Today is International Cat Day! It’s a day to recognize and venerate one of humanity’s oldest and most beloved pets.

The festivities were put together for the first time in 2002 by IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, among other animal rights groups, to celebrate the most popular pet on the planet.

An estimated 500 million cats are thought to be frolicking in neighbors’ gardens across the world, which means that almost every extended family is bound to have an aunt with more kittens than former husbands, whatever the country or climate.

And that’s great, because owning a cat has been shown to improve mental health and to relieve stress, anxiety and depression. It’s no surprise that the cats in my life love the gardens and add to the overall sense of peace and tranquility that visitors enjoy when they come to Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens.

So when it’s raining cats and dogs outside and you don’t have someone to cuddle with, any black, ginger, Persian, Siamese, Burmese, Bengal, Shorthair, Munchkin, Balinese, RagaMuffin or any old stray cat will do the trick.

So roll out the red carpet and the catnip for your furry feline friends, because International Cat Day is that one day a year when black cats bring good luck and cat eye sunglasses match your entire wardrobe.

Here’s to Fred and all his friends! Just don’t expect me to swap my sunburst glasses for cat eyes. Lol.