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Cats have been our friends ever since we let them hang around grain stores to keep out rats and other pests. Yes, they do tend to see us more as “staff” than friends, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be downright endearing and cuddly at the same time.

People from across the internet have shared cute, adorable and heartwarming pictures of their cats and we’ve gathered them here. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to add your own thoughts and experiences to the comments section down below.

#1 We Adopted A 17 Year Old Baby

Image credits: YakOne3002

#2 Meet Tiger, My Boyfriends Ancient 20 Year Old Kitty

Image credits: Corgi_teefs

#3 Was Sad And Lay Down Flat On The Floor And Closed My Eyes. Opened Them Back Up To Find This

Image credits: miraclealigner92

The domestication of cats by humans is as much about occupation as it is an unassuming, mutual compromise that developed over thousands of years. Unlike dogs, who were specifically bred from wolves to be utility and companion animals, cats essentially domesticated themselves.

It begins sometime around 9,000 years ago, in the Fertile Crescent, today’s Middle East regions, where early agrarian societies were starting to form. When man first began to store surplus grain, the rodents took over, and soon after them, the wildcats, attracted by the easy hunting.

#4 This Morning I Discovered I Was Having A Miscarriage. Emma Has Been Snuggling With Me For 2 Hours Now

Image credits: DefinitelynotYissa

#5 I’ve Felt A Void In My Life Ever Since My Cat Passed So I Adopted The Saddest Cat At The Shelter

Image credits: ajamesmccarthy

#6 He Protected Two Baby Kittens Against 5 Other Adult Cats

Image credits: Cat-on-the-run

These wildcats, which in this instance were “Felis lybica” (the African wildcat), were solitary and suspicious of their ways, but some had more amenable attitudes towards men. These approachable cats thrived in the settlements where they enjoyed food and some protection.

#7 Pulled This Guy Off The Side Of The Highway Today

Image credits: No_Couple_7761

#8 At 19 Years Old, My Senior Cat Has Entered Her Garden Goddess Era

Image credits: TechnologyFull6412

#9 My Girlfriend And Our Two Girls Brought This Little Girl Home After Finding Her Abandoned On A Walking Trail , She Was Pretty Traumatized But After A Few Weeks She Is Starting To Come Around. This Is Kitty

Image credits: RipTorn1978

Man was also gainers from the efficiency of the cats as hunters, keeping the rodent numbers down. Over the generations, this loose bond gradually developed to become better known. By around 7500 BCE, remains found on the island of Cyprus, where cats would have needed to be transported by people intentionally, show that cats were already living closely with people.

#10 This Is The Best Feeling In The World

Image credits: skoalreaver

#11 My Boyfriends “Feral” 20 Year Old Cat That Won’t Let Anyone Touch Him

Image credits: Lost_Ad_6204

#12 The Tiniest Of Smol

Image credits: According_Plant_1065

Skip forward to Egypt, and the bond had become downright cultural veneration. In 2000 BCE, cats were no longer just tolerated, Egyptians loved them. Egyptians identified cats with divinity and protection, and the cat goddess Bastet symbolized home life, fertility, and graciousness. To slay a cat was to be guilty of a serious offense, and families of cat owners tended to mummify their feline friends, burying them with ritual and love. Their ability to ward off vermin and snakes only increased their sacred standing.

#13 Probably The Best Part Of My Job (I Paint Houses)

Image credits: taykaybo

#14 My Girlfriend Painted Me And My Cat

Image credits: Bewk27

#15 Rescued Her Only 72 Hours Ago. Meet Denim

Image credits: YoutubeBinger99

And from there, cats spread all around the ancient world, on ships, in caravans, by war and trade. The Romans enjoyed them and spread them all over Europe. In Asia, they were introduced to houses and monasteries, often linked with spirituality and good fortune.

#16 I Know As Parents, We Can Be Biased… But Isn’t My Baby So Beautiful? 🥹

Image credits: justlovespeacocks

#17 Adopted This Dude A Month Ago And He Won’t Stop Staring At Me

Image credits: brian_the_wanderer

#18 After My Dog Of 14 Years Passed Away And A Year Plus Of Grieving, I’m Starting A New Chapter As A Cat Dad. I’m Absolutely Giddy For This Kitty

Image credits: smilingmercenary23

By the medieval period, cats had a more nuanced image in Europe, sometimes even with witches and superstition, but they never completely lost their practical attraction. Along the way, cats were semi-domesticated, to a degree, retaining an independence that would set them apart from other domesticates.

