On 8 August, International Cat Day celebrates our feline companions while encouraging responsible ownership, adoption and improved standards of care. Originally established in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and now managed by International Cat Care, the day brings together pet owners, veterinary professionals and animal welfare organisations with one shared goal: helping cats live healthier, happier lives.

For International Cat Day 2026, the campaign theme is #ThinkCAT, reminding everyone involved in feline care that even small changes can make a significant difference to a cat’s wellbeing.

What does #ThinkCAT mean?

This year’s campaign centres around three simple but powerful principles:

C – Cat Friendly ways to care for and interact with your cat.

A – Annual veterinary check-ups to help keep your cat healthy and happy.

T – Tips and advice to support your cat through every stage of life.

These principles encourage owners and veterinary teams to consider not only a cat’s physical health, but also its emotional wellbeing and how everyday experiences affect stress levels.

What is Cat Friendly care?

Cats experience the world very differently from humans; changes such as moving home, introducing another animal, shifts in daily routines or travelling to the vet can all create stress (come to think of it, we’re more similar than we are different).

Cat Friendly care focuses on understanding stress motivated behaviours and adapting care accordingly. This may include:

• Providing safe hiding places and elevated resting areas.
• Offering additional litter trays where appropriate.
• Gradually acclimatising cats to carriers and travel.
• Creating calm, predictable environments.
• Choosing a Cat Friendly accredited veterinary practice.
• Scheduling annual health examinations to identify problems early.

As cats age or develop health conditions, their needs may change further, requiring adjustments to diet, exercise, medication and monitoring. By recognising these changing needs, owners can greatly improve their cat’s quality of life.

International Cat Care also provides a wide range of free resources for veterinary professionals, cat owners and those caring for unowned cats, helping everyone deliver more compassionate, evidence-based feline care.

Why regular health checks matter

Cats are experts at hiding illness; many conditions, including kidney disease, hypertension and heart disease, may develop gradually with few obvious symptoms until they become advanced. Routine veterinary examinations allow problems to be identified earlier, often leading to more successful treatment and improved long-term outcomes. They also provide an opportunity to discuss nutrition, weight management, dental health and behavioural changes.

Reducing stress during these visits is an important part of the process- preparing cats for travel, handling them gently and creating positive experiences all contribute to more accurate examinations and happier patients.

Supporting veterinary professionals with high-quality ultrasound

At ScanX, animal welfare is at the heart of everything we do. We supply safe, reliable and accurate diagnostic equipment that helps veterinary professionals deliver exceptional patient care. Whether performing routine examinations, pregnancy scans or advanced cardiac assessments, having the right ultrasound system makes a considerable difference to diagnostic confidence.

Vinno D10 – Outstanding small animal echocardiography

The Vinno D10 has become one of our leading ultrasound systems for small animal cardiology while also delivering exceptional abdominal imaging.

Designed for experienced sonographers and practices looking to expand their imaging capabilities, the D10 offers:

• Outstanding colour flow Doppler performance.
• Excellent endocardial definition for accurate cardiac measurements.
• High-quality abdominal imaging alongside specialist cardiac capability.
• A system that continues to support clinicians as their expertise develops.

One area where the D10 particularly excels is feline echocardiography, where precise wall thickness measurements are essential for diagnosing conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Our head sonographer, Catherine Stowell, has used the system extensively on a variety of feline patients, including an elegant Siamese (featured in the video below) and her own Bengal cat, Bear. The clarity and balance between image processing and diagnostic detail make the D10 a pleasure to use for challenging cardiac cases.

Reducing stress through home blood pressure monitoring

International Cat Day’s Cat Friendly message extends beyond the veterinary practice.

Some cats become extremely anxious during travel, which can temporarily elevate blood pressure and make monitoring chronic conditions more challenging. For suitable patients, home monitoring (under the advice and guidance from your trusted veterinarian) can help reduce stress while providing more representative readings over time.

The 08A Veterinary Blood Pressure Monitor is designed specifically for home use with cats and dogs, allowing diligent owners to monitor certain health conditions in familiar surroundings.

The monitor includes:

• Veterinary blood pressure cuff suitable for most cats.
• Optional cuff sizes for particularly small cats or kittens.
• Helpful videos on the product page and our YouTube channel to help owners set up for success.
• Consistent monitoring from the comfort of home.

Before purchasing, owners should carefully measure the area where the cuff will be placed and follow the guidance provided to ensure the correct cuff size is selected. Our team is always happy to provide advice to help customers use the monitor safely and effectively.

Every small change makes a difference

International Cat Day reminds us that improving feline welfare does not always require major changes, but depends more on your attunement to their needs. Small additions and adjustments such as providing a quiet place to rest, reducing stress during travel, attending annual veterinary examinations and using reliable diagnostic equipment all contribute towards better health outcomes.

This International Cat Day 2026, let’s all #ThinkCAT and take simple, practical steps that make a lasting difference to the wellbeing of every cat in our care.