June 4: Show Appreciation to Your Feline Pet on 'Hug Your Cat Day'

  •   Sat, Jun 04 2011
  •   By Dr Eugene D'Souza, Moodubelle

June 4, 2011

As I was searching for the list of International Days for the month of June in Google today, June 4, I was pleasantly surprised to see the mention of “Hug Your Cat Day” listed for June 4. Hence, in order to find out something of interest, I surfed the net to find the origin of the day and a few stray facts as to why a separate day has been set aside to ‘hug one’s cat’.

Though there is no factual information about the exact origin of the “Hug Your Cat Day”, cat owners are encouraged to celebrate this day by author Marisa D’Vari as a way to commemorate the life of her white Persian cat ‘Mimi’ which died in 1995, and D’Vari wanted to do something to make her cat’s life count.

That year, Marisa D’Vari came up with the idea of “Hug Your Cat Day” to honour the life of her cat, as well as for cat owners around the world to honour their own cats. As creator of the holiday, D’Vari encourages cat owners to use the day as a way to raise awareness for feline causes, whether it be the local animal shelter or rescue group.

After the death of ‘Mimi’, Merisa D’Vari adopted a second cat named ‘Apricat’, also a white Persian, which carried on Mimi’s torch and loved the attention generated each year for “Hug Your Cat Day”. The best thing about the holiday, she added, is that “everyone could take time out to hug their cat and remember how precious they are.”

Apricat died in August 2008, and D’Vari said she has learned that cats should not be taken for granted. She hopes that “Hug Your Cat Day” serves as a reminder of the satisfaction that comes from sharing bonds with a cat, as well as the emotional satisfaction that comes from hugging a cat, said D’Vari, who lives in New York City.

There are some interesting facts about cats. Throughout history, cats have been viewed as mysterious and sly. The relationship between the human beings and cats is quite ancient. In 2004, a grave was excavated in Cyprus that contained the skeletons, laid close to one another, of both a human and a cat. The grave is estimated to be 9,500 years old, pushing back the earliest known feline-human association significantly.

In ancient Egypt, cats were worshipped as deities, their eyes shining with a mysterious light that intrigued humans. Nowadays, cats enjoy a reputation in most cultures as pets.

It is a common experience that cats take care of themselves. Grooming themselves is one of their prime activities. After eating, being in rain, after a hunting expedition and after a tussle with another animal, cats will take a few moments to lick a paw and use it to wipe their faces, ears, and other hard-to-reach places. I have not heard or seen anyone bathing his or her cat. Cats can handle the job themselves. Either individually or if there are more cats in the household, they groom each other and keep themselves clean. The cats also can feed themselves, if left outdoors long enough. From field mice, insects to birds, most healthy cats are unlikely to go hungry. Cats typically bring their kills home, and one is likely to find the bodies of their victims in the yard or on the porch as trophies of the night's hunt.

Cats are curious animals. They poke their noses into paper bags, climb under the hood of a car and play with any object that they can move with their paws. It is really a treat to the eyes when two or three cats put up mock fight holding each other’s necks and banging the head of the other cat with hind legs. Cats enjoy climbing high places, such as trees and walls. Kittens will chew their tails, chase a thread, or run after a ball. They love to have fun, and amuse the humans in the process and in turn make a person light hearted and make him or her to forget about the worries or anxieties. A gentle touch of a cat, a little hug and caressing the back and tail of the cat gives relief from tension. Hence, cats can be therapeutic if handled in a right manner.

Felines make good friends. Cats seem to have that sixth sense that tells them when something is wrong in their owner’s life. They can sense the frustration or irritation of their owners. The cat may come running to wrap herself around the leg of her owner or jump into his lap or even sleep by his or her side. Whenever, the cats are hungry or want to eat something they make their presence felt through their body language and typical sound.

It is generally believed that cats have nine lives. Even if they fall from considerable height, the cats land on their feet after a fall and find their way home after being lost. Stories abound of cats that were locked in a basement or trapped in a newly constructed house wall for days and yet surviving to return to their masters. Certain cats can even co-exist with dogs or other cats.

As an animal lover, I am quite fascinated by cats. There are three cats in my home which are quite attractive and playful. All three of them hunt as a team and also play with each other. They are quite photogenic and they do not throw tantrums when I click their pictures whenever I feel like.

Today being “Hug Your Cat Day”, cat lovers can really appreciate the warm, cosy feeling that they have for their cats. It is said that hugs from animals and giving hugs to animals will lower a person’s blood pressure. Pets have the ability to stimulate their caregivers by decreased stress. There appears to be strong evidence that having a pet can help a person lead a longer and healthier life.
By Dr Eugene D'Souza, Moodubelle
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Comment on this article

  • Kiran, udupi/dubai

    Sun, Jun 05 2011

    Great article.. Dr. Eugene...

    I miss my Cat and Dog.........


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Title: June 4: Show Appreciation to Your Feline Pet on 'Hug Your Cat Day'



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