Why are Cats So Popular on the Internet?

Have you ever wondered why cats get so much attention on the Internet? According to Wikipedia.com, “Images and videos of domestic cats make up some of the most viewed content on the web.” The New York Times describes cat images as “that essential building block of the Internet.” A past exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image was even devoted to “How Cats Took Over the Internet.” http://nyti.ms/2mQftWu

The Internet even has its cat stars such as Grumpy Cat and Lil Bub as well as the favorite feline duo of Cole & Marmalade. But a cat doesn’t have to be special to be on the Internet. People love to post about their own pets. There are a large number of social media groups devoted to cats, and Pinterest and YouTube overflow with cat images and videos.

As a cat lover, I don’t object to the proliferation of felines online. In fact, I enjoy posting photos of my handsome Siamese, Oliver and his tabby brother, Stripey.

Here are ten reasons I believe cats are so popular on the internet. Feel free to add more in the comments:

1. They’re cute – from kittens to seniors, cats are aesthetically appealing. Artists have painted, drawn, and photographed them. 
2. They’re funny – cats can get into the oddest situations and do the strangest antics. YouTube has an abundance of Funny Cat Videos. Check this link for a recent compilation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njSyHmcEdkw
3. People Love them – Cats are very popular household pets. Approximately 35% of all households in the United States have a cat (Source: American Pet Products Association 2015-2016 (APPA))
4. They are intelligent – Cats are very smart. They can be trained to do many interesting things. Some have traveled miles to reunite with their owners. Others have saved their human companions from house fires and other disasters by alerting them to danger. 
5. They are courageous – Check out this Wikipedia entry about Scarlett, the cat who risked her life to save her kittens from a fire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlett_(cat)
6. They have spirit – Cats can be very independent, but there’s something about them that allows them to wrap their paws around you. No one owns a cat, as most cat owners have learned. 
7. Cats have played interesting roles in history – from being treated like Kings in Egypt and saviors after they killed the rats that carried the Bubonic Plague to being feared as Witches’ familiars, cats always seem to make the news.
8. Cats are very intuitive – Cats have highly tuned senses and can almost appear to be psychic the way they can tell when you’re arriving home, not feeling well, or angry over something.
9. Cats are good for your health – numerous studies have shown the benefits of petting a cat and the relaxing affect of their purrs on people.
10. Cats are loyal and loving but not smothering – Although cats are independent creatures, they can bond closely with humans still retaining their own space.

Here are photos of my cats. I’d love to see some of yours.