History of Cats On The Internet

culture

Why are cats everywhere on the internet? From cute videos to memes, cats have always had a pull on our attention. Whether it’s a meme or a viral video, people’s fascination with cats online reflects a long-standing love affair with our feline friends.

To understand why cats dominate our digital space, we need to look at our deep-rooted admiration for them. Cats have enchanted us since ancient times. In Egypt, they were revered as godly beings, adorned with gold, and immortalized in art and relics. Over the centuries, their image evolved from sacred companions to pop culture icons, appearing in stories, paintings, and even early films. In fact, the first motion picture to feature a cat dates back to 1894, establishing a lineage of felines in media long before the internet arrived.

A Timeline of Cats and Media

Here’s a quick timeline tracing cats’ journey through visual media:

1840s
The earliest known cat photo emerges, and, true to form, it captures a naughty kitty.

1894
Étienne-Jules Marey’s Falling Cat captures a cat in mid-fall, making it one of the earliest films to feature an animal. Around the same time, Thomas Edison filmed two cats playfully boxing in a miniature ring.

2005
YouTube’s first-ever cat video debuts, titled Pajamas and Nick Drake, featuring YouTube co-founder Steve Chen’s cat.

2006
The first viral cat video, Puppy vs. Cat, gains popularity, establishing cats as internet icons.

From there, the internet was never the same. The steady stream of cat videos, memes, and photos became part of our daily lives, cementing cats as internet royalty. Here are just a few of the feline celebrities that have captured the hearts of millions:

Grumpy Cat
Known for her eternally disgruntled expression, Tardar Sauce (aka Grumpy Cat) became a global meme sensation, inspiring merchandise, TV appearances, and even a wax figure.

The image shows the famous internet meme cat, Grumpy Cat, being held by a person’s hand. Grumpy Cat has a distinct frown, with a white face, blue eyes, and brown fur around her eyes and ears, giving her a perpetually displeased expression. The meme text is written in bold, white capital letters with a black outline. The top text reads, “THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD,” and the bottom text reads, “AND I HATE THEM.” The expression on Grumpy Cat’s face, combined with the text, creates a humorous, exaggerated portrayal of disdain for everyone.

Maru
This Scottish Fold from Japan became YouTube’s most-watched cat, famous for his love of boxes and playful antics, even earning a Guinness World Record.

Lil Bub
With her unique appearance and adorable face, Lil Bub charmed fans worldwide, amassing millions of followers.

A close-up photo of a cat's face with an exaggerated, mischievous expression. The cat has striking bright green eyes opened very wide, tabby markings, and is sticking out its small pink tongue. The cat's whiskers are prominent and its expression appears gleeful or silly. Below the image is white text in all capitals that reads 'WHEN THE TEACHER ISN'T LOOKING'. The combination of the text and the cat's playful expression suggests the universal experience of students being silly or mischievous when the teacher's back is turned.

Colonel Meow
Holder of the Guinness World Record for longest fur on a cat, Colonel Meow became an internet celebrity known for his intense, grumpy expressions.

The image features a fluffy, long-haired cat known as "Colonel Meow," famous for its stern and grumpy appearance. The cat has a dense, dark gray and black coat that makes it look larger and more imposing, with a slightly wild and disheveled look. Colonel Meow has a severe expression with piercing, narrowed yellow-green eyes, giving an impression of displeasure. The background shows a window with some faint outdoor light.

The meme text is in large, bold, white capital letters with a black outline. It’s split into two lines: the top reads, "I HAD FUN ONCE," and the bottom reads, "IT WAS AWFUL," adding humor to the cat’s grumpy demeanor. The cat's expression aligns with the sarcastic tone of the text, enhancing the meme's comedic effect.

Keyboard Cat
Filmed in 1984 but uploaded to YouTube in 2007, Keyboard Cat playing a keyboard became one of the internet’s most beloved memes.

Max the Cat
A TikTok sensation with a camera on his collar, Max roams around town, capturing the world from his mysterious, low-to-the-ground perspective.

A black and white tuxedo cat is sitting directly on top of a white envelope or mailer marked 'Please do not bend' at the bottom. The cat has bright eyes and is looking at the camera with a seemingly innocent expression, creating humorous irony since cats are known for sitting on things regardless of instructions. The cat's black fur contrasts sharply with both its white chest marking and the white envelope beneath it. The image appears to be taken on what looks like a light-colored bedspread or furniture with a dark patterned fabric visible at the edge.

I Can Has Cheezburger
Launched in 2007, this site pioneered the “lolcat” meme, combining cats with humorous captions that brought a fresh level of entertainment to the web.

The image features a gray British Shorthair cat with a round face, chubby cheeks, and a cheerful, open-mouthed expression that appears to be smiling. The cat’s eyes are wide and bright, giving it a curious and eager look. The background is blurred but appears to have a stone-like texture with gray and blue tones, likely a wall or outdoor setting.

At the top of the image, in large, white, all-capital text, it reads: "I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?" This phrase is written in a deliberately incorrect grammar style, mimicking a childlike or humorous tone, making the cat appear as if it's asking excitedly for a cheeseburger. The image is part of the popular "lolcat" meme genre, where cats are paired with funny or cute captions, and it became iconic on the internet for its playful language and adorable cat photo.

Pusheen
This cartoon cat, created in 2010, grew into an internet phenomenon with her own series of emojis and stickers, capturing hearts worldwide.

Nala Cat
With over 4.5 million Instagram followers and an estimated net worth of $100 million, Nala is one of the wealthiest and most-followed cats on the internet.

The Cat Craze Continues

In 2024, cats are still among the internet’s most searched terms, and YouTube cat videos have amassed over 26 billion views. People seek everything from funny cat videos to cat care tips, and guides on caring for their feline friends. Cats’ enduring popularity isn’t just a trend—it’s rooted in their mysterious allure. With their big eyes, tiny noses, and whiskers, cats are undeniably cute, but they also seem to have personalities all their own. People project emotions onto cats, whether they’re playful, mischievous, or aloof, and that mystery keeps us coming back for more.

While we may never fully understand what our cats are thinking, one thing is certain: as long as there’s an internet, there will be cats on it. And we’ll be right there watching.