The Cat Distribution System decided this baby needed a best friend waiting for him when he gets home.

A black kitten had been sneaking into the family's garage for a few days, and although they could hear him moving around in there, they had absolutely no idea where he was hiding. We have to give Binx credit because apparently his hiding skills are pretty impressive.

Eventually, his future pawrents got creative. They attached their indoor Ring camera to a stick and started searching around the garage with it. Sure enough, there was the little guy tucked behind a cabinet. Imagine having to conduct a full surveillance operation just to locate one tiny kitten.

Finding him was only half the battle. They still had to convince him to come out. On Labor Day, some wet food finally did the trick, and they were able to lure him out and catch him. We're not surprised. If there's one thing capable of ruining even the best feline hiding spot, it's the smell of a good meal.

His new cat mom also happens to be 36 weeks pregnant, because apparently preparing to bring home a baby wasn't keeping the household busy enough already. The CDS clearly saw an opening and decided to throw a kitten into the mix too.

They named their surprise new family member Binx, and he's wasting absolutely no time getting comfortable. He's already been hanging out in the baby's crib and keeping it warm until his future bestie arrives.

We can only imagine how cute these two are going to be growing up together. Binx got there a few weeks early, so he has plenty of time to inspect the house, test out the crib, and get settled before the baby comes home.

The baby isn't even here yet and his first feline friend is already waiting for him.

Would you drive 5 hours just to get coffee with someone?

Friendship is worth everything, but is it worth a 5-hour drive? Sometimes friendships change as you get older, and there is nothing wrong with that. The people you used to be around all the time may take a backseat, while others get pushed to the fore. Things might get in the way of you being friends, like distance, children, or marital status. We all go through different seasons of life, and our friends are there to help us through them. I like the phrase "A reason, a season, or a lifetime" for this reason. Not all relationships have the same effect on us. Some are only temporary. This can be hard to face, though, when it's happening. You want to hold onto the things that may have served you in the past but might not serve you in the future. It can be hard to grow apart from a friend. You feel it happening, and you wish you could hold onto it with all you have, but you can't. This is okay. Not everything is made to last forever. The woman in this story was learning that the hard way with a friend who refused to make compromises for her. It's not easy to maintain a friendship into adulthood. You have to carve out time and energy for it. If both of you aren't willing to do this, it will suffer. 

Who knew the guardian angels of a couple of kittens would be two fishermen far out on the water?

Some cats are truly luckier than others. But I don't know if I'd label these two orange kittens completely "lucky". They are definitely lucky to have been saved, pulled from the water as if they were baby Moses pulled from the Nile to receive a second chance in life. But I can't honestly call them "lucky", because it's obvious that the beginning of their story, before they were saved, is a harsh tale of abandonment. No couple of kittens is found in the middle of nowhere, only nature surrounds them, and they know to seek humans' help to stay alive.

Whenever I see a story of kittens abandoned in the middle of nowhere, it makes me angry, I have to admit. Because who in their right mind just throws kittens into the woods? There are so many, so many options for a person to consider before abandoning such helpless lives to their fates. Not ready for the responsibility of adoption? That's okay. But finding the kittens a forever home, or giving them to a shelter, are much better options than outright abandoning the kittens. It makes me boil just thinking of a person who takes kittens, intentionally, and drives far away to leave them in a forest, so god forbid they will also not have a chance to be found. What a heartless thing to do.

But this is where these two orange kittens from below defy the odds, and actually can be considered "lucky". They didn't just stumble across a couple of fishermen out in the open - they had the bravery, the tenacity to swim over to them while they were fishing in the middle of the water. Seriously, it takes so much courage to risk yourself like that for a second chance in life. And it's also courageous to be the one who gives this second chance. These two fishermen should win something for how they didn't even hesitate to save these kittens, in this life or the next.

What a week it has been, let's wrap it up with all your lolcats!

Another week has gone by, the Earth has spun seven times around itself, and we're on Caturday again. Which is, non-arguably, the best day of the week. It's not only the day when you can finally shed a week's worth of worries off of you, but it's also the best day to spend time with your cat. And now? Since two weeks ago, it's also the prime time for going over the week's lolcats - because what a Caturday would be without the OG cat meme creations still going strong today?

