Why are cats so popular on DU (and the Internet in general)?

[CheapShotArtist]

Whenever I lurk here and see a thread about cats or "kittehs", it always gets a ton of recs. I just don't understand why cat threads are so popular. I could understand something getting a ton of recs if it's an informative lecture or a funny video, but all they are is just pictures of cats. Same thing with YouTube. Videos of cats doing nothing except just being themselves somehow get thousands (and sometimes millions) of views easily. I don't get it.

[Paulie]

1. How do you feel about dog videos?

You one of "them"?

[orleans]

3. lol! n/t

[applegrove]

2. Cats have to be cute to attract humans when

Last edited Fri Feb 14, 2014, 03:53 PM - Edit history (1)

they are wild. Dogs are not wild. And they have specific roles. So cats are just adorable.

[fizzgig]

4. cats are both cute and entertaining

i belly laugh when my fat cat plays with her mouse and ooze at the cuteness of a cat ball.

[TexasTowelie]

5. You weren't informed that the kittehs grew opposable thumbs

so they can click the rec button?

[PoliticAverse]

26. It could happen...

But then again they don't really need them...

[ZombieHorde]

6. I don't know.

One trend I have noticed is almost every story I read about cats, from cat lovers, are about a cat doing something terrible.

[Arugula Latte]

31. Yeah, but even when they do something terrible, we think it's adorable.

[Contrary1]

7. Because they demand that it be so...

humans have no say in the matter.

[PoliticAverse]

27. Even people who deny they post in cat threads post in cat threads... n/t

[PoliticAverse]

34. ...

[eShirl]

9. the proportions of their head & facial features are roughly similar to human babies?

kind-of, ish

[dipsydoodle]

17. I like that answer.

[sakabatou]

10. I thought you knew; the internet is made of cats (video)

[MrMickeysMom]

11. You win!

I love the flashed pix that dressed up one like Initech worker, "Yeah, I'm gonna have to come in on Caturday"!!!

I hope this settles it…. Plus, Democrats are more like cats… you can't hurd us!

[justiceischeap]

12. Cat and Dog pictures/videos are relaxing

It's a scientific fact that taking time out to love the animals (whether in real life or on the cat web) reduces stress.

[Scuba]

13. The ancient Eqyptians painted pictures of cats on the walls of tombs.

What does that tell ya? Cats rule the world; we're just here to care for them.

[raven mad]

14. Because cats are independent, predatory, opinionated, controlling, mean little suckers -

Just like most people!

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. Because Kittimus Prime said so...

[LWolf]

16. Because:

Obviously.

[kentauros]

23. Classic Simon's Cat!

Gotta love it

[dipsydoodle]

18. How would I know.

Last edited Fri Feb 14, 2014, 11:33 AM - Edit history (1)

I've only got five.

Two here -



Taken Jan 21st : Theo on the left when he was 14 weeks old and Lily on the right couple of weeks after she'd been speyed.

[First Speaker]

19. It's like jazz...if you have to ask, you'll never know

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. Because cats own the Internet.

[LiberalEsto]

21. Because they're so adorable

[kentauros]

22. All right. Here's a husky video for ya:

[840high]

24. If you had a

cat - you wouldn't ask.

[rug]

25. Because they are magnificent.

[R. P. McMurphy]

28. A dog will give you love and loyalty . . .

if you just take care of its basic needs. A cat makes you work for it. Sometimes they never come around. They know when they are loved, tolerated or disliked. You have to respect the cat as a unique individual and love it in spite of some of its quirks. You have to build a relationship with a cat that a dog doesn't require. When you do that, you have its love and affection and that is something that not everyone can do. When you earn it, it's one of the best feelings in the world. That's why we are so devoted to them.

[LadyHawkAZ]

29. Because cats, that's why.

No more need be said.

[Arugula Latte]

30. I confess, I could literally sit in my chair All.Day.Long and look at photos & vids of kitties.

I can't explain it well, but they just make my heart go pitter-pat. I have loved many kitties over the years and seeing the footage of other people's kitties reminds me of these kitties from my past. The pics & gifs & vids are hilarious to me, because I've been closely observing kitty behavior since I was a baby.

The dog ones, though, don't do that much for me, in general. But I get why the dog people are into them.

Also, in real life the dog people make the most noise and get the most attention. Meanwhile millions of us cat lovers are are obsessing over our felines -- and the Internet is the outlet for that passion. I get so frickin' sick of all the theater-released kids' movies that are about dogs, where, if cats are featured, they are cast as villains. IMO there is a great untapped commercial market of people who want to see movies where cats are portrayed positively. There are very few -- The Aristocats came out decades ago.

[KamaAina]

32. Because they're popular in real life.