The thing about being fired is that you're not supposed to keep working for the people who fired you.

That's the one "benefit" of being let go from a job: no more work, at least until you find a new, and hopefully better, job. So what is the point of the whole "firing" business if your (former) employer keeps calling you and asking you for help?

That is a question the employee below keeps asking herself. After almost 4 years of devoted work at a small startup, she was fired. The company claimed that the reasoning was financial, explaining that the industry had taken a hit and had to let some employees go. Although the employee was disappointed, the company ensured she received a respectful severance package and proper payout.

However, now that this employee is officially home and unemployed, her former employer keeps calling her to ask for different things, even on weekends. Between being asked for passwords and documents, the ex-employee feels like she never really left, which is odd, since they were the ones firing her, not the other way around.

Since she is not getting any money for all the help, the employee considers refusing to help altogether. However, she doesn't want to be difficult, especially since she has not gotten her payout yet. Which leads her to the question: should she risk it by refusing to help her former employer, or should she agree to help the company that fired her after years of hard work?

If everyone tells you that you're making the wrong decision… do you believe them, or your heart?

Adopting a pet is a gamble. It's not like buying a bred cat where you know their whole genetic history and potential health problems. When you adopt a cat, you're lucky if you even know how old it actually is. But sometimes, even when you have most of the information, you still don't know how long you're going to have them for. This is a risk we all take - because it's better to have loved and have lost, than to have never loved at all.

The vet told our cat lover below that the kitten she found was too sick, that she was a lost cause, but this pawrent didn't believe them. She saw that she was a fighter and decided to take a leap of faith with this brave little kitten and hope for the best. She woke up to feed her every two hours. She used four different kinds of eye drops to heal her troubled eyes. She didn't give up, and neither did the kitten.

There were many bumps in the road. They had to isolate the cute kitten from their other cat and suffered many sleepless nights. There were many scratches, arguments, and fear of what the next day would bring… but all of those tribulations worked to bring them closer. They formed a bond that only a cat owner and their cat can truly understand. Purrhaps they both feared going to sleep every night, but they had the courage to wake up the next morning and find out, every day, for five years after.

Cats take lazy Sundays very seriously. 

Cats treat Sunday like a full-time job, and that job is doing absolutely nothing. The second the day starts, they're already clocked into peak relaxation mode. No plans, no stress, just vibes. You'll find them stretched out like they pay rent, soaking up the sun, fully committed to a day of pawsitive laziness.

The schedule is simple. Wake up, do a quick stretch, maybe walk two steps, and then immediately go back to sleep. It's a very strict nap rotation. Couch, bed, random chair, repeat. If there's a warm spot, it's already been claimed. If you were planning to sit there, that's not happening. The cat has spoken, and the ruling is final.

Of course, they'll still make time for a little chaos. A random zoomie, a quick bap of something that didn't need to be bapped, maybe a dramatic stare out the window like they've got important thoughts. But it never lasts long. Being chaotic is tiring, and there are naps to get back to.

By the end of the day, they've accomplished everything they set out to do. Maximum rest, minimal effort, zero regrets.

Even the strictest dads can agree that setting the thermostat to 80 degrees is too dang hot. 

But this woman's in-laws liked it that way and refused to compromise when they visited, causing drama over their annual summertime vacation. After years of enduring sweaty days, sleepless nights, and dizzying heat headaches, this woman finally put her foot down and refused to repeat her summer mistakes of the past. 

This year, she wouldn't lie awake in a pool of sweat while listening to bayou bugs chirp through the open window; this year, she was going to do something different with her vacation hours.

Cats don't wear glasses to see. They wear them to judge. 

Cats don't need glasses. Their vision is already purrfect. They can spot a bug from across the room, hear a treat bag from miles away, and somehow Cats don't wear glasses to see, they wear them to judgeknow exactly when you're about to sit down so they can steal your spot. And yet, give them a pair of glasses and suddenly they're acting like the most well-read whisker scholar in the house.

They'll sit there all still, looking like they're deep in thought, like they've got important meownifestos to write and serious pawlitics to discuss. It's a whole new look. Very put together. Very sophisticated. Like they've got strong opinions on things they definitely don't understand.