So after you've gone through the silly cat pictures, the wholesome adoption stories, the cute cat antics, and the extra treat you give your cats because why not - it's time to relax, unwind, and lolcat the weekend away. This week you've made no less than 100 - let's repeat that: one hundred - lols. You've been making some meowing work done. You deserve to chill and enjoy it, preferably with your cat on your lap.

Sometimes all you need for a higher position is confidence

It's not that you lack the skills or that you don't know your field; you just have to get used to your new role and realize you won't have to wait for approval anymore. Instead, you will be the one giving direction.

When companies hire someone to be in charge of a project, they want to feel at ease knowing things are being taken care of, and if you show the tiniest bit of insecurity or lack of proactivity, you will not give them that confidence.

For me, this story is about the 'fake it till you make it' technique. It's not that the employee who got a higher position should pretend to have knowledge they don't have, because I don't really believe that can last. But I do think he needs to get the memo and start giving what the company wants from him, which is basically more confidence, so they can chill and do their jobs without having to worry about whether the marketing team will be all right.

The employee from this story and I agree on one thing, though: marketing is full of buzzwords, and a lot of people in the industry don't really know what they're doing or use outdated tactics; but those things can be used to our advantage if we play our cards right.

If I were him, I would do my best in my higher position and show so much confidence that they trust me. If it doesn't work, at least you gain experience, and if it does, you earn a more senior role! It's a win-win situation.

I've seen people change their managers' opinions of them, so I hope this junior-turned-senior employee succeeds. Do you think he has what it takes?

 

Apparently, a free and new fence wasn't good enough for these entitled neighbors…

Neighbors… what a complicated subject. They could be the best people you could ever meet and trust them with everything you have… or they could be the worst and actually make the experience you have in a neighborhood or at home very complicated. In my personal experience, I've never had issues with the people who lived next door, and that is taking into account that I moved a lot growing up. So, when I encounter stories like this, they really surprise me by how mean and entitled people can be.

Something that sparks dilemmas with neighbors is a shared fence. We know that it is an object that belongs to both families, although one takes care of it more than the other. In the story we have below, the homeowners wanted to change the fence because it was falling apart. It was moldy, unpleasant to look at, and not safe at all. Of course, they went up to their neighbors and discussed the problem. They weren't as worried about the situation, so in the end, the homeowners paid for almost the whole replacement, about 90% of it.

And they made a good replacement: now it had a metal post, so it was going to last far longer than a wooden one. It's safe to say that it was a good investment. 

There was a little change, though. The husband preferred not to see the posts, so they were installed outside of their property line, facing the neighbor's home. Before doing this, they checked with the HOA, and they had a city permit to do this, so it's not like they made a decision that broke the law. It's all very legal, and they have fences with other neighbors, and some of those are located inside others' properties, so they didn't think much of it.

The neighbors showed up at their place and were angry that the posts weren't located on the property line. Their response was that they could pay for them to be removed and positioned on the property line, but of course that didn't happen.

Activate sweater weather mode because fall is coming soon! Your cat knows it better than anyone else. He's already claimed the warmest spot in the house where the best patch of sunlight hits your living room, making it feel just as cozy as possible.

These cozy cats are ready for soft blankets, glowing windows, long naps, and stepping on crunchy leaves that fall to the ground. They are experts at chasing the best location for that cozy patch of sunlight. They already know the warmest patch of afternoon sunlight has moved six inches across the living room floor, now landing on the carpet next to the couch. The first cool breeze has slipped through the window, and the household now becomes a luxury feline heating center. 

Every cat has a researched map of the warmest places in the house. There is the sunny windowsill before noon, the blanket on the couch at lunch, and the carpet on the floor next to the couch when the afternoon hits. At night, their preferred location is directly on their human's lap. 

Sweater weather when you have a cat also becomes the season when your sweater gets full of cat hair because it can get inspected, kneaded, and approved for a nap at any given moment. Autumn is the best excuse for a nap. Your cat knows it, and you do too. 

