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One of the most striking things about the internet boom and the rise of sites like Youtube is the democratization of fame (or “fame” — there’s certainly a difference between reality show famous and Tom Cruise famous) — but many of those it’s brought fame to aren’t even human. They’re cats. Of the top twenty or so most-watched-ever videos on Youtube — ranging from about 5 million views on the low end to 40 million on the top end — eight of them feature cats. Can you imagine twenty million people watching your pet do silly tricks? It boggles the mind! I had to find out what these cats were doing that so many people found irresistible.
Ninja Cat
This is no ordinary video of a cat stalking its owner — it’s shot, and I must say performed, with true Hitchcockian flair. And the music cues — genius!
Garfield is Real
This is not unlike one of those bigfoot hoax videos, where some unsuspecting hiker with a video camera stumbles across the cryptozoological find of his life. Except in this case, what the camera finds is an honest-to-God real-life Garfield. Watch it through to the end — the profile shot is the money shot.
Cat Speaking in Tongues?
More than eleven million people have watched this video, which I have to say documents one of the strangest vocalizations I’ve ever heard from a cat. Kinda reminds me of those 50s-era experiments where they give cats LSD and watch what happens. The canned laugh track makes it all the more surreal.
Spaghetti Cat
With Spaghetti Cat, I think we’re witnessing the birth of yet another cat-related meme — which amazingly, started on television and not the internet. Here’s what happened. During a segment of The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet about binge drinking, the image suddenly cuts to a still picture of a cat eating spaghetti — and then back to the show a second later, with no mention of the cat ever made. It became something of a mystery for weeks afterward, until an E! spokesperson finally revealed that the cat picture had been used as a kind of “visual bleep” (to cover what, we may never know). Regardless of its intent, those in the know are expecting Spaghetti Cat to become the new Rickroll. Here’s the clip:
The two talking cats
A simple title, a simple concept, simple execution — fourteen million views and counting. It’s two cats sitting next to one another, who seem to be having a conversation. You’ve got to wonder, is this a phenomenon so rare, so unheard of, that to capture it on video and post it on the internet could warrant so much attention? Decide for yourself!
Comments (15)
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Ninja Cat is hilarious. Perfect music score for the scene.
posted by brian on 10-1-2008 at 10:38 am
don’t forget lolcats
posted by Caitlin on 10-1-2008 at 10:56 am
When my cats meow at me, I usually meow back at them. It is like having a conversation with them, except I have no idea what I’m saying to them.
posted by Jon on 10-1-2008 at 10:59 am
Cat 1: Will you give me a bath
Cat 2: No way do it yourself!
Cat 1: Come on I gave you one yesterday.
Cat 2: I’m not in the mood okay?
Cat 1: I’ll just keep asking til you do it.
Cat 2: Oy! Fine come here.
posted by Tricia on 10-1-2008 at 11:05 am
Cats rule.
posted by Johnny Cat on 10-1-2008 at 11:06 am
Nora the piano-playing cat! The original cheezburger cat!
This is a wonderful list though =)
posted by E Roach on 10-1-2008 at 11:13 am
i heard that the spaghetti cat was put up to bleep the woman’s comment that she was a (offensive term for mentally-challenged people that starts with the letter ‘R’).
posted by Elizabeth on 10-1-2008 at 12:50 pm
My friend had a cat that, when you scratched her at just the right place near the base of the spine, would go into automatic side-to-side head movement and uncontrolled licking. I think that must be what is happening with the Cat who Speaks in Tongues – note that when the camera moves in for the facial close up, a flicker of human flesh can be seen. Only difference is this cat is trying to meow at the same time. Still weird, though.
posted by VM on 10-1-2008 at 1:03 pm
What about Winston? The cat that will eat anything?
He’s even got his own tab on Cute Overload!
posted by mags on 10-1-2008 at 1:20 pm
Oh, man, those were hilarious, I love it
posted by Lisa on 10-1-2008 at 5:55 pm
@VM
My cat does the same thing! When you scratch the base of her tail, it’s like she goes into a trance – her eyes get all unfocused and she starts licking whatever’s in front of her. It’s hilarious, though I do feel a bit like I’m manipulating her.
Love the ninja cat! I laughed and laughed…and, ironically, woke up my own cat. She didn’t think it was as funny as I did.
posted by Lynley on 10-1-2008 at 10:55 pm
Ninja Cat makes me giggle every time I see it. Especially since the cat has a ‘What the crap are you doing?’ look on its face.
I was a little freaked out by Spaghetti Cat when I first saw it. My favorite gags I’ve seen of it are on The Soup. They actually built a replica of the pic and randomly wheel it on camera.
posted by heather on 10-2-2008 at 4:20 am
I’ve had more than one cat who would fall victim to the uncontrollable licking when you scratch their back/top of their tail. I have no idea what the compulsion is related to, it seems completely involuntary and *necessary* for the cat; but it’s quite amusing. :)
posted by cb on 10-2-2008 at 10:56 am
Ceiling cat really has to make this list.
posted by todd. on 10-4-2008 at 4:22 pm
that ninja cat has the cutest face ever
posted by coffee fiend on 12-26-2008 at 7:05 pm