National Pet Day – April 11, 2023

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National Pet Day is April 11, although if you’re a pet owner, you know there’s not a day that goes by that you don’t celebrate your animal companion! So hug your hedgehog, bond with your bunny, and cut your kitty some catnip! That critter makes you happy — and that’s not all. Over the past 10 years, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been a partner in research to determine the physical and mental benefits of having a pet. It turns out that not only can pets steal our hearts, but they also contribute to overall cardiovascular health by lowering cortisol, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels.

When is National Pet Day 2026?

Cats, dogs, birds, and even tigers, our furry friends are celebrated on National Pet Day on April 11.

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History of National Pet Day

Colleen Paige, animal welfare advocate and pet and family lifestyle expert, founded National Pet Day in 2006 to celebrate the joy pets can bring to us. But she also wanted to bring attention to the ongoing needs of many pets of all kinds waiting in shelters to be adopted. She encouraged people who want purebred dogs and cats to contact rescue organizations instead of going to a breeder. “Don’t shop! Adopt!” has become the holiday motto.

In 1973, the Humane Society of the United States estimated that 13 million cats and dogs enter shelters every year. Some were strays, some were surrendered by owners who could no longer care for them, some were seized in legal actions. Today, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide. And 1.6 million cats and 1.6 million dogs find their furever homes.

Colleen’s holiday got its start in the U.S., but it soon expanded internationally. Pet lovers now mark the day in the U.K., Ireland, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Spain, Guam, Scotland, and many more nations.

Celebrities have also taken up the cause. National Pet Day has been promoted by Taylor Swift, Ellen De Generes, Ricky Gervais, Cee Lo Green, Jimmy Fallon, Willy Nelson, Kevin Bacon, Seth Myers, and Carrie Underwood, among others.

And social media has helped spread the celebration and promote Colleen’s cause. When President Barack Obama was in office, he warmed political hearts on both sides of the aisle with his posted pic of Bo, one of the two Portuguese water dogs who shared the White House with him. Bo was rehomed when he couldn’t get along with an older dog owned by a family in Texas.

National Pet Day timeline

3500 B.C. Walking the Dog

The dog collar is believed to have been invented in Mesopotamia, based on a wall painting depicting a man with a collared dog on a leash.

900 B.C. Hello Kitty

Phoenician traders bring the first domesticated cats to Europe.

1866 Dogged Defender

Henry Bergh founds the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York after witnessing a carriage driver in Russia beating a fallen horse three years earlier.

2017 One-Trick Pony

Japanese feline Maru is certified as the most viewed animal on YouTube after 10 years of diving into boxes.

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National Pet Day - Survey Results

Data gathered by a top Pet Marketing Agency:

Additional Findings

FULL RANKING OF THE MOST POPULAR PETS #1: Dog (45%) #2: Cat (30%) #3: Fish (9%) #4: Bird (e.g. parakeet, cockatiel, parrot, etc.) (5%) #5: Hamster/gerbil/mouse (2%) #6: Horse (2%) #7: Snake (2%) #8: Guinea pig (1%) #9: Lizard (e.g. iguana, chameleon, gecko, etc.) (1%) #10: Tarantula (1%)

National Pet Day Around the World

National Pet Day Around the World
Country Holiday Occasion Date
Japan Cat Day Japan celebrates its feline friends. February 22
Thailand National Elephant Day The native elephants of this region are celebrated on this day. March 13
Latvia Zirgu Diena Latvia celebrates Horses on this day. January 17
Italy Hedgehog Day Similar to Groundhog Day, Italy has its own Hedgehog Day. February 2
Poland Day of help to forest animals The importance of forest animals and the impact of the changing environment is observed on this day. February 11

Traditions for National Pet Day 2021

Furry babies are spoiled to the fullest on National Pet Day. Owners go all out to lavish their pets with the adoration and care they deserve (well, more than on any other day). Taking them out for a walk or a drive, buying their favorite treats, or getting them a new toy to play with are just some of the ways that pets are spoiled just a little extra on this day. 

