Header image @baggiothecat_
We know we talk about our canine friends a lot over here at Hiro + Wolf, but rest assured, we love our feline friends just as much! That's why we wanted to celebrate International Cat Day this year with a giveaway! International Cat Day, also known as World Cat Day, is an annual celebration which falls on 8th August every year. It was created in 2002 and is used to not only celebrate the friendship that humans and cats share but also to advocate for the safety and well-being of cats. So, read on if you want to learn all about International Cat Day and how you could win a Hiro + Wolf cat collar and matching bow tie for yourself.
For many years, scientists were trying to find out how exactly domestic or pet cats became part of our lives and it appears that recently that mystery may have been solved. A wildcat was discovered buried near the grave of a person in Cyprus who lived approximately 9,500 years ago. This suggests that humans may have had a relationship with cats that go back a lot further than we initially thought. Scientists believe that cat ownership can be traced all the way back to central China, about 5,500 years ago.
It is believed that around this time agriculture really began to dominate peoples livelihoods. With agriculture there came grain surpluses, and with grain surpluses came rodents. Rodents that would eat all of the grain, which at the time was mostly millet or rice. To combat these rodent infestations, farmers began to domesticate wildcats. This was beneficial to both the wildcats and the farmers. The wildcats got fed and got a warm place to sleep and farmers got rid of the rodents and got companionship. Over the years, these wildcats began to evolve into all the varieties of cats we love today. However, humans honouring these creatures for their contribution to modern society wouldn’t come until the beginning of the 21st century.
International Cat Day was originally created in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare as a way for people to honour and celebrate their feline friends as well as a day to advocate for the welfare of cats. It is also a day where many people go to their local animal rescue shelter and rescue a cat from being put down. According to the RSPCA, over 30,000 unwanted cats and kittens end up in shelters every year. So if you were looking for a great way to celebrate International Cat Day, why not consider adopting a rescue cat or donating to a wonderful rescue organisation?
Looking for ways to to spoil your own cat on this very special day? Why not take a look at our pet pamper blog post for some luxurious ways to treat your cat, or perhaps try your hand at a DIY cat treat recipe from our pet treat recipes blog post? Or you could always treat them to a colourful new collar from our range of UK-handmade cat collars, perhaps even with a matching bow tie or bandana! We also have a range of beautiful handmade crochet cat toys as part of our new Wizard of Oz inspired collection.
Now, if you want to be in for a chance of winning your very own Hiro + Wolf cat collar and matching bow tie, simply get your human to snap a picture of you, tag us on Instagram and use the hashtag #hwcatcomp Check out our Instagram for the full details. Competition closes midnight 8th August, winners announced on instagram on Monday 10th August. Good luck and happy International Cat Day everyone!