Some cats are just wilder than others.

There are cats who can sit on your lap all day long, only taking food and bathroom breaks because they have to - and then returning to steal some more of your body warmth (and your heart). But then there are the absolute demons, the spawns of satan who were probably pspspsed here during a dark summoning ritual. My cat is not like that. Sure, she has the occasional zoomies trip in the middle of the night, but she's not the complete ruckus mess some other cats are. My friend's cat, though… he's another story completely.

Way before I had a cat of my own, I took a vacation for a month, and it just so happened that this friend needed a place to stay. I sublet my room to her and her cat. She warned me he's a wacky one, and this wasn't news - I already heard the stories about him directly from her. The Prophet was his name. Well, Elijah initially, but the more character he's shown as he grew up, the more it became clear he needed his own title. So… Elijah The Prophet, yes? He's an absolute maniac.

When I came back home after the sublet/vacation period, I returned to a room I did not recognize. The curtains were rolled up above the window, the computer was on the highest shelf of my closet (yes, inside), and the office chair was shredded to pieces. That was the art exhibition The Prophet left me. Or, more accurately, his hooman. The chair thing was inevitable, but the curtains and my PC were thoughtfully well-defended. But with that being said, I don't think I'm about to host that crazy cat in my house ever again. At least the story I was left with is funny, as are all this cat's other stories.

Rehoming a cat, sometimes, is the kindest choice. 

Generally, of course, we are against cats being rehomed. There are so many solutions to so many issues that can be found. Letting your cat go should always be the last choice. Because as smart as cats are, they are still just cats, and they don't understand rehoming. They just think that they were abandoned by their owners. But sometimes, when the problem is insurmountable, surrendering your cat is not only the right choice, it's also the kindest one. 

We always say that people should adopt a cat when they are ready, when they have enough stability in their lives. If that stability is gone, and if it can't be brought back, then you should not have a cat. It's simple to understand, but it's not easy to do. Of course, people do it all the time. We could write stories about abandoned cats every day, and we wouldn't run out. The only thing that we ask is that if you have to do it, do it right. Don't throw your indoor cat onto the street to fend for themselves. Find them another home if you can, and if you can't, take them to a shelter. So that they have an actual chance to be found by a new person who will love them just as much as you did. Like the person in today's story loves this cat. 

Would you give a band a chance just because every member was a cat?

I absolutely would. I'm in a neo-soul band, but unfortunately, none of us are cats. That would have been hilarious. In fact, we tried to make our bassist's cat part of the band, but his cat wasn't so interested. He ran away during every practice session and only came back for the food.

For a big part of my life, I enjoyed music as a listener. I grew up listening to other people's songs. I went through a pop era that revolved around Justin Bieber, a punk era led by Green Day, an alternative rock era with The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys, and an emo era with My Chemical Romance. These days, I'm also a Swiftie. As you can see, my playlists have been through a lot. But I hadn't made my own music until I started playing drums and joined a band in 2021. Becoming friends with my bandmates and making songs together changed my relationship with music. So for about five years now, we've been creating our own songs, which has given me another way to enjoy music. I can try cool grooves with my friends and help turn something we're playing around with into something interesting.

Musicians know that listening to your finished album is one of the most satisfactory experiences. We finally have the recorded result of all that time we spent making music together, recording, editing, producing... So after years of getting attached to other people's songs, it's nice to think that someone might discover ours and connect with them too. 

Who needs scary monsters when you've got your cat dressed as one?

Why do we love dressing up our cats? It's a crazy thing to think about, since most cats don't like being touched or put in clothes. But there's something so cute about it that literally melts everyone's hearts. The most adorable part is that every cat looks so cute and tiny in those little clothes that fit them perfectly. Just look at the pictures I gathered below, and you'll see what I mean; it'll be impossible not to consider dressing your cat in any of these costumes this Halloween.

