#8 august

The German-built zeppelin Hindenburg floats over Manhattan as pedestrians move along on Fifth Avenue at 42nd St. on August 8, 1936. Nine months later, the aircraft would explode over New Jersey, killing 35 people.

Michael Clifford: justifying my emo phase

Happy cat day !!! :D

International Cat Day

August 8 is International Cat Day — a day to celebrate one of man’s most common and ancient pets. They have even been worshiped as gods (we see you, Egypt.) Well, it is not surprising, Cats are one of the coolest beings on the planet: they are independent, inquisitive, adventurous, have an amazing physiognomy, and the power to heal by themselves — at least most of the time.

When is International Cat Day 2022?

Our enigmatic furry felines are celebrated on International Cat Day 2021 on August 8.

History of International Cat Day

Cats are carnivorous small furry mammals — for the most part — with four legs, a tail, and claws, that humans have domesticated as pets since ancient times, even though they have descended from the African Wildcat and they used to catch vermin.

The first historical human record about cats could be found in Ancient Egyptian Civilization’s culture. We all seem to relate cats with Egyptians, because of their adoration and consideration of cats as gods. Mafdet was the first known cat deity and was regarded as the protector against snakes, scorpions, and evil during the First Dynasty, so for them, cats were not just deities, but also protectors.

Later, after the Egyptian Dynasty collapsed, Cats became popular everywhere! Greeks and Romans used them as pest control, and in the East, cats were originally owned by rich and wealthy people. But during the Middle Ages, in Europe, Cats became associated with superstition and suspected of carrying the disease during the Black Death of 1348, that is the reason why too many cats got killed in that era, and it wasn’t until the 1600s that cats’ reputation started to recover.

In America, cats were part of the cargo on the colonization ships to minimize vermin and disease, so those cats went ashore and flourished. Nowadays, cats seem to be one of the pop icons in modern society – we have about half of a billion among us. And, since 2002, thanks to the “International Fund for Animal Welfare” cats have their own holiday!

International Cat Day timeline

1348 The Cat Death

Cats are rumored to be the source of the Black Death so all over Europe thousands of street- and house cats are slain.

1963 Félicette the Astrocat

On October 18, Félicette becomes the first cat to go to space.

2002 Cats’ Day

International Cat Day is created by the International Fund for Animal Welfare to take place on August 8.

2004 The Oldest-Known Pet

French archaeologists discover a 9,500-year-old cat grave in Cyprus.

May 2010 World’s Cutest Cat

Pusheen is created by artists Claire Belton and Andrew Duff as a character for their webcomic “Everyday Cute.”

2014 Grumpy Cat Goes Viral

Grumpy Cat’s Facebook page hits 7 million likes.

International Cat Day Traditions

Cats get the royal treatment on International Cat Day. Not that this isn’t already the case on most days, but they are especially pampered and showered with love today.

Cats are the finickiest members of the family, so the day is spent catering to their every need; buying them their favorite treats and expensive catnip, letting them shred to their heart’s content, allowing them to wail, and even tuning in to their favorite TV show (there are videos on the internet of cats obediently watching “Tom and Jerry.”)

Not every cat is lucky enough to have a good home where it enjoys a lavish lifestyle. Stray cats are subjected to cruelty and injuries due to car accidents and other harmful situations, so donations are generously made to animal shelters and welfare organizations. Cats are also adopted and taken to their new homes, especially by children who are getting their first pet.

International Cat Day By The Numbers

18% – the percentage of households in the U.K. ruled by a cat. 9,500 – the number of years ago when the oldest-known pet cat existed. 70% – the percentage of their lives cats spend sleeping. 20 – the number of years an orange cat named ‘Stubbs’ served as the mayor of a small town in Alaska. 48.5 – the record number of inches for the longest cat ever. 19.05 – the record number of inches of the tallest cat ever. £7 million – the net worth of the richest cat in the world. 1963 – the year when a cat was successfully sent to space. 30 mph – the maximum speed of a house cat.

