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Most cat pictures are as adorable as a baby’s laughter. And if you capture these furry felines at the perfect moment, you may have a photo worth a thousand shares.

The Accidental Renaissance Cats Facebook group features these endearing inadvertent snapshots. As the name suggests, many of these images somehow resemble artwork from centuries ago.

We’ve collected some of the stills that stood out from the page. Whether you’re a cat lover or not, these will likely liven up your day.

#1

Image credits: Lyra Shiva

#2

Image credits: Ivy MH

#3

Image credits: Olga Marta Andrynowska

Bored Panda has published a few pieces covering ‘Accidental Renaissance’ photos. In one of our articles in late 2023, we spoke with art historian Sally Hickson to learn more about what Renaissance art really is.

“The widespread use of single-point perspective is a key to recognizing early Renaissance works. You know, tiny figures contained within a perfectly proportional world, usually including architectural settings that help to set the scale.”

#4

Image credits: Michelle Eccles

#5

Image credits: nbsoprano

#6

Image credits: Rhonda Joy Oertli

Doing a quick search on the traits of Renaissance art will lead you to a laundry list of differing results. But according to Hickson, “it’s all about creating a perfect image of the world.”

“Along with the usual altarpieces and depictions of saints, there’s an interest in mythological scenes — the reimagining of the ancient world.”

#7

Image credits: Megan Pallante

#8

Image credits: Deividas Rainys

#9

Image credits: Ivy MacLeod

Hickson delved further into the defining characteristics of Renaissance art, which she also says is about balance and perfection.

“The Renaissance is not just one thing in terms of visual language. It’s about an evolution of visual language centered on the full range of human experience.”

#10

Image credits: Miriam Tellechea

#11

Image credits: Laura Watton-Davies

#12

Image credits: Traci VanDivner

Let’s shift our attention to cats, our main subjects for this piece. According to research, our natural liking for felines dates back to nearly 10,000 years ago. Here’s an explanation from paleo-geneticist Dr. Eva-Maria Geigl:

“[Cats] approached human settlements because there was food — concentrated rodents thriving on grain accumulations,” Dr. Geigl told Medical News Today. “Humans had a real interest in having cats around. They were just happy with the cats feasting on the rodents that destroyed their cereals.”

#13

Image credits: Jennifer Gershon

#14

Image credits: Stavros Sklavenitis

#15

Image credits: Jennifer D Perez Brishty

In a separate interview, Washington State University professor Dr. Patricia Pendry shared her theory about why many people love cats so much.

“The subtle and somewhat unpredictable responses cats give us, give us the perception that we are chosen — or perceived as ‘special’ when a response from a cat does occur,” she explained.

“Because the response tends to take a little bit more time to emerge, we are captivated by a desire to know what the cat will do.”

#16

Image credits: Ivy MH

#17

Image credits: Tracy Eccleston

#18

Image credits: Nastazja Lewicka

Unlike dogs, cats have a mysterious vibe to them. And according to Dr. Pendry, that incalculable nature adds to their allure.

“Because the nature and timing of their actions are less predictable, we may remain captivated, almost in an addictive kind of way — you can’t rip yourself away because that purr, that special rub may be just around the corner.”

#19

Image credits: Kayla Bucknell

#20

Image credits: Stacey Wollstein

#21

Image credits: Megan Artin

In 2014, Adweek data revealed cat photos were more popular than selfies in the UK. British people shared over 3.8 million feline photos at the time compared to just 1.4 million selfies. There were also more than 350,000 social media accounts dedicated to cats.

Digital media executive Daniel Fisher helped with the research. In an interview with Metro, he gave his take on the online cat craze.

#22

Image credits: Maria Ruban

#23

Image credits: Trish Anne

#24

Image credits: Morgan Abreu

Fisher says the photos that drew the most attention showed cats being more like people, just like many on this list.

“The most popular internet cats display human characteristics, mirroring our everyday habits. The Internet cat Hall of Fame features grumpy, affectionate, keyboard playing, surprised, talking and angry cats,” Fisher explained.

#25

Image credits: Tracy Druckrey

#26

Image credits: Jenna Geris

#27

Image credits: Amy Flint

Fisher did point out one key observation: humor trumps cuteness when it comes to cat photos online.

“The vast majority of cat videos online are cute,” he said. “But the superstars are the ones who are hilarious, make us smile, and want to share with our friends and followers.”