Happy International Cat Day, internet. We hope you’ve brought your finest felines to share on Instagram and make excuses for when they knock stuff off the table.
To the surprise of no one who’s been alive at any point in the last 20 years, cats absolutely dominate the internet. So to celebrate International Cat Day, we’ve rounded up some of the best memes (both old and new) for you to apurrrciate.
This first one comes courtesy of the video game Rainbow Six Siege, developed by Ubisoft. It’s a fast-paced tactical shooter that pits criminals against SWAT members, both of whom have plenty of wall-breaching tech to blast the other side with. I’m particularly fond of the kitten sleeping in the bomb defusing bag.
Who can? Catkan.
— Rainbow Six Siege (@Rainbow6Game) August 8, 2018
Reddit user /u/shurueder has some purrfect cat operator art to celebrate #InternationalCatDay! pic.twitter.com/kGe7KQrVfl
Speaking of Ubisoft, their most popular franchise, Assassin’s Creed, hasn’t escaped the world of cats, either. The Ubisoft UK team put together this humorous video of cats leaping around like the titular assassins before sneaking up on unsuspecting soldiers. As if I needed another reason to fear those claws.
In honour of #internationalcatday we take a look back at the famous Assassin’s Creed kittens! https://t.co/JZWyEqTz22
— Ubisoft_UK (@Ubisoft_UK) August 8, 2018
While the cuddliest cats might be made of fur, who says cats can’t also be made of metal and circuitry? Last month, MIT showed off a cat-like robot named “Cheetah 3” that can scale a flight of stairs with obstacles in its way. Call me when they’re getting into my bread on the top kitchen cabinet.
This #internationalcatday watch Cheetah 3 leap and gallop—all while essentially blind. https://t.co/xrYLXxYKav
— Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (@MIT) August 8, 2018
Video: MIT Biomimetic Robotics Laboratory pic.twitter.com/7RI16gMKa7
And if cats of neither fur nor metal are available, you can always make your own with this handy guide.
How to make a substitute cat. #InternationalCatDay pic.twitter.com/0XDzlZKcQk
— TwistedDoodles (@twisteddoodles) August 8, 2018
On this day of celebration, let’s not forget YouTube star Markiplier’s impeccable cat voice acting in this 2015 video.
Maybe you’re in the mood for some science and history. National Geographic has a short piece on how data is helping scientists learn more about where cats wander off to when they’re feeling adventurous.
Ever wondered where your cat slinks off to? #InternationalCatDay pic.twitter.com/QkZ9ldteqd
— National Geographic (@NatGeo) August 8, 2018
And CNN has a video on a charming cat shrine just outside of Tokyo.
#InternationalCatDay is the purr-fect time for a pilgrimage to this temple https://t.co/ymrXMcgPIw pic.twitter.com/gIOpITLgRm
— CNN International (@cnni) August 8, 2018
It’s been a banner year for cat stories, too. At the Daily Dot, feline highlights include a story about a man who discovered a cat and her fresh litter of kittens under his bed. There’s also the tale of Buff Cat, the extra-large cat wandering around the suburbs who spawned an equally huge fan following.
And who could forget cat Drake or the sweet feline who poked its head out of a ceiling?
Unfortunately, not every cat post is a true one, as people found out with this fake picture of a black cat riding a goose. It’s not all bad news for black cats, though, as the hit Marvel film Black Panther reportedly spurred a wave of cat adoptions. Just please, no naming them “Meowvel.”
Finally, consider revisiting “Cat Person,” the New Yorker short story by Kristen Roupenian that’s not about an actual cat but delved into the dark side of casual dating and had thousands of people sharing their similar experiences.
So long as cats keep driving the internet, you can bet the Daily Dot will be there.
