National Cat Lady Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
CatCon states that founder Susan Michals created National Cat Lady Day in 2017 and that it takes place each year on April 19.
About National Cat Lady Day
National Cat Lady Day is observed on April 19 as a celebration of women who love and care for cats and as a rejection of the old “crazy cat lady” stereotype.
CatCon founder Susan Michals created the observance in 2017, and CatCon continues to mark the date in its own programming and media.
Why National Cat Lady Day matters
The creator-side framing was intentionally cultural: reclaim “cat lady” as a positive identity rather than a shorthand for loneliness, eccentricity or social failure.
The day can also be used to highlight practical cat welfare—adoption, responsible care, enrichment, veterinary attention and support for shelters or rescue organizations.
History of National Cat Lady Day
On April 19, 2017, CatCon published its launch post announcing National Cat Lady Day and stating that CatCon creator Susan Michals founded the day.
CatCon’s 2021 material again said National Cat Lady Day was created by Susan Michals in 2017 and described global participation through the observance hashtag.
CatCon continued to identify April 19 as National Cat Lady Day in 2022, showing ongoing creator-side stewardship.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Susan Michals, founder of CatCon
CatCon’s April 19, 2017 launch post says CatCon creator Susan Michals founded National Cat Lady Day.
CatCon
CatCon launch announcement dated 19 April 2017
First documented observance
The founding CatCon post was published on April 19, 2017 and announces that date as National Cat Lady Day.
CatCon
CatCon continued to publish National Cat Lady Day programming and anniversary material in later years.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe National Cat Lady Day
Share a photo or story that celebrates responsible cat companionship rather than reinforcing stereotypes.
Donate supplies, volunteer or foster for a reputable cat shelter or rescue if that fits your circumstances.
Check whether your own cat’s preventive care, microchip details and enrichment needs are up to date.
Learn about adoption, fostering and trap-neuter-return programs in your local area from established animal-welfare organizations.
National Cat Lady Day Facts
National Cat Lady Day is observed on April 19.
CatCon creator Susan Michals founded the observance in 2017.
CatCon’s launch framed the day as a way to replace an outdated negative stereotype with a positive celebration of cat-loving women.
CatCon has continued to mark the day after its 2017 launch.
National Cat Lady Day Messages
Happy National Cat Lady Day — celebrate the people who love cats and the care that keeps those cats healthy and safe.
National Cat Lady Day is a good excuse to celebrate your cat and support cats still waiting for homes.
Here’s to cat ladies, cat caregivers and everyone who makes life better for cats.
Celebrate National Cat Lady Day with affection, responsible care and maybe a donation to a cat rescue that needs it.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
CatCon — 2021 anniversary/creator confirmation (opens in a new tab)
CatCon — 2022 observance page (opens in a new tab)
CatCon — National Cat Lady Day founder announcement (opens in a new tab)
Original Organizer
CatCon — annual April 19 confirmation (opens in a new tab)
Original Organizer
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Cat Lady Day?
19 April The documented recurrence rule is: 19 April.
Does National Cat Lady Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Cat Lady Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: International / CatCon-created cat-lover celebration. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Cat Lady Day?
The reviewed sources identify CatCon as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Susan Michals, founder of CatCon. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as CatCon.
Is National Cat Lady Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: International / CatCon-created cat-lover celebration. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-09.
When is National Cat Lady Day?
It is observed annually on April 19.
Who founded National Cat Lady Day?
CatCon creator Susan Michals founded it in 2017.
Why was the day created?
CatCon’s launch explicitly challenged the outdated negative stereotype of the “cat lady” and presented cat-loving women as people to celebrate.
Why April 19?
The first-party sources establish April 19 as the date but do not explain why that exact date was selected.
Other observances on April 19
These observances are also listed on April 19, 2027.
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day
CDH International identifies 19 April as Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day; historic proclamations also document the observance.
National Amaretto Day
Two Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals chapter calendars list National Amaretto Day on 19 April.
National North Dakota Day
National Day Calendar lists National North Dakota Day on 19 April. The U.S. Senate records North Dakota’s admission/statehood date as 2 November 1889. The two dates are deliberately kept se…
Oklahoma City Bombing Anniversary / Annual Remembrance Ceremony
The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum maintains an annual April 19 Remembrance Ceremony and NPS anchors the memorial scope. Proclamation 6880 designated April 19, 1996 as a one-time…