Of course, it doesn't last. One second they're serving full purfessor energy, the next they're batting the glasses off their face or trying to chew the frames. The act drops fast. You can't hide that kind of cattitude for long.

Still, they keep coming back to it. Not because they need help seeing, but because they know exactly what they're doing. The glasses aren't for vision, they're for the vibe.

If your sibling took the name you told them you were going to use for your baby, would you use that name anyway?

Quietly divulging something of personal importance to someone you trust, only for them to throw it back in your face, is one of the hardest things you will ever experience. Not only is your trust shaken by one of your closest confidants, but it is done so when you are at your most vulnerable. 

But this happens all the time, and for some reason, particularly where baby names are concerned. I think it's one of those things where once you have heard "it", it's hard to get "it" out of your head. Like trying to do your homework after you have already seen your friend's answers, or taking an open-book test. Now you have to come up with your own answers in your own words, but you just can't get what you have already seen out of your head. 

This parent is trying to decide… should they let their 8-year-old daughter's teacher dictate what she eats at school?

No one knows a kid better than their parent, and parents are largely the ones responsible for monitoring their children's mealtimes. Every family will have vastly different opinions on what's healthy for their children. Some eat lots of vegetables and fresh fruits, while others rely on packaged foods to get by. 

Losing your cat is hard enough. Having your cat be found by an evil person who wants money more than to help your animal might be even worse. 

We have heard of some horror stories when it comes to neighbors and cats. We have heard of neighbors neglecting their cats then tossing them outside to fend for themselves. We have heard of neighbors stealing cats then refusing to give them back. Anything you can think of, the kind of stories that would break your heart if they ever happened to you, we thought that we have seen it all. Until today.

One of our worst fears as cat owners is our cats running away. We've been there, it's happened to us, and it was pure luck that we managed to find our cats again. The fear we felt over our spoiled little kitties being out there on their own was horrible. It would have been a dream to get the kind of text that this cat owner got. "I think I have your pet". Only for that rescuer to then turn out to be an awful person. 

Linkedin cringe is its own special category. It's way different from Facebook cringe or Twitter cringe. It's more polished. More intentional. It comes wearing a blazer, and it wants you to know it woke up at 4:47 AM to get there.

LinkedIn is the only place on the internet where people genuinely believe that describing their morning routine counts as thought leadership, and where losing a SaaS client in Nebraska becomes a profound meditation on resilience tagged under #hustle and #grateful.

One of the things that we love the most about cats is how silly they are, and their silliness shows in everything that they do. 

People who have never had cats think that cats are boring pets. They actually believe that. We know. Baffling. Because we, as actual cat owners, know the truth, and that is cats are goofy as all heck. Cats might be goofier than any other pet out there. We would be willing to bet on that. And they don't even have to try. Their silliness is literally in everything that they do.

You will go to the bathroom, and your cat will start screaming by the door. Every time. Possibly because they think you're drowning in there. Your cat will scream at a closed door for forever, asking you to open it, only to then continue screaming when you do. Your cat will steal food off your plate - or try to - right in front of your face. No shame. Holding eye contact. Your cat will stretch so hard, they will fall right off the couch mid-turn. And your cat will hide. They will do it a lot. Sometimes, they'll be good at it and give you a heart attack. And other times, they will be like these cats. 

A chubby boy is a good boy…

It's not always easy for a cat to bounce around from owner to owner. It can really weigh on them, and be daunting to adjust to a new home, new way of life, new food, new beds, and new pawrents. But this little chubber did a great job with the transition. Very delicately and decidedly named, "Mr. Kitty," he really does live and breathe a certain type of beauty. They found him over summer after his original owner passed away. He's an incredibly well behaved boy. He used to be quite large, but since his owner's passing he's lost some weight. After taking him to the vet they saw he weighs 12.7 pounds, which the vet said is healthy for his size. His teeth are perfect and he has no underlying health issues. He's about 5-6 years old, and is working on getting his passport for his owners to take him in. He's a cuddler, and they've also built him a climbing wall. Scroll below to see photos of this handsome man and to read the full story. 

