http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/heres-the-purrfect-opport...HERE’S the purr-fect way to show the cat in your life how much you love them.
Sunday is international hug your cat day, offering a great excuse to shower your feline friend with affection.
Tim Crossman, who has three cats and has worked at the Animal Welfare League at Ingleside for two years, said there were many ways to celebrate the day.
“If you love cats but can’t keep one as a pet, perhaps consider volunteering at your local animal shelter for the day,” Mr Crossman said.
“Or you could head off to your local cat cafe for a hug.”
Mr Crossman said the volunteers at his shelter regularly gave the cats affection because the benefits were enormous.
They are generally more relaxed and quieter than dogs so the mental health benefits of patting a cat can be quite calming,” he said.
“Having another soul around always helps and your cat is always there for unconditional love.”
Meanwhile, he said while he will be hugging his three cats tomorrow — Lacey, 3, Bean, 2, and Peggy, 1, — he didn’t need a special day.
“I adopted all three from Ingleside (shelter) and I’ve found they love the cuddles — cats do like human company,” Mr Crossman said.
“I also have a sulphur crested cockatoo and she’s the boss of the cats, they know not to mess with her.”
Nadia Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia encouraged people to find a way to express how much they loved their cat.
Ms Crighton said it was a great day to celebrate the comfort and humour cats provide to a vast amount of homes.
Australia continues to have one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world with three in 10 households having a cat.
With cats making up a large proportion of these companion animals, it’s no wonder why international recognition days are featuring domestic animals, she said.
“Cats are a very popular addition to many Australian households,” Ms Crighton said.
“For some reason cats influence people, whether it be on screen or in real life.
“They provide joy and entertainment, and comfort when we need it, for this they should be celebrated.”
why not what else do I have to do!