Article by Michael Palmer
If you ever had any doubt about just how much love there is in the world for cats, all you need to do to dispel them is go online. If you’re determined to make a celebrity out of your feline friend, these are the videos to watch for inspiration.
1 – Keyboard Cat – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J—aiyznGQ
In 1987 Charlie Schmidt recorded his cat ‘playing’ the keyboard. 20 years later he posted the video to YouTube and the rest, as they say, is history. The Keyboard Cat video hasn’t only been viewed millions of times online, it’s made an appearance on The Daily Show With John Stewart, it has played at the end of concerts by alternative rock band Weezer, and has even appeared in a number of video games, including Scribblenauts and Splinter Cell.
2 – Surprised Kitty – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bmhjf0rKe8&
As the smallest cat on this list, Surprised Kitty already gets points for cuteness, but the way the kitten stretches out its four paws after being tickled is so adorable it beggars belief. The video, posted in October 2009, has almost 70 million views, and also several parodies, such as Surprised Darth Vader and Not So Surprised Puppy.
3 – Cute Baby Kittens Boxing – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpRzfRKTarQ
This video currently has under a thousand views, but it still makes the list because the cute kittens paw at each other so delightfully that they almost make you want to rush out and buy a couple of kittens of your own. These kittens are so adorable the video should come with a health warning.
4 – Funny Cats in Water – youtube.com/watch?v=ctJJrBw7e-c”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctJJrBw7e-c – this link is now broken – sorry.
If you thought all cats hated water have a look at this compilation video. You’ll see cats happily dipping their heads under running taps, lounging about in baths of water, and even swimming across streams with ducks bobbing along by.
5 – Cat Meets Snow – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW1j7lzX0dw
From water to snow, the cat in this video, which resembles a snow leopard, proves that cats are happy to dance about in the snow.
6 – Annoying Kitten vs Patient Cat – youtube.com/watch?v=7J9bdzWSZMs”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J9bdzWSZMs – this link is now broken – sorry.
The magnificent thing about this video is how it captures the contrast between the playfulness of a young kitten and the more sedentary life of a full grown cat. You can actually see the look of disdain on the face of the cat as the kitten won’t stop running around, trying to play-fight with its older friend.
7 – Kitten Meets Hedgehog – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D36JUfE1oYk
Harley the hedgehog meets Loki the kitten in this wonderful video that highlights the inquisitiveness of young kittens. The video starts with the kitten being startled at even seeing the hedgehog, but growing more used to its company. While the two don’t end the video sharing a hug (ouch!), the music playing in the video, ‘You’ve got a friend in me,’ suggests that they become unlikely buddies.
8 – Stalking Cat – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzzjgBAaWZw&
A camera moves back and forth between an open view of a bedroom and behind a desk. Every time it moves to the bedroom the cat has advanced several feet, providing proof that our domesticated cats still haven’t lost their instincts which are so vital for surviving in the wild.
9 – Angry Cat – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hPxGmTGarM&feature=player_embedded
It should be noted that the cat, who hisses very angrily and seems distressed, wasn’t harmed in this video, but was actually a rescued cat. Thankfully, so the poster tells us, despite his rather aggressive nature he was able to find a happy family to re-home him.
10 – iPad Cat – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9NP-AeKX40
How long before Apple makes an iPad for cats? While most cats are content with a ball of string, this feline prefers the technological wizardry of the latest tablet, particularly when it comes to making music.
The internet is made of cats
The massive popularity of cats online has even led many to claim that the internet is made of cats. While some dispute this claim, there’s no doubt that for millions and millions of people the internet is a much richer place for its many fantastic cat clips.
This article was written by Michael Palmer on behalf of MORE TH>N. To find out more about caring for and insuring your favourite feline, visit the MORE TH>N website today.
Image credit – rezzanatakol on DeviantArt
The problem is that though the cat videos show real cat behavior, take them all together and you have an unreal picture of what a cat is. They aren’t human. They are predators. We love animals that look cute to us and hate ones who don’t. Animals that aren’t cute have a hard time surviving near man. A lot of snakes are killed for no good reason. In my state we have only two poisonous snakes, neither of which are found in the area where I live. Yet often, out of fear people will kill harmless snakes. But that snake I saw was cute in his own way. And cute or not he had eyes, he had a mouth, he had nostrils– basically he had a face. I looked at his tiny eyes regarding me as he was devouring his meal and a part of me realized, “He is just like me– he sees, he breathes, he eats… How many people watching cute cat videos perceive cats in that way? I think if you care about living creatures you won’t objectify the cats in Internet videos. But if you are prone to see animals as objects, as possessions, and not as living, breathing beings, then the cat videos win’t do anything to change that perception.