Cat costumes don't have to be elaborate or complicated. You can put them in a little vinnie, a hat, or some booties, and they'll be ready to go trick-or-treating with you. But it's important that you consider their safety and happiness before your own desires. Because if it were up to us, we'd dress up our pets every day, not just on Halloween, but if you know your feline isn't a fan of clothes and doesn't really like being touched or held… maybe that isn't an option this year. That's a boomer…

The good thing is that, for some reason, there're multiple cats out there that actually enjoy wearing costumes and look happy in the ones they got this year. So, for the rest of us humans who don't own a cat or really don't know any cat who likes to wear clothes, we can have a wonderful time looking at this gallery. I'm already excited to see more ideas like this!

What is it about a tiny kitten that makes adults forget how to have a normal conversation? Why am I using my baby voice again?

I can be talking about work or explaining something from class sounding like a true professional. When a kitten appears, I forget how grown-ups talk. Hiii, baby! Who's a little baby? The kitten is just sitting there while I'm asking him silly questions about why their face is so small. 

I do this with cat pictures, too. I can be looking at my phone and say, "Oh, look at you!" out loud while scrolling through Instagram reels. Even though there's no cat actually there to receive the compliment. It can be a stranger's kitten, but he showed up in my feed, so he's getting my compliment. He will never know this, but I don't care. He's completely unaware that I love his cute little eyes.

You know that baby voice we use with our pets? Sometimes we don't even realize we've switched. Well, researchers studied it. A 2022 study found that people speak at a higher pitch when addressing cats than when talking to adults. It's called cat-directed speech. So yes, the voice I hope nobody overhears has a name and a study. 

And don't you feel your cat notices when you speak to them and not to someone else? That is actually real. Cats can pick up on the difference. In a small study involving 16 cats, researchers played recordings of their owners and strangers speaking. The cats distinguished between speech addressed to them and speech addressed to adults when their owner was talking, but didn't show that distinction with strangers. Isn't that sweet? Your voice means something to your cat. 

Cat person or not, seeing stray cats in need always moves something in people's hearts.

I was not always a cat person, but that changed when I started living with a cat. The cat was not mine, he officially belonged to a roommate I lived with when I was a student. This is the cat that made me warm up to cats, the previously self-described "dog person, but cats are also okay I guess". It made me love cats so much that I adopted my own cat, my beloved Cassie, whom I held in my arms for the first time when she was a month-old kitten. She's seven now, and the queen of my heart.

But that's the meowgical power of cats over people. They might not be "cat people" like us - dedicated fans and feline fanatics - but their hearts are opening up to the possibility. And that's how cat people are made, just by being around cats, learning to live by their side, or seeing that they're in need. This latter option is what this one woman experienced and shared with the broader online feline family - she was not a cat person. But one mama cat and her two kittens lived outside her house for a few months, in the grueling heat, in need to be homed.

It's a psychological phenomenon that works between humans too. It's called "the helper's high", and it basically describes the release of oxytocin (the bonding hormone) in our brains when we engage in prosocial behavior. That's the "high" we experience when we want to help someone, and definitely when we do help someone. And that someone can be a cat… or a cat mama and her kittens, living outside your house. And with this phenomenon, it really isn't that surprising that more people than not are becoming cat people.

Cat memes are the purrfect sweetener to add into your hot cup of coffee.

There are three things that I need to start my morning on the right paw. They are simple. The first one is a kiss on my cat's forehead. I must have that. If I don't… morning ruined. The second thing is my coffee. And I'm very specific about how I make it. If my husband gets it wrong… morning ruined. But the third thing is what really makes a difference, and sometimes I don't quite follow through with this thing. Who has the time in the morning, when you're rushing to get ready for work, to scroll through cute cat pictures or funny cat memes? No one, right? Well, I have to. Because if not, then my morning is ruined. 

