Cat memes are definitely here to stay. As cute and graceful, derpy and elegant as they are, they’re nearly the perfect subject for internet humor.
Time passes, the world changes, but humankind’s fascination with felines and relatable, funny content that clicks with them never wanes.
As the BBC quips, “the record of media history shows there’s little which interests humans more than sending cute, funny animal pictures.”
Aside from being a way for people to connect with each other, cat content is also good for us. For example, a study by the University of Leeds noted that viewing cute animals in photos and videos can halve stress and anxiety.
During a previous interview, Bored Panda spoke about the world’s fascination with cat memes with Mike Sington, an LA-based entertainment, pop culture, and lifestyle expert.
“Cats are undeniably adorable, with their big eyes, playful antics, and fluffy fur,” Sington told us earlier. He stressed the fact that looking at cat pictures and videos triggers positive emotions and awe in people.
However, cats aren’t just cutesy and adorable. Their behavior is incredibly varied, which is one of the reasons why people are so fascinated by them.
They can be super clumsy, act in very surprising ways, and this means that cat-related content has a big chance of going viral incredibly quickly.
“Their independent personalities often lead to unintentionally funny situations that we can't help but chuckle at,” the pop culture expert explained to Bored Panda earlier.
He adds that people relate to them very much: “They [cats] can be grumpy, sassy, and independent, or cuddly and affectionate. We see ourselves or our moods reflected in these furry internet stars.”
What’s more, there’s a direct benefit to your health when you look at cat and animal-related content. It can lower your blood pressure while also reducing the level of stress hormones in your system.
“In a fast-paced world, a quick cat meme break can be a great way to boost our mood and improve our mental well-being,” Sington said.
According to the pop culture expert, there probably won’t ever be a time when human beings won’t care about cat memes. It’s not something that people are likely to 'grow out' of. Cats are inherently meme-able.
"Their goofy antics and cuteness provide endless source material," he said. "The format is endlessly adaptable. Cat memes can be funny, heartwarming, relatable, or even savage."
