When is National Black Cat Day 2026?
National Black Cat Day is always 27 October. Cats Protection created the UK awareness day to draw attention to black and black-and-white cats and encourage rehoming.
The charity first ran the campaign in 2011 under the name Black Cat Awareness Day.
It is not a public holiday. Its position close to Halloween makes the date easy to remember, but the campaign is about cat welfare rather than Halloween.
National Black Cat DayAlways 27 October · not a public holiday
Started2011, by Cats Protection
Original nameBlack Cat Awareness Day
Why the day exists
Cats Protection created the campaign because black and black-and-white cats in its care were taking longer to find homes than cats of other colours. The charity has continued to use the day to challenge myths and promote adoption.
National Black Cat Day is separate from Black Cat Appreciation Day, an American observance held on 17 August.