Because you know what? If I don't scroll through wholesome cat content that makes me smile, I scroll through something else. I get on social media, and I scroll away, and all I get with my morning coffee is bitterness and salt. Because that is what social media is right meow. I'll see the occasional viral cat thing, but for the most part, my timeline is filled with things that are not quite that sweet. That's where cat memes come in. It's where ICHC comes in. You think that just because I write on this site means that I don't use it in my daily life? It's the opposite. It's exactly why I use it. Because I know what we put up here. I know that our content is here to make people smile and help them get their mornings right. 

Have you ever tried to introduce a new cat to your current cat? 

Well, I've tried, and let me tell you, it's not as easy as people think. At first, you're so excited because you think, "My furbaby won't be alone anymore when I go to work; he'll have a companion!" But then you realize it's not all rosy in the garden. 

You see, cats are very territorial animals, whether in the wild or as one of our fluffy pets. They consider their territory their own, and they can feel threatened and feel the need to protect and defend it if another cat trespasses. Granted, not all cats are so dramatic, especially not domestic ones. In my experience, most of the time they'll just be annoyed and indifferent to the new cat for a while. Then they just start tolerating each other while pretending the other one doesn't exist. Basically, that's what I did in high school with my classmates. No wonder my boyfriend says I have the purrsonality of a cat. 

Either way, what happened with my cats was something along those lines. For context, my grandmother and I live next to each other, and she has a cat who loved coming to visit. She would eat here, sleep in my bed, walk around and explore the whole place, and basically treat my house as her own. But then, one day, I brought home my current cat. It was all from one day to the next, so there was no time to try an adaptation process. My grandma's cat was not happy. She didn't attack or anything; she's not aggressive, but she refuses to come inside my house now and hisses every time she sees my cat. I'm a little sad about it, but I still get to see her when walking in the yard, when I go to Grandma's house, and I know she's well taken care of. 

In this case, we have an orange furball named Copper, who suddenly got an unexpected companion. Let's just say it'll take a while for him to process everything. 

Going for a walk is supposed to be pretty straightforward. You put on your shoes, head outside, get some fresh air, and eventually make your way home. But sometimes a neighborhood cat decides to join you, and suddenly your peaceful evening stroll involves making a new furry friend who has no intention of leaving your side.

Cats aren't usually the first animals we think of as walking companions, but some are enthusiastic about tagging along. They'll trot beside you, weave between your legs, and stop to make sure you're still paying attention. You might even find yourself slowing down because your new friend insists on investigating every bush along the way.

We wonder what makes certain cats so comfortable approaching strangers. Maybe they're naturally outgoing, or perhaps they've learned that friendly humans are excellent sources of snacks and head scratches. Either way, it's hard to ignore a kitty who's determined to accompany you down the street.

One family recently discovered just how persistent a neighborhood feline can be.

During an evening walk, a cat ran up to them and followed them all the way home. They weren't sure whether he belonged to someone nearby, so they gave him some food and sent him on his way, hoping he had a home to return to.

The following night, they headed out for another walk. At first, their new acquaintance was nowhere to be seen. Just when they thought he wouldn't make an appearance, he came racing toward them and appeared right at their feet.

One evening together had been enough to convince this kitty that he'd found some excellent walking buddies. We wouldn't be surprised if he starts expecting them to show up at the same time every evening. Cats are pretty good at remembering routines, especially when food is involved.

With a cold front approaching, the family decided to bring him inside rather than leave him outdoors. He's currently staying in their spare bathroom, separated from their other pets until he can be tested and cleared.

They've started calling him Oliver, although his rescuer suspects he'll eventually collect about ten different nicknames, just like their other cats. We know how that goes. One day you're calling your cat Oliver, and a month later you're addressing him as Sir Fluffington or some equally ridiculous invention.

We hope Oliver's situation gets sorted out soon. Whether he has a family looking for him or needs a new home, at least he's somewhere warm tonight.

Who needs a life coach when you've got a cat at home? These furry little philosophers seem to have everything figured out, from getting enough sleep to convincing someone else to pay all their bills. Their advice might be questionable, but they've certainly mastered the art of living comfortably.

