About
Cat Distribution System is a phrase coined by TikToker @hermes.the.cynic to describe the common occurrence of cats entering people’s homes and lives unannounced and inadvertently getting adopted. This cliché is an often-discussed aspect of cat ownership, and adds to the narrative that you don’t adopt a cat; it adopts you. The phrase grew popular near the end of 2022 and continued to be used in January 2023.
Background
While adult feral cats are often averse to human contact and difficult to socialize, some stray cats choose to interact with humans in hopes of food, shelter, or companionship. “Friendly strays” are more often lost domestic pets, but there are several documented incidents of a stray cat “choosing” or “adopting” an owner, to the point where veterinary websites have released “What To Do” guides in the circumstance where an unknown feline enters your life or home.
Some examples of cats “choosing” their owners can be seen in social media posts, including a December 29th, 2019 post by Redditor /u/fishnpoutine to /r/cats, gathering over 11,000 upvotes in three years (seen below, left), and a November 23rd, 2020 post by Redditor /u/Dysteech to /r/aww, gathering over 19,000 likes in two years (seen below, right).
On November 25th, 2022, TikToker @hermes.the.cynic posted a video describing what he calls the “Cat Distribution System,” which he describes as the process through which the “Universe” delivers kittens to you unasked. The video gathered over 2.4 million plays and 300,000 likes in over a month (seen below).
@its.a.me.bob @Hermes the video right after yours 😂😂 #cats #catdistributionsystem #wtfmoments #coincidence ♬ original sound – Its.A.me.Bob
Spread
On November 25th, 2022, TikToker @its.a.me.bob posted a video screenrecording the aforementioned video and scrolling to reveal a person who had received a cat through the cat distribution system. The video gathered over 2 million plays and 300,000 likes in over two months (seen below, left). On November 27th, 2022, TikToker @billyrubino22.4 posted a video duetting Herme’s upload and showing his cats, gathering over 1.9 million plays and 170,000 likes in over two months (seen below, right).
@its.a.me.bob @Hermes the video right after yours 😂😂 #cats #catdistributionsystem #wtfmoments #coincidence ♬ original sound – Its.A.me.Bob
@billyrubino22.4 #duet with @hermes.the.cynic #atheism @Friends of Strays i have ti come in for #tnr traps asap #cattok #catdaddy #kittentok #fyp #logic #foryou #genius #relatable #makessense #thisisyoursign #billyrubino #strays ♬ original sound – Hermes
On December 28th, 2022, TikToker @lisaturtletok posted a video using the sound from Herme’s original video to show her cats, gathering over 50,000 plays and 6,000 likes in over two weeks (seen below, left). On January 5th, 2023, TikToker @daniklaric posted a video claiming to be a beneficiary of the cat distribution system, gathering over 200,000 plays and 40,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).
@lisaturtletok OK universe, that’s enough for now. #catdistributionsystem #fyp #orangecat #catsoftiktok #straycat #cat #tortiesoftiktok ♬ original sound – Hermes
@daniklaric Replying to @razkrieg ♬ Walking in the Sunshine – Ella Fitzgerald
Various Examples
cat distribution system has a lot to answer for pic.twitter.com/iV0yIlKuOH
— Dave Krantz (@weskrantz) December 25, 2022
@socal420 The cat distribution system #socal420 #catsoftiktok ♬ original sound – Socal420
@crystalguidance The cat distribution system is at it again. Meet Nacho! This little guy showed up a couple of night ago and has barely left. Last night I was able to get him to walk into my cat carrier. I kept him inside so he would be safe and warm. Our local foster based rescue picked him up earlier today. As much as I’d love to keep him, I already have 4. I know they will find him the purrrfect furever home. 🐈❤️ #catsoftiktok #catdistributionsystem #straycat #straycatsoftiktok #kittensoftiktok #orangecat #pawportunities ♬ original sound – Crystal Guidance (Jen Faeline)
Search Interest
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