What's more satisfying than finally graduating? Graduating just to spite people who tried to put you down.

That's exactly what happened to this now Doctor of Social Work. He shared on r/pettyrevenge what led him to get his PhD in the end. His grandfather got diagnosed with something that requires him to get constant attention, so since the grandson had a Master's in Social Work, he knew how to get by and get him everything that he needed. His aunt, however, wasn't so happy with the arrangement. She believed she should take care of her own father, since she had a PhD in veterinary medicine and thought she knew better. Mind you, the grandfather was perfectly happy with the original arrangement. The grandson, just to spite his aunt, went and got his doctorate in Social Work, all while also helping care for his grandfather. 

The thing about arrogant people is that they never know when to step aside and let others take care of the situation. A PhD in veterinary medicine is a great achievement, but the biology of animals is not the same as humans'. Illnesses can and do affect them differently. Believing that a degree defines a person's knowledge and competence to handle difficult situations is incredibly shortsighted and speaks more of the aunt's inability to put aside her pride and do what's best for her father. With people like that, it's not enough to tell them that they're wrong. They have to see it for themselves, and sometimes when they finally do, it's too late. 

Everything worked out in the end; the guy got his PhD and the grandfather received the help he needed, while also being extremely proud of his grandson. The aunt must have had to bite her own tongue after it, and that is probably the best part of the story. She must have learned the valuable lesson of not underestimating or diminishing people, and never defining them by their college degree. It's a good way to see that, every time someone tells you that you're not fit for something, it is an excellent opportunity to go outside and prove them wrong. 

These cats definitely had a My Chemical Romance phase.

Being emo isn't just about wearing black. It's about dramatically staring out the window while the rain falls, acting like nobody understands you, and carrying the weight of the world because breakfast arrived four minutes later than expected. Cats have been perfecting that energy long before it had a name.

They've already mastered the thousand-yard stare. Ask a cat what they're thinking, and you'll get a look that says, "You wouldn't get it." They spend hours sitting alone in dark corners for absolutely no reason, disappear whenever guests come over, and somehow manage to turn every ordinary moment into an emotional statement. Walking down the hallway becomes a slow-motion music video. Sitting on the windowsill feels like they're waiting for someone who'll never come home, when they're really just watching a squirrel.

The facial expressions only add to the illusion. That permanently unimpressed face, those sleepy eyes, and the occasional dramatic sigh make it seem like they're carrying years of emotional baggage. Meanwhile, five minutes later they're sprinting through the house at full speed because they saw absolutely nothing.

Then there's the soundtrack they seem to live by. Every late-night zoomie feels like it should be accompanied by heavy guitar riffs, while every rainy afternoon nap belongs on the cover of an early-2000s emo album. They don't need eyeliner or band tees. The vibe is already there.

That's why cats pull off the emo look so effortlessly. They're independent, a little mysterious, and perfectly happy spending time alone until they suddenly decide they need affection immediately. It's dramatic, it's confusing, and somehow it works every single time. If any animal was destined to be the lead singer of an imaginary emo band, it was always going to be a cat.

Fed-up homeowner in a resort town tows the vehicles of "half the neighborhood" of Airbnb guests, angering guests and hosts alike—Some Airbnb guests told me they will sue for the towing cost

Frustrated with how short-term rental platforms had reshaped the neighborhood, this homeowner, or holiday homeowner, rather, took matters into his own hands. After getting standards set by his local version of an HOA regarding parking, he set out to clean up the streets like a caped crusader. The next time his family went on holiday, and was greeted with a horde of badly and, now, very illegally parked cars. Even the plethora of parking signage wasn't enough to keep them from taking up all the residents' spots. So the homeowner executed the final part of the plan… and had them all towed. Causing a wave of ensuing rage and chaos from the guests and their hosts alike.

Parking is a common point of conflict in neighborhoods. With the limited resources sparking competition amongst residents and creating conflict when careless neighbors refuse to follow even the most clearly marked parking rules. But this gets amplified in situations like this where careless for-profit absentee owners, who use short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, basically turn neighborhoods into profit operations and play victim whenever they're made to follow the rules.

In this post, we'll take a look at the original story that was shared by the homeowner, the advice that was given to the homeowner, and talk about related issues. Usually, I try to avoid doing so, but the original story has been edited here from its original version for readability, as the original poster's English, by their own admission, is limited. My edits have been marked by brackets. 

The tiniest victories are often the ones worth celebrating the most.

