Why are cat videos so popular on socials?

There are currently more than 89 million posts on TikTok with the hashtag #cat and #cats.

In fact, cats are so popular, they even have their own holiday.

When is International Cat Day?

International Cat Day is celebrated each year on 8 August with this year’s theme exploring what it means to be 'cat friendly'. So what’s behind the feline fascination and why do cat videos regularly go viral on your socials?

Why are cat videos so popular?

A 2020 study by the University of Leeds found that watching cute animals can help reduce stress and anxiety by up to 50%. This might explain why so many people enjoy watching and sharing cat videos on social media.

But what makes cats go viral on our socials?

Emotional appeal: A study by marketing research centre The Ehrenberg-Bass Institute found that videos evoking strong emotions such as joy or surprise are twice as likely to be shared on social media platforms. 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. A report by cat welfare charity Cats Protection found 25% of all UK households owned 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 212 million posts on Instagram's mobile app, with the hashtag #cat in the top 100 trending hashtags of 2025.

While cat videos are undeniably entertaining, it’s important to understand that the content we see online is often designed to grab attention. What goes viral is frequently shaped by algorithms - systems that sort and prioritise content most likely to be relevant or engaging to users, based on data gathered about user behaviour such as your likes, shares and follows.

TikTok’s For You Page (FYP) uses algorithms to curate a personalised feed based on your previous activity. The more cat videos you engage with, the more likely your feed will be filled with similar cute cat content. This is called a filter bubble.

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.

Some of the biggest names in the cat influencer world include Nala Cat, who in 2020 won the Guinness World Record for Most Popular Cat on Instagram with more than 4 million followers; That Little Puff, a TikTok sensation with more than 32 million followers thanks to his creative and often educational skits and the late Grumpy Cat (real name Tardar Sauce), who became a meme icon in 2012 and still has 2.6 million Instagram followers despite passing away in 2019.

2025 trending cat stories and new generation feline stars

@dontstopmeowing: With 13.9 million followers on TikTok and 2.8 million on Instagram, Chase, Skye, and Millie are a dynamic feline trio and their videos showcase elaborate pranks, snack reviews, and playful arguments that highlight each cat’s distinct personality.
@venustwofacecat: Venus’s half-black, half-orange face looks straight out of a comic book. With more than 2 million followers on both TikTok and Instagram, she’s known not just for her striking appearance but also for her calm, affectionate demeanour.
Olympic diving cats: Short AI videos of cats doing Olympic-style dives have gone viral, thanks to a new cutting-edge AI video model – the Hailuo 02. The video shared by creator Pablo Prompt has received more than 9.9 million likes with thousands of viewers flooding the comments asking “is this real?”.

Check out this article about the big cat trend that took socials by storm in 2024, and you can find more fascinating facts and games on the CBBC Animal Hub.

It's important to have fun and enjoy watching entertaining videos on your socials, but it’s also just as important to be mindful of the content you engage with. Before hitting the share button, ask yourself whether it's authentic, or curated to attract attention?

Many social videos are heavily edited, follow trending formats, and are often monetised through ads or sponsorship, meaning they’re designed for engagement, so remember to think critically, and be aware of the content you’re interacting with.

This article was updated in August 2025

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