With fall getting closer and closer, staying home with your cat starts sounding better than making outdoor plans. The air gets cooler and you suddenly enter soup mode. Your afternoon plans sound like lying beneath a warm blanket is a perfectly acceptable activity. Cats have been living this life all year. The rest of us are finally catching up.

Unless the sunbeam shifts or a can opens in the kitchen, your cat doesn't look like he has any plans of moving from their warm spot. So activate your fall mode and join your cat. Find a blanket your cat hasn't stolen and get comfortable. These cats are counting down to fall, and we are totally doing it too. 

It's September, which means it's time to break out your Halloween decorations, which means your black cat is now part of the decorations, even if he's not aware of it.

Black cats didn't wait for the decorations to come out or for someone to place a pumpkin on the porch. They are your favorite Halloween decoration during the entire year, but in September and October, they have to start work. Halloween duty is serious business, and these felines are determined to start their shift early.

They are naturally qualified for the job. Black cats can watch someone from across the room with the intensity of a supernatural creature. If you add a pumpkin next to them, or a cobweb, or a skeleton, then you're done. You have a spooky setting. Other pets may need costumes. Black cats arrive dressed for the occasion every day. Being spooky is part of their nature.

The performance becomes less scary when the lights come on. That ominous silhouette is waiting for dinner. And he will meow until you decide to give it to them. A cat capable of looking like the perfect witch's companion can become offended by a paper bag that moved unexpectedly. Their mysterious stares and spooky image work best from a distance. Then they can be little cuties who need love and affection, and also your chair. Actually, black cats are less interested in old superstitions than in whether anyone has noticed that their bowl is empty. 

So, the pumpkins can wait a little longer. The costumes and candy are still in storage. Your first Halloween decoration is lying there on your couch. Consider this their official announcement that spooky season can begin whenever they decide it does. Halloween already has its mascots, and they have arrived early to claim the best seat in the house, and we don't care if that is your chair. 

Working from home is a blessing and a curse at the same time

You're on your own; no one is there to police what you're wearing or whether you've taken off your pajamas in the last three weeks. You promised it wouldn't happen to you, but your schedule got messed up, and sometimes you work until one in the morning because you lost the entire afternoon to showering, cleaning the house, and a trip to the grocery store.

Every Monday you tell yourself you will start working at normal hours, but temptation knocks on your door, and the next thing you know you're doing laundry when you should be writing a report, and writing a report when you should be eating dinner and relaxing.

It's terrible, but it's beautiful to be free. You get to know yourself and your relationship with time, whether you're organized or whether you leave everything to the last minute. It's wonderful! But hey, at least you're allowed, and if any day you feel like it, you can sleep in; you don't have to get in traffic; you don't have to go out on days when it's raining.

We can complain about lots of stuff, like all the time we spend in front of a screen, but those of us who have had the experience of working jobs where we had to show up very early, or had to use our bodies a lot, or maybe customer service jobs, aren't we a lot more privileged now? Choosing when to go to the office or walking our dogs during lunch break?

We have to learn to manage our time better, and also, we should learn to be thankful for what we've got, right?

Has any of you developed a really weird habit since working from home?

Three months ago, Rhaegar and Nyx unexpectedly fell into their hooman's life, and it didn't take long for these two to completely take over.

Rhaegar, the red-collared boy, is the attention seeker of the pair. He loves being near his person and getting affection, but there are rules. Please keep your face out of his face, thank you very much. He also prefers cuddling without actually touching, unless there's a blanket separating everyone. We respect a cat who knows his boundaries.

His other great love is food. Rhaegar will happily inform his hooman that he is wasting away from starvation despite having eaten approximately .3 seconds earlier. A tale as old as time.

Nyx, meanwhile, likes affection on her own terms. She can be wary when something big approaches too quickly, but once she's comfortable, she's a serious snuggler. At night, she'll crawl right under the blankets and press herself against her hooman. Excuse us, that is ridiculously sweet.

She's also the adventurous one. Nyx is usually first to investigate somewhere new and figured out the cat door leading to their catio within a single day. No tutorial required. She's quite the little huntress too, always ready to take down any dangerous strings or evil red dots threatening the household.

