Happy International Cat Day! Celebrating Feline Friends Through Art

Today is International Cat Day — August 8th, the one day a year officially dedicated to celebrating the creatures who already act like every day belongs to them. At Bolapawzi, we think cats deserve to be celebrated in the most timeless way possible: hand-painted art.

Why Cats Deserve to Be Immortalized

Cats have been subjects of art for thousands of years — from ancient Egyptian sculptures to Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints to today's custom pet portraits. There's a reason: cats carry an ineffable quality that makes people want to capture them. The way they sit. The look they give you. The specific curl of a tail.

A photo captures a moment. A painting captures a presence.

5 Ways to Celebrate International Cat Day with Art

• Commission a portrait of your current cat — before they're any older. Cats change. Capture them now.
• Honor a cat you've lost — a memorial portrait is one of the most meaningful ways to keep their memory alive.
• Gift a portrait to a fellow cat lover — a cat parent who receives a painting of their pet will never forget it.
• Frame a portrait as a statement piece — your cat deserves wall space. Give it to them.
• Start a multi-cat series — if you have (or have had) multiple cats, a matching set of portraits makes a stunning gallery wall.

Our Favorite Cat Portraits This Year

We've painted thousands of cats in 2026 — tabbies, Persians, Siamese, Scottish Folds, and more rescue mixes than we can count. Every single one has been unique. Every single one has made someone cry (in the best way).

Some highlights from our artists this year:

• A 17-year-old tortoiseshell painted in our Vintage Oil style as a retirement gift from her owner
• A pair of bonded brothers rendered side-by-side in matching Premium Acrylic frames
• A memorial portrait of a black cat, painted from a single blurry phone photo — our artist worked magic

International Cat Day Special

To celebrate, we're inviting you to finally do the thing you've been putting off: commission that portrait. Your cat is not getting any younger (though they are getting more distinguished). And you won't regret it.

Browse our portrait styles and start your cat's custom portrait today. Happy International Cat Day — from all of us, and all of our cats. 🐈