March 1 is the Day of cats in Russia.: How the purrs got their own holiday

The first day of spring is a special date for all lovers of the feline family. In Russia, Cats Day is celebrated on March 1. This is a celebration of pets that fill a person's life with soft purring, playfulness and unconditional love. Izvestia tells about the history of this holiday and its traditions.

Cat Day in Russia - 2025: the history of the holiday

Cats have accompanied humans for many centuries, and they are revered in different cultures and religions. In ancient Egypt, cats were considered sacred animals and symbols of protection and well-being. Over time, cats have become popular pets all over the world.

In the early 2000s, a peculiar trend related to cats was actively spreading in Russia. A lot of memes, videos and pictures of cats have become popular on the Web and aroused mass interest in these animals. In 2004, the Moscow Museum of Cats, together with the editorial office of the Cat and Dog magazine, organized for the first time an informal celebration dedicated to mustachioed pets. The idea gained popularity and spread quickly in society.

All over the world, cats Day is celebrated in summer on August 8th. Many countries have their own significant dates.

Cat Day in Russia - 2025: holiday traditions

Cat Day in Russia is an unofficial but widespread and popular celebration. On this day, people share photos of their pets, hold charity events in support of stray cats, organize exhibitions and contests of the most beautiful representatives of the feline family.

Seminars and lectures are also held in many Russian cities, during which you can chat with cats, learn a lot of interesting things about their habits and features. Pet owners try to please the culprits of the celebration with a new toy or a special treat.

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Some people may wear outfits with cat symbols on the day of the holiday, such as T-shirts, hats, or accessories with images of cats. Such a demonstration serves as an expression of love and respect for these amazing animals.

The main thing on this day is to show a good attitude towards cats, both pets and stray animals.

Interesting facts about cats

Cats are amazing creatures, and their history and behavior are full of interesting facts.

• Archaeological studies show that cats were domesticated by humans about 9,5 thousand years ago. The animals came to the tribes' sleeping places, hunted rodents, and then people started leaving food for them. This is how the symbiotic relationship between cats and humans was born;
• Cats are one of the most flexible animals on the planet. Thanks to their vertebrae, they can hide in narrow spaces and perform incredibly flexible movements;
• Cats have a very developed sense of balance. They can withstand a fall from great heights and turn in the air so as to land on their feet. This is due to the special structure of their bodies and internal organs that help them navigate in space;
• Cats sleep about 12-16 hours a day on average. They can switch to sleep mode quickly and also wake up, which helps them to react quickly to danger and hunt as needed;
• Cats have acute hearing. Their ears can rotate 180 degrees, which allows them to catch sounds from all directions and feel the slightest fluctuations in the air.

Earlier, Izvestia told about the history and traditions World Pet Day.