Despite their differences, both cats seem pretty smitten with their person. They usually want to hang out nearby and regularly come looking for attention, but they're independent enough to do their own thing too. Sounds like a pretty great balance to us.

Their hooman says these two have changed life for the better and that leaving the house now comes with one problem: wanting to get back home to them.

Three months in, we'd say Rhaegar and Nyx have made themselves pretty irreplaceable.

Nobody said that becoming a manager was going to be all fun and giggles…

Proving yourself at work and actually being a good employee can lead to a promotion. In our heads, being promoted is the end goal in the corporate world: you finally reach the position where you get to manage people, maybe your own office, and then, and there, you can relax. Now, many of the managers that I've met love their job and dealing with people. If you think about it, they have to be on top of their game all day just to keep things going and on track. However, there're a few cases in which becoming a boss doesn't really line up with some people's preferences.

This IT employee was offered a management position, and he took it with no hesitation. He used to be a Solutions Architect and actually improved the workflow at the company a lot by fixing some mistakes, so he became very valuable to the team. On paper, the position looked great: better salary and a huge opportunity to grow his career. But the downside is that he realized that he hates the part that comes with having people in charge. And yes, this may be the hardest, but for others it is the most rewarding. 

The employee only has to manage two people, but they have "big egos," so every day there's a different conflict that needs to be addressed, and he finds this to be totally tiring. They have a lot of arguments with different developers and other coworkers, so he's always having to intervene and fix these problems in order to proceed with projects. Secretly, he confesses that if he were offered his old position back, he'd take it, no doubt. But we know that going backwards in your career is not possible and not well seen.

In the comments section, most readers seemed to understand his frustration and shared some personal stories that made him feel better. He hopes that in a year, he can learn to enjoy the role and to cope with it. But for the time being, he's doing his best.

Some cat adoptions come from such unlikely places.

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for black cats. It's not just their special history because of the ties to the fear of witches, and it's not the fact that they're most likely the last ones to stay at a shelter because of said history. It's because I have a black cat myself. She's absolutely gorgeous - her fur is short but so soft, she has three white spots on her belly, and she has striking green eyes. She's 7 years old now, and I've had her since she was a month old. She's literally my first child. I love my Cassie to bits.

That's why when I hear a story about a black kitten being adopted, my heart melts instantly. Like, even faster than when I hear about any cat being adopted. Moreover, when a black cat is found in a surprising, unlikely place, it always reminds me of my cat. She was found by my classmate (when I was a student) near her student dorms. She was part of a stray litter, and her cat mama rejected her. I was looking to adopt a cat at the time, but never imagined I'd find my soul cat hidden in my classmate's apartment, since there was a strict no-pet policy in the dorms.

So when I heard about Bowkie and his story, I immediately developed an urge to share it with someone. And then I remembered I work for I Can Has Cheezburgrer, the great cat platform on the internet, so I can literally share it with the world. So scroll with me and warm your heart with a black kitten found in the most unlikely of places.

People say that having black cats is bad luck… Well, I say that having no cat is bad luck

Black cats are some of the most elegant kitties out there; they go with everything! Sadly, they have really bad press. People used to think that black cats were companions to evil witches, and that's why they were so afraid of them. Of course, those witches they were so afraid of usually were healers, midwives, or maybe just a woman who dared to think for herself. Yeah, if those were the same people who disliked black cats, we know better now than to listen to any of their craziness. Besides, who wouldn't want to have a little panther at home all to ourselves? We can't have big felines as pets, so we have to keep their house counterparts instead. 

I've always wanted to have a black cat, but I never came across one organically. Almost all my cats have been rescues or given to me by some friend whose cat had a new litter, and for some reason most of them have been greyish cats. Don't ask me why; I have no idea. My brother just started calling them 'generic cats,' which sounds kind of mean, but it makes total sense when you get to my neighborhood and realize that half of the cats you come across are grey. Mine is a tuxedo cat, the first one I've ever had, and she has some of the cutest black spots all over her. It's the closest I've been so far to owning a black cat, but no one says I can't get her a brother or sister sometime soon. 

