember I am a mighty predator and must race through the hallway at top speed, vocalizing dramatically. You will pretend to be asleep. |

***

How to Actually Celebrate (A Human’s Guide)

Beyond fulfilling the demands above, here are some other ways you can honor the spirit of the day.

Embrace the ‘Tude

Cats are beloved for their fierce independence and what we lovingly call “cattitude.” Celebrate this by finally adopting that level of unbothered confidence your cat has. Don’t want to talk to someone? Simply walk away. Someone inconvenienced you? A slow, deliberate blink says it all.

Get Creative with Your Cat

Why not try turning your home into a **meow-seum? Grab some non-toxic paints and a canvas, and let your cat create a paw-print masterpiece. It’s a unique way to bond and get a one-of-a-kind decor piece, though the cleanup might be another story.

Give Back to Less Fortunate Felines

National Cat Day has a serious heart—it’s about helping the millions of cats in shelters. If you can, consider donating to your local shelter or a cat charity. They always need things like food, clean towels, and toys. If you have the room in your home and heart, this could be the perfect day to adopt a new furry friend. Remember, adult and senior cats are often overlooked in favor of kittens, but they have just as much love to give!

The Purr-fect Send-Off

How ever you choose to celebrate, remember that for our cats, every day is National Cat Day. We’re just lucky they let us officially acknowledge it once a year.

So, from our feline friends and the humans they tolerate, Happy National Cat Day! May your day be filled with purrs, headbutts, and no hairballs on your favorite rug.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, my cat just gave the look. I think my keyboard is about to be sat on.

***

*Find more information about National Cat Day and cat adoption efforts on the [ASPCA] https://www.aspca.org/ website.

*****

And, you know I would never leave you while neglecting the obligatory shameless self-promotion. Squeaky The Cat told me it’s okay to add it. New Yesterdays is available through the following links: Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon as well as your favorite bookshops. The Audiobook is available from Libro.fm, as well as Amazon.

*****

About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.

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