Meow! It’s National Cat Day in Japan

— -- Meow! Today is the 30th anniversary of National Cat Day in Japan. Cat lovers across the country are posting photos of their feline friends on social media and some are even dressing up as cats. Businesses have also gotten into the spirit with cat-shaped sushi and cat-themed treats. The national event, which is also known as "Nyan Nyan Nyan Day," began in 1978 after a poll of cat lovers conducted by the Executive Cat Day Committee decided that Feb. 22 should be a holiday designated to all things cat, according to the BBC. "Nyan" also means "meow" in Japanese.

Japan has its own cat celebrities like Maru and Tama and it was the first nation to come up with the cat café concept. And let’s not forget about the original cat star, Hello Kitty!