Black kittens are as fluffy and purrfect as any other cat, so if you have the chance, get to your local shelter and ask about one. They usually are the last to be adopted, and all kittens deserve to have a loving family. And while you do that, take a look at these black cat memes showing you some purrfect fluffy cats. 

Are we policing what people do with their free time now? Should extremely tired moms make even their free time productive?

I'm going to preface this piece by saying I don't agree with either the husband or the commentators in this post. I thought my point of view would be the most obvious, but apparently, it isn't. I can understand why exhausted moms feel so lonely these days. Modern life not only isolates them, and all of us, for that matter- but it also punishes them for looking for a somewhat escapist way to spend their (very little) free time.

The usual problem is that much of the housework moms do is invisible. Only their kids know it. A normal job is public; it's backed by a contract, has a schedule, a workweek, and most importantly, it's paid accordingly! A mom's job is viewed only as the natural thing for her to do.

This sort of story always amazes me because fathers know very well how tiring it is to care for kids all day.  

This issue about how people use their free time goes deeper than this, though. People not only judge mothers for how they use it. In my opinion, if we're not finding ways to let go of the mind and truly relax, free time is pointless.

Of course, we should find places to relate socially and not be in our heads or with screens all the time, but come on, are we going to be that hypocritical and judge a mother of two toddlers for escaping to TikTok sometime?

Maybe I'm exaggerating, but the husband's reaction to what his wife is commenting on is a little bit tendentious, and frankly, it's openly dismissive. If I were her, I would take it very seriously. It's very easy to come home when kids are tired and pretend you are doing all the work.

Some days I just want to be a couch potato and pet my cat.

It's hard being a cat pawrent, because it means that whenever you're out of the house, you have to leave your cat there. Don't get me wrong, all of our cats are completely fine. But they just live the introvert dream - they stay at home and are very chill about it. And I want to do exactly the same. And if you're here, reading these very lines I'm writing, you're most likely sharing that sentiment. That's a common thread between most people who raise a cat child - they just want to stay at home with their cats.

I sometimes envy the people who managed to leash-train their cats to walk literally everywhere with them. I'd be absolutely thrilled to have my cat with me every day at the office. She'll have a blast - receiving pets and attention from everyone, sitting on my lap while I do the clickity-clackity on the keyboard, and generally having a great time. But she doesn't, because she'll be terrified of the commute. And the office, honestly. She's the embodiment of an introvert, and honestly… same.

Earlier this week, when I was working from home, my cat woke me up at 8:00 am sharp, just to sit on my belly and purr. I stayed in bed for an extra half an hour just to enjoy that meowgical moment. But if it were a weekend day, I'd surely stay there for more time. So, really, the weekend is the purrfect time to just cuddle your cat and enjoy every second of it. But guess what? It's nearly the weekend. You can do exactly that. I gathered these meowing memes here for you to scroll through while your cat is having the nap of their life on your lap all weekend long.

Some people need clearer boundaries to understand rejection

It's ok; not all of us understand things so quickly. Some of us need very clear words and actions to get the message.

Of course, I'm being sarcastic here; many people desperately need some very basic social skills, and it's unbelievable that at a certain age we still have to face this type of encounter.

We've all been there at some point; we probably didn't behave like that, but it's normal to like someone and interpret their ambiguity as them liking us back. That shouldn't mean we're completely certain about the other person's feelings. We should always keep a safe margin of doubt, at least until there is explicit confirmation. Until then, our advances should be subtle, and we should always wait for a voluntary response from the other.

But what happens when somebody never understood this very basic rule of human behaviour? Is it our job to teach them?

I frankly think we don't have to; instead,  we should protect ourselves, and every time we see someone like this, activate the toughest boundaries protocol ever. When implementing something like this, it's important to remember we're not doing it to teach the other person anything; we're doing it for ourselves and ourselves only.

We know rejection stings, but those who were rejected should face the truth: our empathy shouldn't exceed our self-love. We should always protect ourselves first, even if that means being unkind, because (clearly) our kindness is misinterpreted as openness to being close to someone we don't want to be close to.

