Life today is vastly different than say, 20 years ago. Think about laptops, smartphones, apps, internet, email – and that is just mentioning the basics. These things are part of our lives now, and the way they operate changes all the time, as faster and more effective ways of using them are developed.
These changes can sometimes be a bit intimidating to keep up with. But, thankfully, one thing has stayed the same: cats. Their quirkiness, beauty, and the insane situations they sometimes get themselves into have not changed. And neither has our admiration for these special animals. It is therefore hardly surprising that cats are extremely popular on the internet. The average cat’s demeanour often gives the impression that she is planning to take over the world … and we won’t be surprised if she cleverly uses the internet to do just that!
Purrs from the past
How exactly did cats manage to take over the internet? People love to show off their beloved pets, and cats had staying power. These are just a few of the feline phenomena that graced our computer screens over the past few years:
- 2003 saw the birth of Ceiling Cat and Basement Cat. They were portrayed in memes, and Ceiling Cat was white while Basement Cat was black – representing good and bad.
- 2006 saw the rise of ‘kitler’ – cats who look like Hitler. These cats would usually have some black fur close to their noses, resembling Adolf Hitler. This led to a whole community being formed online. You can see more at catsthatlooklikehitler.com.
- In 2009 a YouTube video of a cat called Maru became very popular. Maru had the ability to relax in boxes of any size, not caring much whether he fits into them. Cats love boxes, and the internet loves cats who love boxes. This also led to the expression that is often used online regarding cats and their way of making themselves comfy in ridiculous places: ‘If I fits, I sits.’
The examples are too many to mention, but now that you know you can go and explore cats on the internet by yourself when you need a moment to relax. But beware! It’s so addictive that you might just miss a few deadlines …
- The full article appears in the March 2016 issue of Animaltalk.