Cats have some pretty interesting ideas about how hoomans should live. For starters, they firmly believe that getting enough sleep should be everyone's top priority. Feeling stressed? Take a nap. Have a deadline approaching? Take another nap. Someone needs you to do something important? Pretend you didn't hear them and go back to sleep. We could probably benefit from adopting at least a little of that attitude.

They've also mastered the art of setting boundaries. Cats have absolutely no problem walking away from a conversation they're not interested in, refusing unwanted attention, or making their displeasure known when someone interrupts their alone time. Imagine having that level of confidence when someone invites you to an event you don't want to attend. A cat would simply stare at the invitation, knock it off the table, and carry on with their day.

Of course, not every piece of feline wisdom is particularly practical. Cats seem convinced that knocking objects off shelves is an acceptable way to solve problems. They also believe that anything left unattended automatically belongs to them, whether it's a sandwich, a laptop, or the warmest spot on the couch. We'd probably get into quite a bit of trouble if we started applying those rules to our everyday lives.

Their approach to relationships is equally entertaining. Cats expect their favorite humans to provide endless affection, delicious meals, and comfortable places to sleep. In return, they might occasionally allow us to pet them or bless us with the privilege of sitting nearby. Somehow, they've convinced us this arrangement is perfectly fair.

Still, our feline friends might be onto something when it comes to appreciating life's little pleasures. A sunny window, a cozy blanket, a delicious snack, and a few minutes of playtime are often enough to make their entire day. They don't need elaborate plans or expensive entertainment to enjoy themselves.

So, we're taking a moment to appreciate the hissterical wisdom our cats have to offer. Their advice might not always be useful, but it certainly makes life more entertaining. And who knows? Maybe the secret to happiness really is taking more naps and worrying less about everything else.

When a cat adopts you, resistance is futile. Especially if it's a gigantic orange cat that bites French people.

I have mixed feelings about cat cafés. On the one hand, I love having a place outside my own home where I can be surrounded by cats, and on the other hand, I feel bad for them.

The good news is that cat cafés have improved a lot in the last couple of years. When they first started, they were basically a petting zoo for cats. No one really cared for the cats' needs, as they were merely a means to bring customers into the café. Now, the purpose of most of these cafés is for cat adoption instead of being entertainment for people while they dine or sip on a cup of mediocre coffee. Of course, there are still some cafés that use them as a tool, so always do your research before visiting a cat (or any animal) café. 

Sometimes, people go there for the purrpose of finding a cat to adopt, while others, like the visitor in our "story" today from Japan, actually end up getting adopted. Simply coming in for a cup of coffee, they were warned about a purrmanently grumpy orange cat who had serious cattitude. He was notorious for knocking drinks off of tables and apparently biting French people. How he knew they were French, we have no idea, but apparently, he knew.

After a fair amount of warning, the menacing ginger cat actually climbed into their lap and started purring. Needless to say, the staff were shocked. They demanded the visitor take him home, even to the point of practically shoving adoption papers into their hands before leaving. 

Even if this story is a well-written joke, there's still a lesson in there that we could all take home with us: don't judge cats by their appearances. Some of the "grumpiest" cats I've ever met have been the biggest snuggle bugs as soon as they meet their purrson and find a place they finally feel safe. And, as always, when a cat chooses you, your fate has already been decided for you. That's just the way the Cat Distribution System works.

Trick or treat! 

The magic words to get strangers to open their doors to you and give you free candy. Cats trick or treat too, they just don't always tell you they're going out on the town. In honor of Halloween coming in the next few days, here at I Can Has Cheezburger, we're celebrating all month with dressed up, costumed out, cool, spooky kitties who just want some free salmon snacks. 

Cats have the most intimate relationship with Halloween, and not just black void cats either! They love the macabre, the spooky, the elaborately dressed essences of what the holiday brings to the table. And what about the coziness? There's nothing a cat loves more than to be snuggled up in soft blankets and covers, fireplace rolling, a Halloween movie on in the background while their pet loving owner cuddles them to kitty dreamland. So if you're a Halloween guy or gal with a feline friend, just know they're celebrating too! 