Caring for a newborn kitten is one of the quickest ways to forget what a full night's sleep feels like. The bottles never stop, the laundry somehow multiplies on its own, and every tiny milestone becomes the biggest event of the day. When a kitten is as fragile as Pluto, even gaining a couple extra grams can feel like cause for celebration.

After an incredibly stressful start, Pluto finally gave everyone a reason to breathe a little easier. His latest vet visit brought encouraging news, with the biggest fear, feline parvo, looking much less likely than it did just a few days ago. Instead, this tiny fighter is doing exactly what everyone hoped he would. He's eating, staying hydrated, and slowly putting on weight.

Slowly is the key word here. Pluto is still much smaller than a healthy kitten his age, and nobody's pretending the hard part is over. Rescue kittens have a habit of keeping their humans on their toes. One day brings relief, the next brings fresh worries. That's just part of the journey when you're raising a baby this small.

The weight gain is reason enough to celebrate, but Pluto's personality is starting to shine through, too. He's already claimed a warm blanket and hot water bottle as his favorite sleeping spot, and he's apparently decided his human should never, ever be late with a bottle. Tiny patient, big opinions. We'd expect nothing less from someone nicknamed the Lord of the Underworld.

For now, that's more than enough. A growing appetite, a little extra weight, and a kitten who's comfortable enough to start making a few demands all feel like signs that Pluto is headed in the right direction. We'll happily celebrate every gram, every bottle, and every update until this little guy is big enough to live up to his legendary name.

You can't keep your job just because your superiors are afraid to fire you because you are known for suing companies.

What is it with the US and suing? As if it were so easy to sue people and companies every time you don't like something. It truly amazes me the fact that some people can simply go around suing and have no problems because of it, as if it were completely normal. The fact that an employee is known for getting the law involved with several companies is something completely crazy in any other part of the world. Most countries do not provide citizens with the resources or freedom to go to such lengths to commit injustice. But this can be good and bad.

When we face situations like the one in the story below, where someone has involved the law SO MUCH that they are not only known for suing, but it also makes companies be afraid to fire him due to the implications it can bring to them is completely crazy. How much do you need to spend on lawyers to start to be known for something like this? And how much power do you have that people can't even do a silly office prank without being afraid of the judicial system?

I would say that this story is a little too local. In any other country, it would be unthinkable to hire someone who has taken companies to trial, mainly because owners would be afraid that this person does the same again. But also, it's not normal to sue that much. It's expensive, it makes you unlikeable, and it can damage your job opportunities no matter your capabilities. But, well, this employee sounds really bad, so let's hope he resigns soon without involving lawyers. 
 

Every cat lover has a dream cat. This person's dream cat came looking for them.

Most people spend weeks or months checking shelters, scrolling adoption pages, and hoping the perfect match comes along. Every once in a while, though, the Cat Distribution System decides to skip all of that and handle the introduction itself.

That's exactly what happened to one lucky cat lover who had been hoping and praying for a calico. Just a few steps away from home, a tiny calico kitten appeared out of nowhere and immediately started meowing for attention. The little one refused to be ignored, so her future human scooped her up and carried her to their third-floor apartment. She cried the entire way upstairs, almost like she was making sure they didn't change their mind.

The second the apartment door cracked open, the kitten walked right inside without a moment of hesitation. No cautious sniffing. No nervous pause. She acted like she'd already memorized the layout and was finally back where she belonged. That kind of confidence is enough to make anyone wonder if some cats really do choose their people.

Finding any friendly stray is special, but finding the exact kind of cat you'd been wishing for feels almost too perfect to believe. Whether it was fate, incredible timing, or the Cat Distribution System pulling off another one of its greatest successes, this tiny calico showed up at exactly the right place and exactly the right time.

When a cat has already decided you're going home together, there's really only one thing left to do: open the door and welcome them in.

Friendship's worst nightmare

I'm sure it's not easy to break up with a friend, but that difficulty can't be the excuse to lead a double life and exclude said friend from every group while pretending to get along. Of course, one can take matters into one's hands and realize one's being left out, but when you live under the belief that those are your friends, and they keep the exclusion in secret, you're left with not much you can do. In conclusion, if a group of people somehow agree they don't want you with them anymore, they should at least try to hint it to you, if they are cowardly enough not to let you know upfront. I always say we've created many rituals for when romantic relationships end, but we haven't got that many for when friendships end, so it becomes very uncomfortable to talk about it, and we resort to different variations of ghosting.

All orange cats have one brain cell - collectively. 