National Pet Day is also one of the best days for kids to convince their parents to adopt a pet, so new additions to the family, with adoptions from shelters or purchased pedigrees, are common on this day. Everyone is part of the celebration, as every other post on social media features fancy portraits or cute candids of pets. 

By the Numbers

36% – the percentage by which owning a dog decreases the risk of death by heart disease.

10% – the percentage of owners allergic to their pets.

57% – of American households owned at least one pet according to Pet Ownership Statistics.

5000–7000 – the number of tigers kept as pets in the U.S.

94% – the percentage of families with an autistic child who benefited from having a pet. 

44% – the percentage of people who’d rather cuddle with their pet than their partner.

200 million – the number of stray dogs in the world.

2 million – the number of animals who die in shelters every year.

9% – the percentage of healthy dogs euthanized in Canadian shelters in 2017. 

90% – the percentage of pets found within a day when the owner was looking for them.

29% – the percentage of people who have to part with their pets due to residential restrictions.

National Pet Day FAQs

What day is National Pet Day?

National Pet Day is April 11.

Is there a Pet Appreciation Day?

There are many holidays on which pets are appreciated, including National Dog Day on August 26, National Cat Day on August 8, and National Puppy Day on March 23.

Why do we also have National Dog Day and National Cat Day?

Those days are intended to honor our most popular, best-loved pets and again, to encourage adopting a dog or cat who needs a home. National Pet Day reinforces the importance of pets in our lives and reminds us that we can care for ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, rats, mice, fish, reptiles and other critters, too.

National Pet Day Activities

  1. Adopt a pet

    And remember, you're not limited to dogs and cats. House rabbits are easily litter trained. Reptiles are quiet. Some birds will talk to you.

  2. Launch the next digital diva

    Convince your cutie cat to pose, pounce, primp, pout, or play the piano. Post the video on the kitty's account. Pray for viral volume.

  3. Pamper your pooch

    What does your furry friend like? A mallard tuggy toy? A nice belly rub? Get down on the floor and give that pup some love!

Take the National Pet Day Quiz

5 Facts About Egyptians And Their Pets That Will Blow Your Mind

  1. The Egyptians grieved their pets publicly

    When a family cat died, the Egyptians shaved their eyebrows; they shaved the rest of their bodies for a dog.

  2. The Egyptians prized and protected cats

    The penalty for killing a cat, even by accident, was death.

  3. The Egyptians were inconsistent with pet names

    The Egyptians named their dogs, but did not commonly name their cats.

  4. The Egyptians kept many animals as pets

    According to scholars, the Egyptians also had baboons, monkeys, fish, gazelles, birds, (especially falcons), lions, mongooses, and hippos as pets.

  5. The Egyptians sacrificed their country for cats

    In 525 B.C., refusing to offend their goddess by fighting, the Egyptian army surrendered to the Persians, who had painted the image of the Egyptian cat deity, Bastet, on their shields.

Why We Love National Pet Day

  1. Most of us have a pet

    In the U.S., 67% of households have a pet. We spend approximately $75 billion a year on pet care and products.

  2. Pets are part of the family

    A 2016 Harris poll showed that 95% of pet owners say their pets are part of the family. That's an increase of seven points from 2007.

  3. Pets are fun

    Only a pet will chase a ball for you, pounce on a laser point, or nibble carrots from your hand. Enjoy watching your hamster stuff its cheeks, your guinea pig chew up a TP tube, or your ferret frolic in its hammock. Your guinea pig will probably pee in your lap — but it's so cute!

National Pet Day dates

Year Date Day
2026 April 11 Saturday
2027 April 11 Sunday
2028 April 11 Tuesday
2029 April 11 Wednesday
2030 April 11 Thursday

National Pet Day related holidays

TueJan 5Featured

National Bird Day

WedAug 26Featured

National Dog Day

ThuOct 29Featured

National Cat Day

See More

Let’s get social

Here are some special hashtags for the day.

#NationalPetDay #PetDay #PetLovers #PetOfTheDay #PetPortrait #PetFashion #PetDayIdeas #PetLife

National Pet Day Featured Video

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