Halloween is my favorite holiday. I know, I know, it's a bit kitschy for fake goths or people still obsessed with Tim Burton films well into their 50s, but who said there's anything wrong with kitsch? Even if you're a 50-year-old whose phone background is Nightmare Before Christmas, it's simply important to celebrate the things that make you feel you. And for a lot of people, it's the whole spooky season, in which Halloween exists in. We're not the only ones enjoying spooky season; there's a whole society of cats celebrating witch hunts, dressing up, and doing seances behind closed doors. 

These adorable, yet spooky dressed up cat memes are the purrfect medicine for a bad day, or the inspiration you needed to get into the holiday spirit. There's something ethereal about the autumn and everything it encompasses. The grey skies, the possibility of rain, the brisk air, and the wind pushing stray leaves to and froe. So enjoy scrolling these cats in costume while you prep for Halloween. 

Did someone say spooky and adorable cuties?

As the spooky season arrives and takes full force, old unfounded beliefs start to come back. For example, the idea that black cats are somehow unlucky. Yes, they are great at looking like little cutie vampires when they get their hungry fans out, but no; they are the first thing to be unlucky. In fact, if you're a cat parent, or you have ever met a black cat in your life, you know that is simply impossible. Black cats bring the best luck into your life, as you get to have them as the purrrfect company. The only thing spooky about these fluffy cuties is their capacity to blend with a room, so they can hunt your toes when you least expect it. Other than that, if you're a pawrent yourself, you can count yourself lucky to share your days with a black mobile piece of cloud.

That said, here's a collection to honor black cats in a season that has historically done their reputation wrong. Send this to your superstitious friends, so they can finally be convinced that being a black cat parent only makes you twice as iconic and three times more blessed. Nothing those rounded yellow perfect eyes cannot get. This collection proves that they're not only very much "awww" worthy, but they are also quite hilarious.

What do you do with all your Halloween decorations after the spooky season is over?

All good things come to an end, and the spooky season is not far from its own end. Sure, Halloween is still ahead of us, and we still haven't gone trick-or-treating and filled our bags with a year's worth of candy, yet most of October is already behind us, so we are starting to prepare for the end of fall and the beginning of something new.

Which brings me back to the question: what do you do with all your fall and Halloween decorations? 

Some people have plenty of storage room where they can pack everything up in a box and leave it to rest until next year. The Jack-o'-lanterns, skeletons, costumes, and every single home decor item that matches the color theme of fall go into that box. It's a very efficient way to ensure you have everything you need this time next year, without having to spend any more money.

Those of us who don't have enough storage room, however, need to find other solutions to all that decoration, so they won't have to spend the next 10 months staring at Halloween decorations that have no business being there. So we stick them in a random room, continue to use fall-scented candles well into December, and find creative solutions for the random decorative pumpkins we put around the house.

Gather round, ladies, gents, and silly cat people - it's mustache time.

I'm not sure what makes a cat's fur pattern unique, because every cat is different from one another, but I do know this - the rarer the phenomenon, the more special it looks in our human eyes. For cats looking at other cats it matters exactly zero percent of what it matters to us. They recognize each other by smell, meow pitch, and other parameters - but special fur features? They leave this visual distinction and admiration for us humans.

But despite the fact that every cat is unique because of their character, it's still fun to look at the rare fur colors cats sport. For example, brown cats are so rare that there's no official data anywhere to determine the percentage of the brown cat population worldwide. And don't even let me start about the cat with a mohawk I saw once - he's such a rockstar with his unique fur alone!

So I want to welcome you to this silly soirée of another rare phenomenon happening on dapper tuxedo cats - their impurressive mustaches.

Super El Niño is rough on animals just as it is on humans, but luckily for cats, they tend to adopt themselves into safety.