We all look forward to the weekend. But there's one thing that would make the weekend even better, and that's spending it with a cat. 

Thank cat it's Friday. Time to get out the jet skis, the paddleboat, the grill to have friends over and just enjoy life. It's two days a week where we can really just be ourselves. No work, no emails, no responsibilities, and no mask at work. No asking your coworkers how their weekend is and feigning interest in them, no pretending to work when you actually finished hours ago. There's something about the work week that weighs on all of us, and it can be daunting to just go. Most people also are teemed with a commute. They have a fight their way through traffic, honking horns, and the grumpy stares of other drivers nearby. But the weekend? You could just stay inside your home the entire time if you really wanted. You can do whatever you want. You can also spend all weekend outdoors, being with friends (or alone), running around at parks, watching sunsets, or just doing whatever it is makes you happy. 

Cats bring a certain energy to the weekend. They bring a sense of whimsy that is undeniably adorable, and purrfect to help us destress after the long work week. So please, enjoy this collection of cats.  

Was this couple fooled, or were they simply foolish?

It should come as no surprise to anyone that reading the fine print is a crucial step when taking out a loan. However, while this Maryland couple admitted to making a few mistakes during this process, we cannot simply dismiss their current predicament as an unfortunate consequence of their own actions. 

After all, it's far easier to judge what happened to them than to admit that you yourself could have been similarly duped. Thankfully, after they shared their story online, these individuals might actually have the evidence they need to fight having to repay over $5,000 on a $750 loan.

We love cats. Cats love us. But not as much as they love tearing down your new curtains, and taking the rest of the window frames down with them, apparently.

Some behaviors are just Very Cat™ - asking for the fourth snack in a row, napping for 16 hours straight, and taking vengeance on a lone sock they found under the couch (truly, unacceptable sock behavior). But one of the most iconic cat things out there is their absolute unhinged destruction urge they experience from time to time. And when that time comes, no couch is safe, no curtain can hide, and no toilet paper roll can defend itself.

But some of these destructive urges are more extreme - even if we can laugh about them with the rest of the worldwide cat parents community. And that's exactly why we asked our very own online cat community what the most destructive thing their cats have ever done. Your answers both surprised us and made us laugh out loud.

Do you want your cat's crazy story read by us, at the I Can Has Cheezburger HQ? Then don't hesitate to follow our Facebook page, where you can find many more pawsts like this one, and tell us all your cat's antics. We love them.

Welcome to the best introverts' house pawrty in town!

Leopards and tigers are strongly solitary, avoiding others outside mating. So at this party, they're already gone. Slipped out the back door before the music started. Octopuses are highly intelligent but prefer isolation. In the house, the octopus finds the most enclosed, dim corner (probably inside a cabinet), quietly opens three jars, and leaves without anyone realizing it was even there. Sloths are low-energy and minimal-interaction sort of creatures. At the party, they're still at the door. Processing. Might attend it next week.

And then you have the introverts' party star of the evening: the domestic cat, who's social on their own terms, but not in groups. The cat will either be hiding in a bedroom on a pile of coats or suddenly appear in the middle of the party, accept attention for exactly 12 seconds, then disappear again. Because that is just the nature of cats, and honestly? We love and accept them exactly for who they are.

You see, "introvert" is a human personality label, so it doesn't fit perfectly in the animal world. But there are species that are naturally solitary, low-social, and easily overstimulated - just like that cat you pet at the party, because you don't have any energy left for the other humans there. Any introvert already knows - the best company is cat company. And when the human function starts, that's the right time to have some cat time.

A 22-year-old hard-working girlfriend finds herself at odds with her boyfriend after he suggests she should eventually stay home while he provides. She pushes back, explaining she would only consider it with a financial safety net in place, shaped by her upbringing and real-life experiences. What starts as a conversation about the future quickly turns tense, and after she voices her concerns, he pulls away and stops communicating, leaving her questioning both the relationship and whether she handled things wrong.

From her perspective, the request was not about distrust but about long-term security and independence. She has seen firsthand how quickly situations can change, especially for women who rely entirely on a partner financially. Wanting a fallback plan felt logical to her, not offensive, even if the way she expressed it may have unintentionally hurt him.

