“Disposable Cat” Video Shows How To Avoid Cat-Astrophe On National Cat Day

Tongue-in-Cheek Campaign Reminds Viewers That Adoption Is a Lifelong Commitment

For Immediate Release:
October 26, 2016

Contact:
Brooke Rossie 202-483-7382

“I’m tired of this one—I want to get a new one,” begins a woman in PETA’s National Cat Day video, which the animal rights group is running across social media platforms in honor of the October 29 holiday. As she continues to tick off reasons why she wants a “new one”—the old one is ugly, a money-suck, and boring—her cat appears to grow more and more alarmed. Fortunately, the video ends with a twist—the woman was talking about her cell phone—along with a reminder that while some inanimate objects are disposable, cats should be family members for life and should never be given away, sold off, or abandoned on the street.

“National Cat Day may be a once-a-year event, but adopting a cat is a lifelong commitment,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “PETA urges people to consider whether they have the time, resources, and dedication it takes to welcome a cat to the family before adopting from a local shelter.”

Every year, more than 6 million dogs and cats end up in animal shelters, and half of them must be euthanized because there simply aren’t enough homes for them. PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—urges everyone to practice responsible animal guardianship by spaying and neutering; always adopting, and never buying from breeders and pet stores that contribute to the homeless-animal overpopulation crisis; and keeping cats indoors with the rest of the family, where it’s safest.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.