People and organisations around the world marked International Cat Day on 8 August, the annual awareness campaign created by the International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2022 to promote responsible feline ownership and welfare. Social-media posts from technology firms, crypto platforms and media outlets helped propel the hashtag #InternationalCatDay, underscoring the animal’s cultural and commercial appeal. Beyond the memes, veterinarians used the occasion to warn about common but often overlooked health risks such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and strokes in cats, urging prompt veterinary care and stable home routines. In Chile, CNN Chile reported that seven in ten cat guardians lack knowledge of basic feline care, highlighting a gap the day’s organisers hope to close through education campaigns. Authorities and institutions also spotlighted the species’ practical contributions. Mexico’s El Financiero noted that the resident felines of the Palacio Nacional have been formally listed as “activos fijos vivos,” or living fixed assets, recognising their long-standing role in pest control at the presidential complex. Animal-welfare groups said the broad online engagement shows growing interest in pet health and could translate into stronger support for vaccination, sterilisation and adoption programmes aimed at reducing stray-cat populations.