The International Cat Day is a celebration which takes place on 8 August of every year. It was created in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. It is a day to raise awareness for cats and to learn about ways to help and protect them.

Cats and dogs don’t always have to fight like cats and dogs. In fact, this August they’re working together as a team: An international group of operators will be on the air throughout the month in a mutual celebration of International Cat Day and International Dog Day.

The combined special event stations will be active from the 1st of August through to the 31st of August, to call attention to the needs of abandoned, abused and homeless pets around the world – and to advocate for adoption and humane treatment.

Many of the operators are animal-lovers themselves who know the power of rescue because they have been deeply involved in organized animal-welfare efforts or have included a rescued dog or cat in their family.

International Cat Day is August 8. International Dog Day is August 26. 

International Dog Day began as an amateur radio event in 2022 and has grown since then. Stations for dogs and cats will be on the air this year from Latvia, the UK, the US, the Netherlands, India and Germany. All operators will be on the HF bands using CW and SSB.

This year’s certificate for successful chasers will be a colorful downloadable document with endorsement stamps added for each unique callsign worked. A numeric counter will appear on each of the endorsement stamps for operators making more than one contact with a unique callsign. 

The website https://hamlog.online/iddicd2026/ will give hunters for both events a chance to claim their awards as they earn them and to see who is currently on the air. Until August, the website will be counting down the days until the event begins.

You may also visit the websites dogdayradio.org and catdayradio.org for updates about both events. Both websites contain information about the special-event callsigns and how to find their operating schedules -- and a chance to meet the dogs and cats who inspired them.
Be aware that all special-event operators will be working like dogs – and cats – because they want to hear and share as many rescue stories as they can.