February Funnies: Why we Love Cat Videos so Much

I’ll be the first to admit that I have gone to bed early only to spend more time laying there watching cat videos, and not sleeping. Sometimes it’s a video I’ve seen before, but I watch it again and laugh hysterically. From cats climbing and falling, to howling at each other, and then running up and down a hallway, cat videos are responsible for lots of entertainment and distraction. Why are these silly videos so mesmerizing? ​

A Juxtaposition
Cats have been domesticated over the centuries (or so they let us think). We see them as sleek and regal creatures, so watching them jump and miss a cat tree makes us burst into laughter. The bottom line is that cats are wild creatures just like their larger relatives, so it’s fun witnessing the contrast of being a bit more domesticated, and goofy, inside our homes. Their naturally wild nature captures our attention, so much so that people who don’t own cats, or particularly care for them, also enjoy watching cat videos!  

Cats also don’t care that they’re being watched. The innocence and inhibition of quirky felines shows that they simply do what they want, when they want, with no mind to the consequences. Sometimes humans dream of being so uninhibited, and maybe watching cats do it successfully helps relieve some of our stress over the matter.

Cats Rule
While there tends to be more internet searches for dogs rather than cats, the videos for cats outnumber dogs. Perhaps it is because the US has more internet usage than other countries, and we tend to favor cats. It could also be because trying to get a cat to like you is tough, while dogs usually beg for human attention. You have to earn a cat's love and attention; they can be a tough audience.

While they are domesticated animals, we tend to put our human behavior into cats’ actions. We see them trying to make friends, be sneaky, and outsmart one another. Anthropomorphizing cats lets us believe that cats think like us, even though they definitely don’t.

Cat Therapy
Laughing out loud, and distracting yourself from a moment of anxiety or stress can be therapeutic. Pet therapy can happen in many forms, but with the rise of cell phones and social media, we don’t always need to be with the animal itself to reap the benefits. Even my brother, who is allergic to cats, has been known to watch some funny cat videos and have a good laugh! Studies have also shown that there is a rise in productivity after watching some hilarious cat antics.

The next time you find yourself laughing at a cat on a vacuum, or swatting at a football on the TV, relax and enjoy, and know you’ll probably sleep better because of it.