International Cat Day FAQs

How is International Cat Day celebrated?

You can participate in the festivities of International Cat Day by adopting a new kitty, feeding feral cats, or even spoiling the ones in your own home. Anywhere there’s a cat, show it some good ol’ purring love.

Is today National Hug Your Cat Day?

Hmm, well if today is June 4, then you’re in luck! Go give your kitty a big hug and tell them how much you love them.

Do cats like to be hugged?

Most cats are super affectionate and love to nuzzle and give hugs accompanied by loud and soothing purrs. However, some cats are a bit more uncomfortable with too much affection, so always make sure you’re doing whatever your cat is comfortable with, or risk a warning hiss.

When is International Cat Day 2021?

International Cat Day 2021 is on the 8th of August.

International Cat Day Activities

Time to share with those that are in need

Spend some time with your fluffy babies

Treat them with "catness"

There are many homeless cats around the world, so what better day to show them respect and love than by giving them food and supplies!

If you have a cat, International Cat Day is the perfect day to have a great time and show love to your baby.

Even if you don't like cats, remember to treat them with respect and kindness, take the occasion to spread awareness about respect to cats on your social media.

5 FACTS ABOUT CATS THAT MIGHT BLOW YOUR MIND

The loudest Purr!

Faster than you think

The richest kitty in town!

Not so sweet

Meow to you!

Merlin, a Black and White Cat from the U.K., has the record for the loudest purr and his purr is 67.8db.

Your little kitty can hit the speeds of around 30mph!

According to "Guinness World Records", when Blackie's millionaire owner passed away, he got a 7-million-pound fortune.

Cats can not detect sweetness, which explains why they are not drawn to it at all.

According to science, cats only use their meows to talk to humans and not to each other - except to their mothers when they are kittens.

Why We Love International Cat Day

We love all living beings

A lovely reminder

Fuzzy stress relievers

Holidays like this show off that as humans, we do love all living beings and there are more of us who respect and love kitties than those who don't.

It’s easy to get the idea that we are the most important beings on the planet, but as a lovely reminder: we are not alone so we need to respect the other beings' rights and do our part — starting with our pets.

It is scientifically proven that Cats help to improve mental health as stress relievers just by being themselves! Petting a fuzzy feline can cause our bodies to produce stress-reducing hormones.

sultry: humid and hot

Mulgrave Woods, Robin Hood's Bay, Rig Mill, Runswick, Staithes: villages close to Whitby

steamer: a steamship

Scarborough: a seaside town just south of Whitby

eminence: a rise of ground; a hill

mares'-tails: clouds that have a long slender flowing appearance

assemblage: a gathering

athwart: across

R. A. and R. I.: the Royal Academy of Art and the Royal Institute of Art

schooner: a ship with at least two masts where the sails go from front to back rather than from side to side

undulating: moving up and down like waves

rapidity: speed

convulse: disturb or upset severely

spume: foam

lanthorn: lantern

stanchion: a fixed vertical bar or pole used as a support

gunwale: the upper edge of a ship's side

old salt: an old sailor

fetch up: stop

hitherto: until now

a pall: something that covers or conceals

mirabile dictu: it's a miracle

lashed: tied

concussion: a hard blow

spar: a wooden pole that supports sails and rigging

stay: a large strong rope used to support a mast

top-hammer: (should be top-hamper), matter or weight (such as spars or rigging) in the upper part of a ship

derelict: run-down, abandoned

aft: towards the back of a ship

to and fro: back and forth

Admiralty Court: a court that deals with all laws related to the sea

salvage: the ship or cargo saved in a rescue

contravention: contradict, violate

statutes of mortmain: laws that say that property cannot be owned by a "dead hand" (although the "dead hand" usually means a corporation (especially the church) and not an actual dead person)

Casabianca: a poem about a boy who refuses to leave his post on a burning ship after everyone else has already fled

mortuary: a place where dead bodies are kept before burial

inquest: an investigation conducted by a coroner into the cause of death of a person

Yorkshire: a part of northern England