When the weather is extreme, cats need shelter. Strays need shelter, period. But when the weather becomes way too much, it's important that cats stay in a safe space until things calm down outside, whether from the cold or the heat. And that's especially true for when we feel the bad weather ourselves - if we're cold, they're cold. If we're hot, they're hot. And if a Super El Niño ravages the Pacific, it doesn't affect only humans. And people really do feel its effects as we speak - severe droughts, massive floods, and record-breaking global heat. This is serious.

But even amidst this serious event, a little silliness shines its light. And of course, no wonder it has to do with cats. One woman experiencing the effects of this current Super El Niño also experiences migraines - which is an annoying thing in and of itself. But some migraines are so strong they can affect your eyesight - which is exactly what she thought was happening when she saw her cat just doubled. But cats being cats, you probably already guessed this was not her eyesight making her see double. This was a cat identical to hers who simply sought a safe space from the extreme heat outside.

It's a Cat Distribution System thing - to send people a secret twin of their resident cat to make them softer for the idea of adopting them. It's a secret matchmaking technique the CDS employs, with great success. Even I took in a kitten who was identical to my cat just because he reminded me how tiny and helpless my cat was as a kitten who needed to be adopted. I was a foster for him, and he eventually went to a wonderful forever home, but the idea is similar.

Halloween is right around the corner, and while everyone else is busy planning costumes and stocking up on candy, some cats are already dressed for the occasion. They don't need plastic fangs, fake blood, or a dramatic black cape. All they have to do is open their mouths and show off those adorable little vampire teeth.

Cats might spend most of their days sleeping in sunbeams and demanding snacks, but underneath all that fluff are some surprisingly sharp teeth. We're so used to seeing their sweet little faces that it's easy to forget they're technically tiny predators. Of course, it's difficult to take their intimidating hunting instincts seriously when they're chasing a crumpled receipt across the living room.

Some cats have little fangs that poke out even when their mouths are closed, giving them a permanently mischievous expression. Others reveal their impressive chompers during an enormous yawn, looking like they're preparing to audition for the next vampire movie. We have a particular weakness for those tiny bottom teeth that occasionally make an appearance. They're ridiculously cute, especially when paired with a confused expression.

If cats really were vampires, we doubt they'd be particularly successful at keeping their identities secret. They'd spend half the night knocking things off shelves, demanding food, and loudly announcing their presence outside bedroom doors. Forget silently stalking unsuspecting victims. Your average house cat would probably wake the entire neighborhood before managing to sneak up on anyone.

They'd also have some pretty unusual weaknesses. Instead of garlic and sunlight, their greatest enemies might be vacuum cleaners, closed doors, and the terrifying sound of someone opening a cupboard without offering them a snack. We suspect a feather wand would be more effective at distracting a feline Dracula than any traditional vampire-hunting equipment.

Cats already have plenty of experience looking spooky. We've all seen those photographs where their eyes glow in the dark, making them look like mysterious creatures lurking in the shadows. Add a pair of visible fangs, and you've got a perfectly convincing little monster. Never mind that the same terrifying beast probably spent the afternoon sleeping in a laundry basket.

With Halloween approaching, we're celebrating all the fangtastic felines who look ready to star in their own spooky movies. From tiny baby fangs to impressive grown-up chompers, these cats have everything they need to embrace their inner Dracula.

So grab your garlic, keep your neck covered, and prepare to meet some ridiculously adorable little vampires. We can't promise these kitties won't bite, but we suspect they're far more interested in stealing your treats and your favorite spot on the couch.

There are few things more exciting for a cat lover than being chosen by the Cat Distribution System. You can spend years admiring other people's unexpected feline arrivals, wondering when a little furball might finally wander into your own life. Of course, the CDS doesn't take requests, and its delivery methods can be questionable.

Cats have a talent for finding strange places to hide. Give them a comfortable bed, and they'll choose the cardboard box it came in. Buy them a cat tree, and they'll squeeze behind the couch instead. We love their determination to investigate every nook and cranny, although we'd prefer they stuck to places where they can get themselves out again.