At the same time, the relationship already showed signs of instability. He had previously brought up serious commitments like marriage and children early on, only to pull back and disappear shortly after. That pattern of intense conversations followed by distance adds another layer to the situation, making his reaction now feel less surprising and more concerning.

Now, with distance both physical and emotional between them, she is left reflecting on what compromise really means. Is asking for financial security unreasonable, or is it a fair boundary? The situation highlights a bigger conversation about trust, independence, and what people are willing to give up in relationships.

Texting isn't enough. Words aren't enough. We have to share memes! If you're in love or just like someone, send them these cute cats to show how much you care. You'll melt their hearts, 100% guaranteed.

Some memes speak louder than words. If you're too shy to say it yourself, this is your purrfect opportunity. Don't miss it. It could go surprisingly well! And hey… come and tell me, please. I'd love to know. 

Let these adorable cats do the talking and make your crush's day a little brighter. It's a perfect job for our fluffy little messengers!

Turns out your furniture may have been a cat this whole time.

Some cats chase toys. Others chase mastery. These stealthy little professionals have leveled up their hiding skills by perfectly matching blankets, rugs, shelves, and suspiciously cat-shaped corners. Prepare to squint, zoom in, and question your own eyesight.

Opening your home to a loved one is a generous act born out of kindness and compassion, but it shouldn't be mistaken for endless patience or tolerance.

Imagine you have your dad living rent-free in your house with you and your husband, yet still finding reasons to complain. It's alright to lend a hand to our parents when they need support, it's a nice way of giving back for everything they've done for us. But noticing signs of ingratitude makes a completely different story. It can make you feel taken for granted or unappreciated, despite your sacrifices to keep everyone comfortable. When you're doing this kind of favor for someone, respect and gratitude aren't optional; they are essential. 

An ungrateful dad in today's story starts making passive-aggressive comments to his son-in-law, creating tension and making day-to-day life in the house harder than it should be. Well, maybe it's time for a reality check. First: come on, grow up, and communicate clearly like an adult. Second: you actually don't have the right to complain about household matters if you're not even paying bills or contributing much to the house. 

What's even worse is that the sisters show up in this situation only to criticize their sibling, without actually stepping in to help. Yeah, offering advice and passing judgment is the easiest way out. What about taking some responsibility and sharing the burden? Nope, never seems to cross their mind.

So, at some point, you have to make a choice. It's hard to confront a parent, but respect should go both ways. You can love someone and set limits when their behavior starts affecting your household. Setting boundaries isn't cruel or selfish; it's necessary to protect relationships. You can keep trying to please your father and risk losing your peace and the life you've built with your husband… or you can protect your marriage and the harmony of your home. Choosing your household doesn't mean you love your dad less; it means understanding that respect comes first, and that boundaries are what keep any relationship healthy in the long run.

A gentle scroll break filled with cozy, comforting cat energy.

Some days, the internet feels like a bit much, and that's where wholesome cats quietly save the day. No chaos, no drama, just gentle purring, slow blinks, and tiny paws doing their thing. This collection is here to soften the edges, offering a calm corner of the online world where everything feels a little lighter.

From sleepy loafs basking in sunbeams to affectionate cuddle bugs who insist on being held like babies, these cats are masters of comfort. They do not try too hard, and that is exactly the point. Their soft energy is contagious, reminding us that sometimes the best moments are the quietest, simplest ones.

So if you are scrolling in need of a reset, consider this your invitation to pause for a minute. Let these wholesome felines work their subtle magic, one cozy image at a time. It is not about escaping the day: it is about making it just a little softer, warmer, and easier to handle.

There is something deeply reassuring about the way cats exist so fully in the present moment. Whether they are stretching lazily or blinking up at the world with quiet curiosity, they bring a sense of calm that feels almost contagious. Spending even a few seconds with them can gently pull you out of the noise.

Each of these wholesome cats offers a tiny reminder that comfort does not have to be complicated. A warm spot, a soft nap, a familiar face nearby can be more than enough. Let this collection be a small pause in your day, a chance to slow down, breathe, and enjoy something simple and genuinely sweet.