International Pallas's Cat Day
April 23rd — a day of celebration for all of manulkind
A very special Manul Monday (and Easter!) to all my readers. But there’s another important holiday coming up — at least for those of us in the manul world. International Pallas’s Cat Day is observed every year on April 23rd — which, this year, falls on a Wednesday.
I’d originally set out to write a proper history of the holiday, but came up a little short. The first officially recognized International Pallas’s Cat Day was celebrated in 2019. But I did find evidence that other versions of it were observed earlier — back in 2014, the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EARAZA) designated May 24th as Pallas’s Cat Day regionally.
The “International” version of the holiday was launched by the Pallas’s Cat International Conservation Alliance (PICA), an organization formed in 2016 through a collaboration between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the Snow Leopard Trust, and Nordens Ark in Sweden. It was created with a goal in mind: to raise awareness of manuls and celebrate the species — not just as a viral curiosity, but as a wild animal with conservation needs of its own.
I don’t know exactly why April 23rd was chosen, but the general timing makes sense. This season marks a pivotal point in the manul life cycle: spring. It’s the height of baby season — females are raising young, prey is becoming more abundant, and in zoos, manuls tend to be born around this time. Many manuls have birthdays that fall close to the 23rd — like the Ross Park Zoo brothers Luka, Makari, Kasper, and Reza, who were born on the day itself.
So what should we do with a day like this?
If you're lucky enough to live near one of the few zoos housing manuls (just 23 out of over 430 in the U.S.), maybe take the chance to visit. If not, don’t fret — there’s no shortage of manul content to enjoy online. You could spend some time browsing the r/PallasCat subreddit, revisiting classic clips on social media, or exploring family trees at manulization.com. You might even consider donating to a conservation group like the Manul Working Group, Snow Leopard Trust, or Felidae Conservation Fund.
You could even mark the day with a little something special: this year, I’ve partnered with FUZZ to put together a line of manul-themed items — mugs, glasses, and tote bags — to celebrate International Pallas’s Cat Day 2025. Yes, even including the honking manul!
If you upgrade to an annual paid subscription this week, I’ll send you one free, as a thank-you. And if you’re already a paid annual subscriber, just e-mail your name, your choice of item (don’t forget color!) and shipping address to pazi@fuzz.net and we’ll make sure one makes its way to you. It’s a small gesture, but I hope it brings a little manul magic into your daily routine. And remember — 50% of all proceeds go directly to manul conservation.
If you do none of those things — that’s okay too. Might I suggest just taking a minute to appreciate manuls:
Their dense, double-layered fur. Their mischievous, raccoon-esque, ringed tails. The way they carry the attitude of a big cat in a small package, and plop their toe-beans right on top of their tails with utmost agency. The fact that, perhaps unsurprisingly, this obscure steppe-dwelling feline has managed to build a loyal internet following. And the joy they bring to so many faces on a daily basis.
The truth is, for most of the world, Wednesday will pass like any other. But for many of us manul lovers, it’s a little more exciting. A little brighter. A reminder that we’re not the only ones out there who have found something special in this animal.
Last year, I spent the weekend of International Pallas’s Cat Day in Prague, visiting the lovely Prinsessa. The zoo had chosen that Saturday to observe the holiday, and the crowds didn’t disappoint. There were keeper talks, special enrichment, and a children’s coloring station (and, in case you’re wondering, I absolutely took a manul coloring page). Spay, one of their resident manuls, was out and active. Prinsessa, true to form, remained tucked away in her den, with her typical air of quiet royalty. Though I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her — just for a few seconds.
Not every zoo celebrates with that kind of fanfare. But maybe they should.
Because even if it’s small, it still matters. It gives manul fans something to look forward to — and it brings us together. In person! No small feat for a community that, for the most part, sees itself in a highly solitary, introverted cat.
I know what I’ll be doing this Wednesday. I’ve got a pilgrimage planned to meet a few manuls and celebrate the best way I know how: by photographing some truly top-tier cats.
It’s thanks to the support of my paid subscribers that I’m able to take these trips, share these stories, and keep bringing manul content to both Substack and Instagram. So whether you’ve been following along every Manul Monday, supporting the work with a paid subscription, or simply perusing — thank you! And if you’ve been considering a paid yearly subscription, this week is a great time to jump in: not only will you receive a free mug, tote, or glass as a thank-you, but as always, 50% of all proceeds go directly to manul conservation — including support for Pazi (the manul).
Happy International Pallas’s Cat Day!