Katzenmamas und Ihre Kätzchen essen aus einer brauen Schüssel das Katzentrockenfutter und man sieht eine Hand einer älteren Dame die sie liebevoll streichelt.

International Cat Day

8 August 2025

In the year 2002 called the International Fund for Animal Welfare the International Cat Day. In 2020, the patronage went to the non-profit British organisation International Cat Care about, which already since 1958 striving to improve the health and welfare of domestic cats worldwide.
The International Cat Day should also serve to, to remind people of the responsibility associated with keeping cats and to draw attention to abuses in cat keeping, to extinct cat breeds and also to Qualzucht reference.

The cat - a mouse hunter with a long history

Cats were living together with humans as early as 9000 BC. From a historical perspective, this period also marks the beginning of agriculture in Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Iran and Iraq. Grain was stored and used to attract mice. At that time, humans learnt that there was an important mouser in the animal world, namely the cat.

The cat as a pet

Apart from dogs, cats are probably the most popular pet. In 2024, there were around 2 million cats living in Austria alone, 600 of which were at Gut Aiderbichl’s animal visitor centres. Every single cat that is taken in has a special character and an equally special story.

The stubborn flatmates

Cats have a strong character and are considered stubborn, dominant and unteachable. Despite their urge for freedom, cats seek and value closeness to humans and all domestic cats adapt to living with their owners, contrary to their natural rhythm of life, which speaks in favour of a close bond.

Babykatze mit weißen um graugestreiftem Fell spielt mit einer weißen Spielmais auf einer hellblauen Kuscheldecke

Eine ausgewachsene Katze mit getiegertem grauen Fell sitze auf einem gepflasterten Wegweg und sieht neugierig in die Kamera, im Hintergrund sieht man einen grünes Grass

Feral domestic cats

Numerous stray cats live not only in southern countries, but also in Austria. Gut Aiderbichl started the cat neutering project in Austria (province of Salzburg) in 2024. So far, around 8,000 strays (as of May 2024) have been caught, neutered and returned to their place of origin. Neutering is the only way to prevent senseless animal suffering.

The uncontrolled proliferation of stray cats

Street cats are former domestic cats that have not been neutered, have escaped or been abandoned, or live on farms. Reproduction is uncontrolled. Unneutered cats can reproduce two to three times a year and a litter produces between four and six kittens. Many kittens do not survive due to lack of food and care and die from malnutrition or infectious diseases. Only the consistent neutering of cats in private households in conjunction with identification and registration can prevent the stray cat population from growing.

Kätzchen kuscheln zusammen an einer Ecke zur Wärme, Teil des Gut Aiderbichler Katzenkastrationsprojekts.

Im Vodergrund stehen auf einem erdigen Untergrund 3 hell und dunkelgraue Transportkisten die noch leer sind. Im Hintergrund sieht man ein Transportauto mit offenem Kofferraum. Hier handelt es sich um ein Katzenkastrationsprojekt.

Domestic cats are being abandoned worldwide

Unfortunately, bans and penalties do not prevent pet owners from abandoning their pet cats. It is not uncommon for boxes to be left anonymously outside the gates of Aiderbichl estates or in car parks, containing a mother cat and her kittens.
Planning holidays, packing suitcases, abandoning animals – a trend that unfortunately increases more and more in the summer months. Not even the fines stop people from abandoning their pets.

Request: From the moment an animal is taken into our home, it is also the responsibility of the new pet owner to keep and care for their new family member in a species-appropriate manner for the rest of their life and to provide a temporary home in the event of a holiday or illness.