February 17, the day of your meow

Italian by birth, but also existing in other countries and on other dates, the Cat Festival has been celebrated on the peninsula on February 17 for the past 27 years. 

February is the month of cats and witches and what better number than 17 to link the event to magic and superstitions? Cats are the furry ones that have lived with humans for almost 10 thousand years and are the most widespread pets in the world, so much so that almost 7 and a half million cats scurry in the homes of Italians.

Even watching videos about cats, from Lil Bub to Grumpy Cat , passing through the famous Simon’s cat cartoons , would bring psychological benefits, as a recent research from Indiana University Media School points out .

Read also The therapeutic power of cats >>

The holidays for cats in Italy

Do you want to be an active part of these celebrations ? In Italy this day is celebrated with various initiatives, both of solidarity and of an artistic-cultural nature. Here are a few. 

1. Varese and the aperigatto

This year the animal protection office of Olgiate Olona, ​​on the occasion of the anniversary, organized an ” AperiGatto “, a charity aperitif at the For Good Restaurant, from 18.30 to 20. Part of the proceeds will be used to purchase food and medicines for the cats of feline colonies.

2. Gattari d’Italia among photos, cafes and bistros

Most likely there will be parties or themed evenings for cat lovers in the places dedicated to them, such as the Crazy Cat Cafè in Milan or the Romeow Cat Bistrot in Rome . An artistic initiative with a high emotional impact that of the Osteria Arman in Treviso which, through a series of shots by photographer Sabrina Boem, tells about the wandering life of felines in the colony. 

3. Meow, it reads!

There will be cat themed meetings and readings in the bookstores and libraries of your city , an event organized for years for example at the San Giorgio Library in Pistoia or at the Mario Luzi Library in Florence, where civil service volunteers will tell and read Silvia’s stories. Borando, Gatto Nero, Gatta Bianca, Beatrice Savino, Miss Tatì, Gatto Cirillo and others. Or even meetings with vets and cats, in Lissone , organized by the local association that takes care of stray friends.

4. House party with cats friends 

And for the lazy and sly , you can organize a themed evening at a friend’s house, obviously bringing your cat friend with you and offering him a special dinner. All this while you humans have fun preparing cat-shaped biscuits and tell you about the latest natural cures discovered for your four-legged friend … And the grand finale? everyone purring on the sofa watching the movie ” A Cat’s Life “!

Curiosity : there is also the day of the black cat, which falls on November 17th!