This is something that I have to admit that I did not know before I started writing for ICanHasCheezburger. See, I've never had an orange cat myself. My purrfect little cat was a trashcan kitty when I found her. Just the most regular shmegular cat. I've always loved cats, of course, but I didn't know all the cool things I know about cats now. I didn't know that black cats are meowgical, for example. I didn't know that Sphynx cats look like uncooked chicken and that their owners are so proud of that they share it online all the time. And as I mentioned, I didn't know that all orange cats have one brain cell. And beyond that, it took me a long, long time to realize that we are talking about sharing one single brain cell between all of them. 

But alas, this is something that I not only learned but that I also started noticing in real life. The stray ginger cats that I feed outside seem to always be a little more special, and every time I ask a cat owner of an actual orange cat about this phenomenon, they always agree. Literally always. Their gingers are always adorably unique in some way. And that got me to wondering if all of you guys - our audience - think the same thing as well. So I asked you on our Facebook page to send us the funniest, silliest, derpiest pictures of your beautiful ginger cats being… what they are. Just being gingers. And as always, you did not disappoint even slightly. The pictures you sent us are some of the funniest that I have ever seen, and choosing the few I could put into this collection was the most difficult task in the world. 

Relationship downgrade

I can't believe people seriously think about relationships this way. I understand you don't want to be someone's partner, but to be so self-centered as to 'demote' someone from partner to lover and expect them not to get offended is insane. I can't say I'm surprised because this has happened to most of my friends, male and female, but it's truly something I can't understand. Anyone can get confused, but empathy should prevail. If we want to exit a relationship, we should know we have to pay the price; there is no situation in which we can enjoy every benefit of a relationship but no compromise. At any rate, this man thinks HE can, and I wish there were no woman with low enough self-esteem to accept this asymmetrical relationship.

Have you ever sat in front of another person while they talked, and you just couldn't believe how many lies came out of their mouth?

Frankly, we don't remember when was the last time we experienced something like that, probably not since high school, because the people we interact with today are generally mature adults who don't lie to get what they want. But just because it's been a while since we encountered someone who basically lies for a living doesn't mean we are not aware that they exist. 

The closest thing we adults have to high school is our workplace, in which you can find the adult version of every typical teen you knew in school. At work, you can find the mean girl, the dumb jock, and of course, the kid who lies to pin every single mistake they did on someone else. And just like in high school, if that kid goes to the teacher and blames something they did on you, you would have to build your case and prove that they are lying; otherwise, you will get into much trouble. At work, the same can happen if a coworker decides to report you to HR; as long as you don't have proof that they are not telling the truth, your whole job can be at risk.

That is what the employee below is dealing with, after an interaction with an under-performing receptionist turned into a whole case with HR. It started when the receptionist kept making mistakes at her job, which caused delays in deadlines and general issues around the office. One employee decided to correct her and ensure she actually improves at her job, but she didn't enjoy the criticism and reported the employee to HR for being condescending to her. After the first report, the employee decided to record every interaction they had with the receptionist, so when she decided to turn to HR again, her lies wouldn't be so easily accepted.

You can find out what happened next right below.

Making friends as a cat can be a little bumpy sometimes. 

Adopting a second cat into the family is generally an idea that we support. It means your cat has a friend to spend time with when you are gone for work or on trips. It means there is another creature in the house that your cat can cuddle whenever they want to. Adopting a kitten for your cat means that there is someone they can teach, someone they can show how to commit crimes and do shenanigans. The benefits are endless, and nearly always, when someone asks us whether they should adopt a second cat, we say yes. Except for some times. 

Some cats have a hard time bonding with other cats. They are not used to having to share the attention and affection of their humans. These cats are usually ones who have never known what it means to share space with another, and the idea of it confuses them. It's not because they don't want a friend, and it's not because they can't get along with another animal. They are just kind of- confused about the situation. That's what happened with today's cat. 

All of a sudden, after the family adopted a new kitten, this cat stopped playing, stopped eating, stopped… being the way he always was. His family worried and took him to the vet, and there, they found out the strangest thing, some cats… cat get sad. And their cat was feeling like he was being replaced by the new kitten. It's not that he didn't like the new kitten. He just didn't know how to deal with having to share his humans' time and affection. But it all worked out in the end. After they proved to him just how much he matters, he gave the kitten a real chance, and now, they are best friends. 

To revenge or not to revenge

This hits close to home because I had a similar falling-out with a friend last week, and I was in the wrong, so I can understand the feeling of being betrayed when nothing is really happening, but there is still no excuse. What surprised me about this story is that the angry friend hasn't taken any steps back yet, but well, that might take some time, or not happen at all. Still, the girl who unknowingly started this entire drama only by going to a concert with a friend needs to make a decision and wants the internet's opinion before taking that next step, so that's where we come in.

