There are currently more than 68 million posts on TikTok with the hashtag #cat and #cats.
In fact, cats are so popular, there’s an annual day dedicated to celebrating all things feline! But why are cats so popular and why do cat videos regularly go viral on your socials?
Why are cat videos so popular on the internet?
A 2020 study by the University of Leeds found that watching cute animals can help reduce stress and anxiety. This might explain why so many people enjoy watching and sharing cat videos on social media. In 2023 there were a mind-boggling 502 billion views for TikToks with the hashtag #cat.
But what makes cats go viral on our socials?
- Emotional appeal: Studies have shown that videos that make us feel strong emotions, like happiness or surprise, are twice as likely to be shared on socials. Cat videos have this in bucket loads, from cute cuddly kittens to funny felines springing a surprise, cat videos certainly tug on the heart strings!
- Relatability: When a video shows something we can all relate to, it makes us feel connected and more likely to share it. 29% of all UK households own a cat in 2024, so as a nation of cat lovers we can really relate to our furry friends.
- Shareability: Videos that are easy to share and use popular hashtags or trends can reach a bigger audience quickly. The hashtag #catsofinstagram currently has more than 200 million posts on Instagram, which is one of the top 100 searched hashtags on the platform!
As well as the above, there are lots of other reasons for why a video might go viral. One could be the platform's algorithm – a computer program which decides what you see based on your likes, your shares and your follows, and because of this, social media algorithms will likely show you different content compared to other people's feeds.
TikTok's for you page (FYP) uses algorithms to curate a personalised feed based on your previous activity. This means that the more cat videos you engage with, the more likely it is that you'll see more cute cat content on your feeds.
When is International Cat Day?
International Cat Day is celebrated on 8 August each year. It's a day to appreciate our feline friends, raise awareness about cats and to promote their well-being and protection.
Who are the most famous cats on social media?
Watching funny cat videos isn't something new. In fact, the first ever cat video was made in 1894 and was called "Boxing Cats". Photos of cats have been shared on the internet since the 1990s, but it wasn't until 2005 that a video of YouTube co-founder Steve Chen's cat 'Pajamas' paved the way for a flurry of social media superstars.
- Nala Cat Nala is the most popular cat on Instagram with more than 4 million followers! She even holds a Guinness World Record for Most Popular Cat on Instagram.
- That Little Puff Puff is one of the top cat influencers on TikTok with more than 33 million followers.
- Grumpy Cat Sadly, Tardar Sauce a.k.a Grumpy Cat died in 2019, but she was one of the original kitty social stars, rising to fame in 2012 with memes featuring the moody moggy being shared right across the internet. Although she is no longer with us, her memory lives on with her Instagram account still posting regular content featuring the frowning feline to more than 2.5 million followers.
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