It's Your Cat's Birthday: Make It Special

By Hannah Baker January 24, 2019

It’s almost that time of the year again. The most beloved holiday. America’s favorite holiday. The world’s favorite holiday. Everybody has the day off, the grocery stores are closed, family has come from near and far. That’s right - it’s your cat’s birthday. And it’s quite the special occasion! If you were lucky enough to witness the miracle of feline birth, then perhaps you know the exact day that your cat friend was born. Or, if you’re like me, you celebrate their “birth”day as the first day you brought them home for good. For me, this means February 14th. Yes - Valentine’s Day! How fitting for a handsome lover of a cat. But as sweet and romantic as Valentine’s Day is, we all know the true reason for the season. Our cats’ birthdays are way more important than any national holiday. This is because they bring us some of the greatest joy we could ever know. (Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating, but I think I’m onto something.) Regardless of what day of the year your cat’s birthday falls on, it’s a momentous occasion and one that should be celebrated with the utmost flair and entertainment.

So just how can you possibly capture the absolute beauty of your cat and throw a party that correctly represents and celebrates this day appropriately? We’re so glad you asked. Read on!

Do People Celebrate Their Cat's Birthday?

Oh, yes! In fact, cat birthdays are very much a thing. Just check out this hashtag on Instagram of cat birthday parties: #catbirthday! While dog birthday parties certainly get more attention (it’s probably only because they’re easier to put a cute hat on!), cat birthdays are still a pretty big deal. There are countless resources, products, and tips in regards to cat birthday parties and how to have the best time while including your furry friend in the festivities. Whether you decide to go with a low-key shindig or a full-blown festive bash, we have a few ideas about how to make your party go off without a hitch.

Cat Birthday Themes

The first thing you’ll need for your cat’s birthday party is a theme. As with any party, a theme livens up the mood and creates consistency in the flow of the party. This way, if people want to dress up or bring themed gifts or party favors, they can! Some great theme ideas are anything to do with fish and the sea, safari cats, mice, or famous cartoon cats like Garfield. For a theme example, my cat’s name is Milk. For his birthday, we’ll likely do a theme that revolves around milk! Although having a ton of milk probably wouldn’t be the best for the stomachs of our guests, we’ll probably have plenty of decorations that revolve around Milk, like maybe a testing station of all different types of milk, an ice cream shake station, and to-go party favors in milk cartons. So if your cat has a name that totally fits them and could be a theme for a party, consider that! Does your cat have some favorite activities, favorite toys, or favorite food? You could theme the party around that, too!

Cat Decorations and Party Favors

Any fantastic party has the decorations nailed down. For cat parties, the possibilities are endless. You can build off your theme, or you can just look for any sort of decorations having to do with cats. Have you ever seen the huge balloon numbers that people get for their birthdays? Pet stores have the same thing - but for cats. The balloons will say "MEOW!" There are all sorts of plates, cups, bowls, table covers, and other plasticware that are cat-themed. You can get creative and give away little cat party bags for each guest as they leave. These can include small cat-themed gifts like keychains, magnets, mugs, jewelry, and anything else you can think of. Prior to the party, consider sending out cute invites announcing your cat’s birthday and the big party that you’re going to have to honor your small friend! You can easily make these invitations on paper or card stock. You could find the cutest picture of your cat to put on the front of it (possibly even wearing a birthday hat, if you can manage that!) Check out this example of a cat birthday party invitation for inspiration.

Baked Goods

As everybody knows, the best part of any party is the food. With cat birthday parties, this is noexception. Luckily for you, there are so many options for cat-themed baked goods. You can make these baked goods human-only, or you can try out some new recipes that are totally edible for cats too! For human treats, there are some quite adorable baked goods like yarn ball cupcakes, mice made from strawberries, cat Oreo cupcakes, Cat in the Hat fruit kabobs, and so much more! For cat-friendly treats, remember that your cat is an obligate carnivore, so try to find recipes and treats that align with your cat’s natural diet in the wild. You can learn more about your cat’s diet by taking a look at our article “Cat Diet: Researching the Munchies”.

Things to Do

For fun during the party, check out various cat-themed card games like Exploding Kittens! To involve your cat in the festivities (it is his or her birthday, after all!), consider grabbing some of their favorite toys and have your guests interact with the little friend. Some great options for group-play are wand toys and rolling balls. If your cat is a fan of catnip, another great idea is to grab some catnip as a present for their birthday. This will be fun for the guests to see how active the cat can get after catnip! If you have toys or treats that have catnip in them, even better. You can have a crafting portion of the party where everybody makes their own hat or cat ears. You can make a matching one for your cat as well (and hopefully it stays on long enough for a picture). Another great idea is to set up a themed photo booth for the party. This can have a backdrop with various cat decorations, optional hats and cat ears, and various toys as props. You could have a camera with a timer set up for the occasion or just take the pictures yourself. And maybe, just maybe, your cat will grace a few of the pictures with his or her presence! If your cat is leash-trained or is an indoor-outdoor cat that stays close to the house, spend some time outside with your kitty if it’s a nice day! He/she will enjoy the time to explore (and maybe hunt) while you and your guests enjoy the beautiful day and the joy of watching your kitty in his or her natural habitat.

Level Up the Party

Rather than asking for gifts for your cat or having your guests bring over anything for the party, consider collecting donations for a local animal shelter or charity that you’re familiar with. A cat’s birthday is a beautiful occasion, and if you adopted a cat and are celebrating the day that you brought home your forever friend, what better way to celebrate than to pay it forward by giving back to the local animal community? You can collect cash donations for either local nonprofits or bigger charities like the ASPCA. Another option is to collect tangible items like cat food, cat toys, litter, and treats to donate them to local shelters that may be in need of these items. By helping out fellow cats, it will be a cat birthday well spent! If you and your guests have some spare time, consider donating your time by volunteering at a local shelter or pop-up adoption event!

Regardless of how you choose to spend your cat’s birthday celebration, it’s important to show them how much you love them. Even if you forgo the party and spend all day cuddling, be sure to let them know how happy you are that they came into your life!  Seeing as how a favorite pastime of a cat is to nap, you could totally get away with spending an entire day under a blanket, watching TV, and reading with your cat. That’s a party, too, if you ask us! Cats are a joy and a constant reminder of how lucky we are to coexist with them. Spend some time doing your cat’s favorite things (like, for example, napping!) It’s a win-win for everybody.

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