Curious kittens are particularly good at finding trouble. Their tiny size lets them slip into spaces an adult cat wouldn't consider, and they don't always have an exit strategy. It's one thing to discover a kitten hiding in your laundry basket. Finding one somewhere dangerous is another matter entirely.

One family recently learned that lesson when their long-awaited encounter with the Cat Distribution System turned into a rescue mission.

Throughout the day, a woman's daughter had been hearing mysterious meowing outside their home. Outdoor cats weren't common in their neighborhood, so the sounds stood out. When she was getting ready to leave for work, she discovered the source: a tiny kitten trapped inside her car's engine compartment.

The family initially hoped they could tempt her out with Churu treats. They fed her through the gaps, but it soon became obvious she wasn't simply refusing to emerge. She was stuck.

The woman's husband spent at least twenty minutes unbolting parts of the car to create an opening. Once the kitten could poke her head through, the woman carefully pulled her to safety.

After all that effort, the family discovered they'd rescued an incredibly affectionate kitty. She was sweet, gentle, and friendly, and her rescuer admitted she'd already fallen in love. We understand. It's hard to spend that long trying to free a frightened kitten and not feel attached afterward.

They're now posting locally in hopes of finding the kitten's owners, but nobody has come forward yet. Hopefully, this little stowaway finds a home where she can enjoy all the affection she wants, without more adventures under the hood.

Do you know what a home is?

Bruce's new human asked him that question, and it made me think about how I would answer. Watching the newly adopted cat purr through his first night home and fall asleep hugging his human's foot made me think of the relief I feel when I'm tired and know I have somewhere familiar to come back to. Even before I get there, thinking about home helps.

To me, home means a future. It gives me the stability to think beyond the day. I know I have somewhere safe to sleep tonight, so that leaves room to consider what I want for myself tomorrow. I can start something, leave it unfinished, and come back to it. I can make plans knowing I have a place to build them from. 

I get the feeling of "home" even when I'm not there. On the way home, I begin thinking about making dinner, putting on something comfortable, and settling in for the evening. I'm lucky to know where I'm going to sleep. I know I can close the door and stay. Reaching the end of a day and having a place where I can let myself feel whatever I've been holding in feels reassuring.

Why did no one tell 5-year-old me that being an adult is so hard?

If you were anything like me when I was a kid, all you wanted to do was grow up and have authority over your own life. The freedom of where to go, what to do, the world was my oyster and no one would be my boss. I was going to skip through my pre-teen and teen years, then go straight into astronaut academy and be the first purrson to land on Mars. In between space outings, I would drive my expensive car to fancy restaurants, order whatever I wanted, and go home and play video games until the sun rose.

Spoiler alert: none of those things actually happened. As you mature, you realize that being responsible for your own life isn't all it's cracked up to be. Adulting means making sure you pay your bills on time, going to the grocery store to make sure you have food in your fridge, cleaning out your cats' litter boxes, and waking up at 7 AM to get to work every day. Where was all that freedom we dreamed of? Was it all a lie from the very beginning?

The answer is no; it's not a lie, but it's not exactly the truth either. See, I could decide not to go to work and do whatever I wanted, but then I would have to deal with the consequences of those actions. You see, adulting is about finding joy in between the meowments of responsibility you take on throughout your life. I found my source of joy in adopting my cats. They give me a reason to wake up every day, they make my meowrnings full of love (and screaming), and they make me excited to come home every night.

Another place that I found joy in those quiet spaces between tasks and errands is funny cat memes. It might sound trivial to you, but my daily dose of feline funnies is akin to a morning affirmation for some. I read through them, smile at their cuteness, and laugh at their silliness, and know that I'm in a better mood for the rest of my day. That's why I collected these funny cat memes for you today: to get your 5 minutes of feline freedom from adulting. When your days are filled with things to do, it's not always about quantity, it's about quality. 5 minutes of a pure, old-fashioned good time is worth more than an hour wasted doing nothing.

Every adult knows how hard adulting is. So, I'm here to give you a reason to giggle, at least for a few minutes, today.