Has anyone else had an experience like this with a coworker who couldn't read the room? What did you do to neutralize  it? Do you think involving HR is important in cases like this?

Cats are the best relaxers out there - they can fall asleep anywhere and in nearly any pawsition. If you have to learn from someone, you might as well learn from the best.

We all have minimal time to enjoy our weekends. Between errands, cleaning, cooking, taking the kids to playdates, and whatever else we have to do, it leaves little time for us to actually find some "me time." But that "me time" might be the most impurrtant part of your weekend because without it, you end up trying to fill everyone else's cup from your empty one. It's hard to be a good parent, pawrent, friend, coworker, or sibling when you don't even have time to make yourself feel like a real hooman being.

So, with the limited amount of minutes we have to actually relax on the weekend, we have to learn to make the most of them. Whether it means catching a quick catnap or settling down to read your favorite book, you have to be able to do it efficiently with the time you have. And who better to learn from than cats? Cats are the purrfect relaxation teachers. They can fall asleep no matter where they are and always find a way to get comfy, even in the strangest shapes we've ever seen. 

These heartwarming Friday felines below are meant to help teach you how to relax the cat way. We all have people to take care of, but you have to first take care of yourself. And if you're a parent, like me, then you have to take whatever smol opportunities you have to chill and de-stress. Let these cute kitties be your teacher and have a pawsitively cheery, cozy, and comfy weekend!

If you want people to work through the holidays, you have to give them the right motivation for it.

Everybody needs a break from their job sometimes, and this is never more important than when a big holiday comes around. Employed or not, most believe this is a time to relax a little and enjoy spending some time with their loved ones. It is hard for any work project to compete with that. 

Nonetheless, some roles have to be performed every day of the year, no matter what. Some companies also simply prefer to be open year-round, and that is something that employees have to accept. This isn't always easy, but more often than not, employers are willing to understand that. They will give some financial incentive for working when almost everybody else with a job is on vacation.

Money will always be the best motivator for the majority of employees, so it is usually fairly effective in ensuring that at least some people will be working the holidays. Take that away, though, and it will be a lot more doubtful whether enough workers will be willing to commit. Why give up that precious time just to be at work like normal?

Many important life events are just coincidences that happen because you were in the right place at the right time

I often think about it; maybe your mom and dad met at a concert that one of them wasn't going to, and their friends made them go. Maybe you stop a random girl in the street to ask for the time, and she ends up being the love of your life. I mean, what are the odds? But it happens.

If you think about it hard enough, everything that happens is a string of really weird coincidences, so it wouldn't be weird if, on any random day, something that completely changes the course of your life happens by chance.

We don't need to attribute it to fate; it's not necessary to think it was preestablished. It could be that a lot of minor things piled up to cause major things, and coincidences are only a reflection of that.

What we can do to stimulate fate or life, whatever you call it, to put us in experiences is simply to go out and look for them. It doesn't matter how big or small they are, because according to this post's commentators, a lot of random and small things took them to surprising destinations.

So I would just say, get out there, meet people, be out and about, and good things are going to happen to you. Life will move, and you will have love and experience; that is the best thing to have in this very brief experience we call life. What are we doing if we're not looking to see what's out there? We have to let life show us.

Do you think you do anything in your day that connects you to the possibility of something important happening to you?

Life is like a baseball game: mostly curveballs with just enough home runs to keep you swinging. But it's also full of tasty hot dogs, excitement, wins, and cats that refuse to play by the rules.  

I have always believed that cats would be terrible at organized sports, mostly because they refuse to follow the rules and hate being told where to be. There are many other reasons, but those are the two biggest ones. They would be great at catching the ball (have you seen those flips your cat casually does when trying to catch their favorite feather toy?), but most of the time, they would be too lazy to care.

Basically, every cat is already living like it is the bottom of the ninth with two outs and a suspicious red dot on the wall. That is why this home run of feline funnies we gathered for you below just makes sense. Life throws curveballs. Work throws even more curveballs. Your cat throws up beside the rug instead of on it, which I suppose counts as a small victory, but still. These cat memes are here to remind you that no matter what inning in life we are in, we're all just doing our best despite all the nonsense life throws at us.