National Cat Herders Day – December 15, 2019

Sun Dec 15

December 15 is National Cat Herder’s Day! Although the only job remotely close to cat herding is working at your local animal shelter, this holiday is not dedicated to cats. This celebration is meant for those who can manage others and themselves no matter what chaos is thrown their way. The idiom, “like herding cats,” was popularized during a Super Bowl commercial in 2000 by “Hewlett Packard.” They compared their ability to serve others like cowboys herding cats – with ease. Since then, the phrase is mostly used to describe those who can lead and handle life even when it is uncontrollable. The term is also considered a skill workers use when leading a group towards one goal. 

National Cat Herders Day - History


Adding Visual to the Phrase

The Company EDS, made a Super Bowl commercial to explain how they handle all their clients, like real cowboys, herding cats.


Managers Embrace the Phrase

Warren G. Bennis publishes his Leadership management book called, “Managing People is Like Herding Cats.”


The Birth of National Cat Herders Day

Thomas and Ruth Roy are the copyrighted creators of the popular National Cat Herders day went public in USA Today.

National Cat Herders Day Activities

  1. Party with your team members

    Host a pizza party or an award ceremony. Regardless of the event, celebrate your teams efforts when goals are reached. Remark on all the crazy met while completing a project. Whether celebrating at work or home, appreciate everything accomplished in life. Even small victories make you a champion.

  2. Thank those who herd every day

    Personally thank everyone who makes your life easier by attacking the impossible. Whether it’s your boss, the waiter, or your parents – someone has to do the job, and thank goodness it’s not you. Thanking those in your life who handle unwanted stress is the best way to celebrate this Friday. 

  3. Indulge in your every desire

    Take yourself out for a meal, go shopping, or buy your favorite ice cream flavor even if no one else likes it. Whatever you want — today is the day to buy it — you know, without going overboard.

Famous Cat-herders Throughout History

  1. Mahatma Gandhi

    Led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.

  2. Nelson Mandela

    Mandela negotiated an end to the South African apartheid by tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation.

  3. Malala Yousafzai

    A young contemporary spokesperson for human rights, education and women’s rights.

  4. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks

    American civil rights activists whose resistance led to the passing of the landmark civil rights acts.

  5. Gautama Buddha

    A sage on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.

Why We Love National Cat Herders Day

  1. Cat herders are beyond reliable

    If you are ever praised for handling all the stresses in your life, it means you are highly dependable. This quality may mean you get more work, but when the going gets tough, people know who to turn to.

  2. It’s fun to celebrate your confidence

    No matter what problems lay ahead, it is reassuring to know you can always offer a solution. The moment nerves start to set in, remembering all you’ve accomplished under pressure, should be enough to reassure yourself, you can get the job done

  3. Hard work pays off

    Appreciating the work you put in daily is a reward all its own. However, there is nothing wrong with celebrating your victories with a movie night or buying that coveted item in your online shopping cart.