March 28

Respect Your Cat Day

An annual observance on March 28 encouraging cat owners to recognize their cats as sentient companions and to provide attentive care.

Yearly Date

March 28

Observed in

United States

Introduction

Respect Your Cat Day asks a question most cat owners eventually face: are you meeting your cat on its terms, or expecting it to behave like a dog? The distinction matters more than most people realize. Cats were never fully domesticated in the way dogs, cattle, or horses were. Recent archaeological evidence suggests religious ritual, not pest control, drove the process: ancient Egyptians bred cats for the cult of Bastet, selecting for docility over generations of temple programs.

The result is an animal that lives in roughly 49 million American households but has never entirely surrendered its independence. Understanding that history changes how you interpret what your cat actually needs.

Respect Your Cat Day History

The domestic cat's ancestor is the African wildcat (Felis lybica lybica), a solitary hunter that still roams parts of North Africa and the Middle East. Unlike dogs, which were domesticated through close working partnerships with humans, cats took a different path. The relationship began not with utility but with religion.

In ancient Egypt, the cult of Bastet centered on a goddess depicted with the head of a cat. Temples dedicated to Bastet housed cats and bred them for ritual purposes. Priests selected the calmest, most human-tolerant animals for breeding, and over generations, these cats became genuinely domesticated. The Egyptians eventually mummified millions of cats as offerings, a practice that required organized breeding centers and reinforced the selection of docile temperaments.

From sacred animal to household pet

Cats spread from Egypt along trade routes, reaching Europe, Asia, and eventually the Americas. Their role shifted from sacred animal to practical pest controller to household companion. But unlike dogs, cats retained much of their ancestral independence. They remained largely self-sufficient hunters who tolerated human company rather than depending on it.

In 1866, Henry Bergh founded the ASPCA in New York City, establishing the first animal welfare organization in North America. The ASPCA's work eventually extended to cats, advocating for their protection from cruelty, supporting shelter adoption programs, and tracking welfare statistics.

The modern cat population

Respect Your Cat Day emerged on online holiday calendars in the 2010s, observed on March 28. Its origin is undocumented. Some sources link the date to a 1384 edict attributed to King Richard II of England that reportedly banned the eating of cats, but no primary historical record confirms this. What the day does acknowledge is the scale of cat companionship in the United States: approximately 49 million cats live in American households, and the average cat-owning home has nearly two.

Respect Your Cat Day Timeline

~3000 BCE

Cats domesticated in ancient Egypt

Archaeological and genetic evidence traces cat domestication to ancient Egypt approximately 3,000 years ago. The process was driven by the cult of Bastet, the goddess of protection and pleasure, who was depicted with feline features. Temple breeding programs selected for docile, human-tolerant cats.

~2000 BCE

Cats depicted with collars in Egyptian art

Ancient Egyptian artwork began showing cats wearing collars and sitting alongside humans, indicating that by this period cats had become household companions as well as ritual animals. Egypt later became a hub for the spread of domestic cats along international trade routes.

1866

ASPCA founded in New York City

Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the first animal welfare organization in North America. The ASPCA established the principle that animals, including cats, deserved legal protection from cruelty.

2012

Cat ownership rises in the United States

American cat ownership steadily increased through the 2010s. By the early 2020s, approximately 29% of U.S. households owned at least one cat, up from 25% in 2016. Cat-owning households averaged 1.8 cats each, higher than the 1.5 average for dog-owning households.

2010s

Respect Your Cat Day emerges online

Respect Your Cat Day appeared on online holiday calendars, observed on March 28. No founding individual or organization has been verified. Some sources link the date to a 1384 edict attributed to King Richard II of England, but no primary historical source confirms this claim.

How to Celebrate Respect Your Cat Day

1

Learn to read your cat's body language

Cats communicate constantly through their ears, tails, eyes, and posture. A slow blink means trust. Flattened ears mean fear or aggression. The International Cat Care guide on cat communication explains what your cat is telling you.
2

Upgrade your cat's environment

Cats need vertical space, scratching surfaces, and hiding spots. Add a cat tree, a window perch, or a cardboard box in a quiet corner. Environmental enrichment reduces stress-related behavior problems and keeps indoor cats mentally stimulated.
3

Schedule a veterinary checkup

Cats are skilled at hiding illness. The Cornell Feline Health Center recommends annual wellness exams even for cats that appear healthy. Early detection of kidney disease, dental issues, and hyperthyroidism can add years to a cat's life.
4

Support a local cat rescue

With 3.2 million cats entering shelters each year, organizations like the ASPCA and local rescues need donations, foster families, and volunteers. Respect Your Cat Day is a good time to contribute.
5

Read about the history of cat domestication

The story of how cats went from African wildcats to temple animals to household companions is one of the most unusual domestication histories in biology. National Geographic's domestic cat profile covers the genetics, archaeology, and cultural history.

Why We Love Respect Your Cat Day

A

Millions of cats enter shelters every year

Approximately 3.2 million cats enter U.S. animal shelters annually. About 2.2 million are adopted, but roughly 273,000 are euthanized. Respect Your Cat Day draws attention to responsible ownership, including the importance of spaying and neutering, microchipping, and keeping cats indoors to reduce the stray population.
B

Cats are the second most popular pet in America

Approximately 49 million cats live in U.S. households as of 2025, making them the second most popular pet after dogs. Cat-owning households average 1.8 cats each, compared to 1.5 dogs per dog-owning household. Cat ownership has increased by 4 percentage points since 2016, reflecting growing demand for companions that fit smaller living spaces and independent lifestyles.
C

Cats require a different kind of respect than dogs

Cats are obligate carnivores with specific dietary needs, territorial instincts, and social behaviors that differ fundamentally from dogs. They communicate through body language that many owners misread: a slowly blinking cat is showing trust, while a cat exposing its belly is not necessarily inviting a rub. Respect Your Cat Day encourages owners to learn what their cats are actually saying.