National Kitten Day

Our favorite furry felines get their chance to be in the spotlight on July 10th, for it’s National Kitten Day! Founded by cat-lover and animal advocate Colleen Paige in the early 2000s, this day highlights how precious and adoptable these treasured animals are. In fact, the day is intended to promote the adoption of kittens and adult cats alike! Now, who wouldn’t love to bring a sweet, fuzzy kitten home to the family?

I digress! As we celebrate kittens in all their cuddly glory, let’s delve into their history, importance, and benefits to humankind!

Cats: A Fluffy History

Cats have been around for thousands of years, and they’ve grown in popularity in tandem with our melting hearts. The first cats were thought to have been domesticated anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 years ago! Ancient Egyptians even worshipped and loved them. Their wild hearts have descended from fierce Middle Eastern wildcats, but they’ll pounce into our families just as quickly as they’ll hunt a wayward mouse. Look below for a visual of the long and happy history of our feline friends.

The Benefits of Owning a Kitten

Aside from the joy of fuzzy paws pelting your face in morning greeting, kittens can bring many benefits to a pet owner’s life. Not only that, but you can improve theirs as well! With the cutest symbiotic relationship in history in mind, let’s see how our fur babies can brighten our lives!

• Anxiety Reduction: According to US Service Animals, pet cats can improve psychological health and reduce the symptoms of anxiety. The soothing purr of a cat can lower your heart rate and put you at ease with a release of oxytocin, keeping panic and worry at bay. Some call it “the healing purr”, and many cats have successfully become therapy animals. This is also known as an emotional support animal.
• Stress Relief: Similarly to how cats reduce anxiety symptoms, the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University states that cats can provide “a safe and effective therapy” for stress and “an appreciable benefit to your mood.” They cited a study in which college students pet a cat for ten minutes, which found a significant decrease in their cortisol, or stress hormone, levels.
• Companionship: Kittens are socialites! Healthline states that “people who invest in this cross-species bonding may see benefits in their human-to-human relationships,” so cats can promote healthy human relationships! Even better, they can do it all while bonding with you and becoming an invaluable friend. Whether you like humans or kittens better, you won’t ever be lonely with a soft cuddle buddy around.
• Pest Control: As natural-born hunters, most cats are quite excellent at hunting rats, moles, bugs, and other small vermin. If you’re lucky, you may even get rewarded with a trophy of their most recent prey!

Appreciate Your Felines!

As we celebrate kittens on this lovely national holiday, hold your furry motorboat close to your heart. If you don’t have a feline friend yet, consider adopting one from a local shelter! There are always animals in need of a good home. Cat populations are increasing by the day, which means more and more shelters are filling up with stray felines. If you’re able, you could benefit not only a kitten but yourself. Have a great National Kitten Day, and thanks for reading!

As always, feel free to reach out through the comments or email with any feedback or questions you may have! You can contact us directly at contactliznkey@gmail.com!