Why humans are so obsessed with cats is the question as mysterious as it sounds. 'Cause every now and then, when a new trend goes viral, it usually features a cool catto pic. But it’s not a new phenomenon.
In fact, the rise of cat influence can be traced back to 2005, when the first cat video was posted on Youtube. A 30-second clip showed a cat named Pajamas dancing to the tunes of Nick Drake.
A year later, on May 9, the first viral cat video was born. Titled “Puppy Vs. Cat,” the footage showed a brave cat holding her ground in the face of curious little puppies. It was viewed more than 16 million times.
And who could forget the iconic internet meme known as “Nyan Cat,” which ranked among the top 5 most-watched Youtube videos ever? It has gathered a head-spinning 179,175,890 views in total, to be precise.
But probably one of the most common answers to just why everyone is so obsessed with felines comes down to the nature of this furry animal.
Joshua Green, vice president of digital strategy at Arnold Worldwide, told CNN that "The centrality of cats to the digital world is because they have a cultural connection to the people who live there. The fact is, cats are just better nerd pets."
Cats are inquisitive and curious, jumpy, and lovable, but you never truly know what to expect from them. “Cats, meanwhile, knock stuff off other stuff and LOL about it afterward,” states this article. And this precise LOL is what the internet just can’t get enough of.