To have the purrfect lazy Sunday, you have to start your day with a bunch of purrfect cats.

The mark of a truly lazy Sunday is spending the entire day acting like a cat. Embrace the cattitude. Be a cat. We have to spend the entire day at home without leaving for even one moment. We must enjoy some snacks. And then some more snacks. We must nap, wrapped up in a blanket purrito. Yes, even on a hot summer day like this. That is what air conditioners are for. We must spend the day watching birds through the window and thinking about how pawsome nature is. Without having any real interaction with said nature, of course, because that would take much work. Then we nap again, snack again, possibly have some catnip, and do all of it as many times as we can. That is the meaning of cattitude. 

Sounds like that would be the easiest day in the world, doesn't it? Well, not quite. You see the way that your cats complain about everything and nap every second that they get. Being a cat is hard. It's tiring. So, before doing all of that, you have to start your day on the right paw. For your cats, that might mean waking their owner up by screaming in their face at seven in the morning to get breakfast. For us, it's a little less intense. For us, a good day starts with a good, high quality collection of silly cat memes. That is all that it would take for you too. A few minutes while you are still in bed to scroll through some purely pawsitive cat content. What else could you possibly need on a Sunday morning to start it on the right paw? Have a purrfect Sunday, y'all!

Startups love calling themselves "informal," right up until that informality becomes convenient cover for something a bigger company would need HR sign-off on

That's the uncomfortable position one employee found herself in, quietly recruiting her own coworker's replacement while that coworker cheerfully believed the company was just expanding.

Nothing about the underlying decision is unusual on its own. Someone in a probationary period gets feedback about missing expectations, doesn't improve, and gets let go.

What's better than a good morning meow? Coffee may wake you up initially, but it won't scream in your face and demand tuna. 

There's nothing quite like starting your morning with a warm mug of meows…I mean coffee. The ol' cup of joe, a warm brew, a java, the name doesn't change how crucial it is, necessary, and how much coffee is loved by people around the world. While pondering whether your new coworker is kidding when she makes dark jokes, you sip on your fresh brew with enthusiasm and efficiency. And what do you hear in the periphery of your internal thoughts? Your cute kitty cat meowing at you for breakfast. Is it salmon or tuna? Only you should know. 

Coffee in one hand and a furry little cat purring by your side. For pet owners, cats have a way of turning groggy mornings into a smile on your face—whether it's through a silly stretch, a dramatic meow for breakfast, or simply curling up on your lap. Pair that with the morning joe, and suddenly the day feels a little brighter. Getting bogged down by the morning commute shouldn't be as terrible if you have cat memes to cheer you right up. Even if you have a real cat meowing at you and jumping at your legs to get you to feed them, it doesn't necessarily come close to the comedy and catharsis that cat memes allows. From the hungry tiger cat trying to steal his owner's food, to the cat who sleeps right on top of the dog to let him know who's boss, these cat memes are more than hilarious, they're life changing. Let these cat memes capture your attention better than caffeine. 

There's nothing wrong about being a picky eater, but there's no need to make it everyone's problem.

Being a picky eater is actually quite isolating. I can talk about it because I'm one of them. As a vegetarian that can't even smell some foods without gagging, you can't imagine how hard it is to accept an invitation to a house when you know you won't be able to eat most of the food they are going to have. And going with your own tupperware can be taken the wrong way by some hosts. Even though I get the struggle the girl in this story had, it's not an allergy. Not liking food doesn't mean that nobody can have that thing that I hate. You have whatever food you like. I'm not going to try it or be super near it, but I would never judge you or mistreat you because you are eating something I don't like. You respect the fact that I eat weird. I respect that you like food that I don't. We each have our own things, and we shouldn't be judging others.

The story below is different. I completely get the fact that she wanted to order something different, and I partially get why she ate somewhere else. Because, let's face it, sushi has a really strong smell that some people cannot tolerate. What I do disagree with is that she was against other people ordering food she doesn't like. You don't have an allergy or health issue that forbids other people from eating certain foods near you. Therefore, you don't have a real reason to be complaining about what other people order.

There's nothing wrong about being picky with food. But there is with being judgy about what other people like. If your friends are respecting the fact that you won't eat certain things (as they should). Why would you make a bigger deal? There is no reason to make? They respect you and encourage you to order what you liked. Be the same way towards other people. They weren't leaving this girl out. They were simply doing what they liked, as was she. So stop with the defensiveness. They were being kind and welcoming. There was no reason to go MIA about this. 
 