#19 My Tiny Round Girl!!!! Cleo

Image credits: Kelsfergo

#20 Thank You For Growing Up With Me

Image credits: yayavittle

#21 His Name Is Wilfred And He Just Stole My Entire Family’s Hearts

Image credits: autoboyluna

We keep today loving cats not in spite of but maybe because of their independence. They offer companionship without possessiveness, affection without obtrusiveness. Their behavior, fun-loving and hunting, detached and gentle, evokes something raw and primal. In a society where control and predictability organize much of life, cats remain a little strange in their intensity. They are animals that chose to live with us instead of under us, and their independence is refreshing.

#22 Found This Tiny Void On The Side Of The Road, 4 Flea Baths And 1 Tiny Bandana Later, Here He Is. Meet Arlo!

Image credits: Sled_Dogg

#23 10 Years With This Floof

His mama got hit by a car when he was about 4 weeks old. The rest of the litter didn’t make it and I was determined to keep him alive. I’ve been the only person he tolerates since. 🖤

Image credits: Scared_Category6311

#24 My Old Man, Yahtzee. No One Believes Me When I Tell Them He’s 16 Years Old

Image credits: Aetra

Cats also mirror something in us: moods, boundaries, curiosity, and grace. Small enough to fit comfortably inside human dwellings but dignity-laden enough to feel like equals. From sunbeam naps curled up in windows to sprinting across the room at 3 a.m., they bring beauty, humor, and comfort. In a sense, we don’t own cats, we coexist with them. And that equilibrium, originally struck millennia ago in a rodent-ridden granary, continues to dictate the reasons why we adore them today.

#25 The Softest Paw You’ll See Today

Image credits: imjappo

#26 While Running I Bumped Into This Splendid Specimen

Image credits: tantan66

#27 He Is Handsome. He Is Grace. He Hates It When You Kiss His Face

Image credits: Disneychick322

#28 Caught Him Staring While I Was Asleep

Image credits: Only-Spend-9109

#29 She Was Playing So Hard And Then All Of A Sudden

Image credits: boeiejoh

#30 My Cat (White) And His Girlfriend I Think (She Is Not Mine)

Image credits: NoData3663

#31 My Cat Turned 19. He Loves Pancakes

Image credits: k0nz

#32 Pay Your Cat Tax

Image credits: Aware_Ability8074

#33 Our Boy’s Growth Over The Past Couple Years

Image credits: HalfDime5

#34 An Educated Gentleman

Image credits: effloresca

#35 I Think Everyone Should See My Cat Atleast Once In Their Lifetime

Image credits: realsecretfairy

#36 My Beautiful Girl 🩷 Adopted Her Today!

Image credits: virghoebbyxx

#37 Am I Crazy To Think This Cat Loves Me?

Image credits: _1Vertigo_

#38 I Lost My Beautiful Boy This Morning So I Wanted To Share Him With You All

Image credits: crazeddude64

#39 Whatcha…. Look’n At Lucy?

Image credits: jNealB

#40 Found 2 New Criminals Hiding In Our Barn

Image credits: Cancer_dancer1

#41 How My Kitten Slept With Us On His First Night Home 🥺

Image credits: Crescent__Luna

#42 She’s Been So Much More Clingy And Affectionate Since I’ve Been Pregnant. Look At That Face 🥹

Image credits: reddit.com

#43 Two Years Apart, Same Favorite Spot

Image credits: badbadradbad

#44 Had The Audacity To Go Out Of Town For 4 Days. Bagel’s Been Glued To Me Since

Image credits: Lauraizm

#45 I Got My First Cat Yesterday

Image credits: Jen_Neric

#46 The Orange Girl Gang Now Has A Fifth Member – Peach – Found Hiding In A Pipe After Her 4 Siblings Were Found 2 By 2. A Five-Girl Orange Band!

Image credits: liefieblue

#47 Alberto Says Hello!

Image credits: reddit.com

#48 Adopters Keep Asking To Split Up Bonded Pair

Image credits: Kitty_casserole

#49 Adopted Her On Saturday And I Just Think Shes Neat !

Image credits: sarcasticbees

#50 4 Years Ago My Girlfriend Was Taking A Walk In The Middle Of Nowhere In Arizona When She Heard The Tinest Of Cries Coming From A Pvc Pipe. When She Looked She Found These Little Babies. She Brought Them Home Showered Them With Love

Image credits: reddit.com

#51 Remember Mini (Mega)? Turns Out She Is Perfectly Healthy She Just Has Dwarfism. Swipe To See How Big She Is Getting

She is 5 and a half months old now and just over two pounds.

