Why are pictures of cats so popular?

Pictures of cats are tremendously popular, as any gift shop owner or proprietor will tell you. Why are they so much more popular than pictures of dogs or other animals? This article looks at some of the reasons of the popularity of cat pictures.

What is special about cats?

Why do we love cats? Cats are rapidly overtaking dogs as the most popular of all pets in the UK. This is because, despite many opinions being to the contrary, cats are very loving. As a famous poet once put it, "One small cat turns coming home to an empty house to coming home". Cute kittens in particular are almost universally loved. Cat lovers collect cat items and pictures Cats are special, in that people who love them tend to collect everything to do with them, or any item that has a cat image on it. They will gather together kitten pics, cat ornaments, cat clothing, and all manner of other paraphernalia. Why? Well, as the owner of a gift shop once put it to me, owners of a particular breed of dog tend to buy pictures of that dog, but most cats look fairly similar, so cat lovers will buy any picture of any cat. It makes sense.

So why exactly are pictures of cats so popular?

Cats are beautiful Cats are beautiful animals in themselves. Even those who aren't 'cat people' will often buy pictures of cute cats, silly cat pictures, photos of a cat being funny in ways that only a cat knows etc. So it's not just cat owners who buy cat pictures. Cat pictures make great presents Cat pictures tend to be bought as presents for cat owners and cat lovers for birthday, Christmas, and similar special occasions. If people know you are a cat lover, they know that you will love cat pictures. it's as simple as that. Cat humour Cats can be very funny. All cat owners know this, but the fact has recently been published in the best selling YouTube videos and books about cat antics, "Simon's Cat". These cartoon pictures, showing cats doing strange, but very feline cat things, have acquired a worldwide following, and have probably by themselves been responsible for the increase in the popularity of both cat pictures and cats themselves.