Is there anything more thoughtful than an older sibling who cares about their sister's interests and makes a personalized gift for her on her birthday? Apparently, a mother can still judge a nice gift by its price tag. 

A little sister's reaction at her birthday party should have settled the question. She dreams of becoming a doctor someday, and her sibling brought her a personalized doctor kit with real doctor supplies. Can you imagine how exciting that can be for a young girl who wants to learn about the profession? When she realized it contained work supplies instead of children's toys, she became so excited she spent the night learning how everything worked. By this point, the gift was a success.

Her older sibling had planned it carefully. The toy kits looked too young, cheap, and unrealistic for her age, so the sibling assembled something better from real equipment that was no longer needed. The package included a stethoscope, scrubs, masks, a thermometer, wraps, and other safe supplies. Everything in that kit served the theme, and every item was carefully planned for the birthday girl. 

The following day, however, their mother rewrote the moment. She complained that most of the items were used. She dismissed the fact that the gift required attention and knowledge of the sister's interests. The older sibling found a creative way to give their sister something substantial, and the lower price didn't erase that effort. The kit was not an empty box of clutter. It was a special present designed around the birthday girl's dream. 

After hearing her mother, the little sister is upset. Now, she feels disappointed about the fit of the scrubs, but she didn't care about that when she first got the gift, and she was thrilled. It seems the mother's criticism is not helping anyone here. The girl's joy at the party shows which approach reached her first, and the older sibling doesn't deserve to feel bad for giving their sister such a beautiful and thoughtful gift. 

Some things are better in theory than on paper

We've all been there, fantasising about our crush for months, even for years, until we finally meet them and the fantasy comes crumbling down. In a sense, it's better that it goes that way; idealizing someone so much can't be good; no good thing can come from pedestalizing somebody; it naturally leaves us in an inferior position. To me, when you are already there, sitting at a table across from somebody who has shown to be a complete jerk, you have to choose the funny road. You have to sit there and pretend to agree with everything they say so they feel comfortable saying the most random things that you will tell your friends (or the internet) about afterwards.

Drift off to sleep with these dreamy, sleeping kitties. 

When you're in a sleepy, staid torpor of listless lulled energy, drifting between the pendulum swing of wakefulness and slumber, there's nothing better that will send you into a dreamy sleep than a simple cat scroll of wholesome and hilarious memes before bed. We can all be grateful for certain aspects of society and culture today, because one of the most valuable things to worship right now is sleeping. Think of our grandparent's generation, waking up at 5 in the morning to do manual labor as a child, and the fact that everyone thought that was normal and even prideful. These days, we can all take a step back from strenuous and unnecessary work for a little bit more leisure time. 

More leisure time = more cat memes. More cat memes = more happiness. More happiness = better quality of life. So when you think about scrolling, there should never be associations of guilt or facile enjoyment, there can be feelings of real pleasure. So enjoy these sleeping kitties while you lull yourself to slumber. 

A nice thing for someone cannot be transferred onto a nice thing for everyone.

Doing something nice for someone you know needs it can be rewarding. You feel better because you cared enough to help. And the helped person has one less problem to worry about. Seems like a win-win situation, but it can get complicated easily. When another person approaches you asking for the same favor "because you did it for them". This new person isn't that close to you, and you don't feel like doing what you did for someone you care about a lot. Because it costs you and constitutes something that you don't want to renounce for somebody you don't care enough about. It's hard to hear, but it's the truth.

In this Reddit story, the aunt made an extra effort to pay her niece $40 an hour when she babysat. She knew it was too much, but she did it because her brother was not in a good financial situation and wanted to help out. It was an effort she wasn't going to do for anyone, but she did for her niece. When her brother remarried, the new wife had a daughter as well. He now said that his 15-year-old stepdaughter could start babysitting sometimes instead. This didn't sit well with this user. She didn't want to pay that much money to someone she doesn't know or care for. And the only reason this girl is doing it, according to her, is because of the money.

Now, why would this mother do that big of a sacrifice for someone she doesn't really care for? She does it for her niece, whom she appreciates and wants to genuinely help out. This is an obvious choice for her. It's a no. Her new step-niece can't babysit. But now she has to break the news to her brother. What's weird is that he didn't realize in what position she was putting her. Why would she ever do this for someone she doesn't even know? This is a simple choice. Let's hope it doesn't break the family.