Evidence of the close relationship between cats and humans goes back about 9,500 years. A Neolithic grave excavated in Cyprus contains the skeletons of both a human and a cat.
Cats roam U.S. neighborhoods freely — before the invention of and marketing of clay litter. However it wasn’t until the 1960s that litter boxes really caught on. After that, we grew to love them as indoor pets, but their outdoor survival skills still remain.
Becky Robinson and a friend discover an alley with 56 feral cats in the Washington, DC neighborhood of Adams Morgan. With the help of the cats’ caregivers, they humanely trapped the cats, had them neutered, and returned them to their outdoor homes. Later, out of concern for cats routinely killed by animal control agencies and shelters, Robinson begins Alley Cat Allies.
The first Feral Cat Day (now known as Global Cat Day) got underway. Organized by Alley Cat Allies, the goal was to strengthen support for humane policies to protect cats worldwide.
The number of cat videos on YouTube tops 2 million — with the average views hovering around 12,000. — higher than any other category of YouTube content. Cats make up 16% of views in YouTube's "Pets & Animals" category, compared to dogs' 23%
Alley Cat Allies rebranded Feral Cat Day as Global Cat Day. This change came about, according to Alley Cat Allies, because "it was time for our annual event to reflect what’s been true all along: We inspire and share information with cat advocates around the world."