Image credits: IllustratorBig8972

#52 Tomorrow This Little Fluff Ball Bounces Off To His Forever Home

Image credits: twoleggedgrazer

#53 2week Old Feral Fail Won’t Let Me Work

Image credits: mostundudelike

#54 I’m Allergic But I Can’t Stop Holding Him

Found kittens in a crawlspace. This one had a dried wound and was walking odd (also the smallest). Cleaned up, formula + wet food and a warm bed, he is doing a lot better…vet visit in store. I’m popping allergy pills and loving every second…never considered myself a cat person until now.

Image credits: Zealousideal_Date749

#55 So…. I Found This In My Garage This Morning. Ummm

Image credits: IllDoItTomorr0w

#56 Im Really Stupid. I Kissed My Cat With Lipstick On. I Washed Her With Cat Shampoo But It Didnt Work. Any Other Solution? Should I Try Coconut Oil?

Image credits: bluekleio

#57 Found This Stinky Girl In A Sonic Parking Lot

Image credits: HealthClean4149

#58 Adopted This Stray Tomcat Last Weekend. He’s Got Huge Cheeks

Image credits: Cool_McStellar

#59 Gandalf After Feeding And A Bath

Image credits: K1ng_Arthur_IV

#60 She Screamed Outside My Window Until I Let Her😆

Image credits: JoyBoy100x

#61 My Best Friend Troutman Corndog Came To Visit Me At Work Today

Image credits: meowpal33

#62 Butterfly Visitor During His Cat Nap

Image credits: Julsruls123

#63 My GF Of 7 Years Passed Away And All I Got Were These Lousy Cats

In all seriousness, my lovely girlfriend passed away a couple days into the new year after a battle with pneumonia and the complications that followed.

Her biggest pride and joy were her cats, Olive and Pearl (the black cat and the grey tabby, respectively).

Image credits: esairbear

#64 Almost Eight And A Half Months Old

Image credits: RubyBlueSun

#65 Found This Kitten Outside-Not Only Is She Sweet & Healthy, She Fits Right In With My Other 4 Cats

Image credits: Coffeeandbunnies

#66 I Growed Up

This is Milton. My bottle baby that I found at 2 weeks old in my neighbor’s window well. He is now 6 months old and is bigger than my two, five year old cats.

Image credits: _dys-lexi-a_

#67 My Family Makes Fun Of Him Because Of His Ears So Please Tell Him He’s The Cutest Patootie In The Whole World

Image credits: dfrancesca

#68 Neighbor’s Cat Has Alzheimers, Forgets That He Doesn’t Live Here

Image credits: Apprehensive-Wave309

#69 Just Found Her Outside On The Frozen Creek

Image credits: Galethewizard1

#70 Found Her At The Back Door This Morning

Image credits: YetAnotherZombie

#71 Just A Baby 🍼

Image credits: lacybun

#72 I Can’t Get Over This Man And His Lil’ Toesies

Image credits: IshiTonbo

#73 Im A Shelter Vet Tech And As I Was Leaving Saw This Baby Pop Out Of His Blanket Fort

Image credits: MegaNymphia

#74 Look What I’ve Found In The Streets

Image credits: UpsetCustomer5498

#75 My Mother Adopted An Adult Cat

Image credits: mildpandemic

#76 Bought This Furball Two Different Cat Houses And A Mattress. Still Chooses To Sleep In My Drawer

Image credits: Lauris024

#77 Learning From The Masters

Image credits: PreyToTheDemons

#78 Variety Pack Kittens

Image credits: Ok_Valuable_9711

#79 Hudson’s Current Status – C O N C E R N E D

Image credits: c4t-tp

#80 Went To Mexico. Came Back With This Little Dude

Image credits: niccia

#81 “I See You Have Macaroni. I, On The Other Hand, Do Not Have Macaroni”

Image credits: Past-Example

#82 This Is Cheeto, Adopted This Old Man A While Back And I Think He Might Be My Soul Cat

Image credits: SoulDisruption

#83 Accidental Band Picture

Image credits: kayleidoscopee

#84 I Almost K**led My Cat In The Dryer And I Don’t Think I’ll Ever Be Able To Forgive Myself

He’s fine (I think). I caught it really quick THANK GOD. I always check the dryer when he’s around because it’s been a fear of mine. I didn’t even see him come in the laundry room and of course the one time I didn’t check, he was in there!!

Ugh I’m going to be up all night, making sure he’s really ok and also because the banging sound is haunting me.

PSA CHECK THE DRYER EVERY TIME!!!