Feline charity International Cat Care (iCatCare) has created a YouTube campaign exposing the hidden distress behind the behaviour seen in ’funny’ online cat videos.
We all know that cats, as well as being beloved companions all over the world, make up some of the most popular content on the internet. On YouTube alone, funny cat videos have reached over 25 billion views – from cats being “lazy” and falling over, to being “grumpy” or aggressive, our perception of the behaviour of our feline friends gets a lot of laughs.
But the reality of what the cat is experiencing can be far from funny. Because part of a cat’s nature includes hiding vulnerability, the behaviour in these videos is often being misunderstood, and could actually be a sign of emotional distress or pain.
iCatCare want to help people better understand their cat’s behaviour, encourage respect for cats, and recognise when care is needed – something that’s more important than ever with the surge in cat adoption rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To coincide with their successful International Cat Day campaign, #BeCatCurious, International Cat Care has collaborated with FCB Health Europe to create a month-long awareness campaign this August. The core of the campaign is a series of YouTube pre-roll ads, targeted to keyword searches for cat videos. Each pre-roll initially appears to be a typical ‘funny’ cat video, but ends in a surprising, serious message that explains how the behaviour is actually a sign of a cat in distress. This twist challenges viewers to re-evaluate what they’ve just seen, and instead of laughing, try to get a better understanding of cats, and when they need care.
The campaign aims to encourage people to learn more about their cat’s behaviour, meet cats’ needs, and visit icatcare.org – a rich resource of expert knowledge and advice for cat owners, and veterinary and cat professionals. To support this goal, iCatCare has created illustrated infographic pages, focusing on ‘Emotional distress’ and ‘Handling and interactions‘. By giving clear, easy-to-follow guidance on how to recognise fear, anxiety and frustration in cats, and #BeCatFriendly when handling and interacting with them, iCatCare is helping more cats live happy, healthy lives in harmony with humans.
I do think that normal cat behavior can be funny, being a cat owner. . . but I wonder how much is done to cats and other animals so that videos can provide income to some who really are not interested in the safety and love of animals. . . I am so happy that our Creator, who sees all, promises to make a environment designed to benefit all his creations as purposed at the start of human existence: “Further, God blessed them, and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many, fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving on the earth.” Gen. 1:28. . . This was His purpose from the start and being Almighty he says: “For this is what Jehovah says,
The Creator of the heavens, the true God,
The One who formed the earth, its Maker who firmly established it,
Who did not create it simply for nothing, but formed it to be inhabited:
“I am Jehovah, and there is no one else.”
We have a beautiful responsibility since: “As for the heavens, they belong to Jehovah, But the earth he has given to the sons of men.” Ps. 115:16. . . Soon: “The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it.” Ps. 37:29. . . Then ‘righteous’ mankind will see this fulfillment: For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be called to mind, Nor will they come up into the heart.” “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, The lion will eat straw just like the bull, And the serpent’s food will be dust. They will do no harm nor cause any ruin in all my holy mountain,” says Jehovah.” Isa. 65:17. . . For Jehovah will “bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” Rev. 11:18. . .“Blessed will be your children and the fruit of your ground and the offspring of your livestock, your young cattle and sheep.” Deut. 28:4. . . “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes,+ and death will be no more,+ neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.+ The former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:4.
Thank you for calling attention to this. I have seen too many of these “funny” videos and wondering how truly funny they really were and how the cats got into the situations they did-