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In true feline form, cats aren't in a hurry to jump onto our laps.

According to one comprehensive study that looked at the spread of domesticated cats, DNA analysis suggests that these animals lived for thousands of years alongside humans before they were domesticated. During that time, their genes have changed little from those of wildcats, apart from picking up one recent "update": the distinctive stripes and dots of the tabby cat.

Since the moment they decided to join our households, felines have completely taken over our lives. In ancient Egypt, for example, people built cemeteries for them—Egyptians mummified their kitties and made statues for them that are exhibited in museum collections across the world to this day.

Of course, our life has changed dramatically during the last couple of millennia, but our love for cats has remained the same. Continue scrolling to check out this original Bored Panda list to learn why. When you go through the funny cat pictures we collected, fire up our similar publications dedicated to them here, here, and here.

#1

My Crush Just Told Me Over Text That It Was "Unmanly" For Men To Have A Cat. I Sent Her This

My Crush Just Told Me Over Text That It Was "Unmanly" For Men To Have A Cat. I Sent Her This

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It is believed that cats started hanging around farming communities in the Fertile Crescent about 8,000 years ago, where they formed a mutually beneficial relationship with humans as their rodent patrol.

"Since domestic cats are remarkably similar to their wildcat ancestors, they retained a side to them that is fierce and elusive," Lucy Hoile, a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) who specializes in these animals told Bored Panda.

"However, they are surprisingly adaptable, living comfortable lifestyles in the most urban of areas and forming strong, affectionate relationships with the people they live with. These two features of the pet cat make them an enigma that is difficult to find with any other pet species."

#2

This Could’ve Been An Email

This Could’ve Been An Email

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#3

Larry Good Cat

Larry Good Cat

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Tee Witt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

His first time out and he thought of you, he is saying a big thankyou for his new home

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Some dog lovers might argue that cats are selfish and arrogant, but Hoile reassured us that felines are still living with us because they know we can provide them with significant benefits, and not just food and shelter.

"Cats will often form strong emotional attachments to their owners, identifying them as part of their social group through facial and body marking. Cat owners are now more than just bringers of tasty food and a warm bed!"

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#4

Caught This Absolute Angel Begging For Treats

Caught This Absolute Angel Begging For Treats

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#6

Look At The Markings On This Cat

Look At The Markings On This Cat

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Beck(formerly Becca/Gizmo sq)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My black cat cricket just had 6 kits last week. One is black with and orangy head with a perfect black square on the right half of his face. I want to call him q-bert. (CUBE-bert)

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Rebecca Trinkner
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never seen that before! How neat! I thought the pic was a cat outside while it was snowing lol.

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Minnie-me
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“Traveling through hyperspace ain’t like dusting crops, farm boy."

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°-_SARDONYX_-°
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who else didn’t read the title and just thought it was winter 🤣

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Lucky2BAlive
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please tell me they named her Stars, or Connie - short for constellation.

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Carrie Laughs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I expect the kitty was completely black to start with - this looks like vitiligo. Shame though, I love the thought of the little cat being called freckles!

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Wyndmere
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like the start of vitiligo - bad news for the cat.

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know a cat like that, a sort of Siamese with white speckles! Is speckling really unusual?

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Gary Geracci
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like someone flicked a brush with white paint on it at him

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Isabelle ST
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've only heard about 1 other cat with that color problem. WOW ❤️ Such an amazing color.

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Zalzany Games
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then you find out some one got paint or something else on it...

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Shirley Heyn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure that is a cat, I'm thinkin' a new species? Reverse Leopard. . .? Black Fawn. . .?

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Jackie Wacky
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! Those are amazing markings: they almost don’t look real.

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mamafrog
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, I think I need to adjust my monitor settings...the picture seems a little fuzzy?

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Steph
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sad story: I had a black labrador with spots like that - because he was splattered with boiling oil as a puppy. Took a long time for the skin to recover. Most of the burned skin never grew hair back, but on some spots, he grew white dots. Looked like a "negative" Dalmatian. Still sad, because he suffered hell and blinded.

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Pamela Scott
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope this is just a beautiful pattern he happens to have ! We could me seeing spots that were either bleached or far worse it could be scarring sometimes if they have something happen that causes damage but the fur is able to grow back it comes back without pigment.

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Mickie Shea
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is extremely rare cat. Once forbidden to write about in holy scriptures or somewhere. It's known in Slovaria as a spotted black scat. Know for there sweetness.

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Jim Price
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Universe has sent an observer to see that we are properly observing It.

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Emma Gee
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought it was snowing! Vitiligo kitties are beautiful.

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Robert Hart III
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This cat's name should be: Orion, Galaxy, Midnight (I know), Galileo, or Hubs (short for Hubble)

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My Name Is Mars
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Feline vitiligo. My black cat has it. He was born solid black and stayed that way until he was about 2. He started getting white dots of fur after that and was diagnosed with feline vitiligo. He's now 13 and handsome as ever

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K R
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's that stone? Obsidian snowflake? Something. This cat is amazing, unreal.

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Samantha Melnychuk
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This cat looks like everything around the bleach bottle after my husband sets it down without the lid put back on.

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Karen Grace
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The muzzle looks like Vitiligo, but the spots seems an unusual presentation.

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Julié Marie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like there is always a disco ball somewhere near the cat and the spots are the reflection :D

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PixxelDust
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would be forever going to brush the dust off the cat before realising and stopping myself

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Hilary Mol
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The pattern of a spotted fawn, and the coloring of a reverse Dalmatian. This cat is cool.

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Isa Trip
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought it was snow! that is super cool. Reverse dalmatian kitty

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Suzanne Clark
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's incredible, I've never seen markings like those--snow cat indeed.

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Eb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful eye colour: it's like there's a light on inside! Perfect with the wintery colouring.

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Rockstar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please tell me their name is like nightsky or midnight or something

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13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After the Nyancat hype we of the interwebs are proud to present: GALAXY CAT.

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Tee Witt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now that cat is unusual, I have never seen one like that before, a feline Dalmatian (in reverse)

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Samantha PandaNotBored
Community Member
2 years ago

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Poor cat, it desperately needs attention . It looks as though someone has sprayed it , also with green paint .some people don’t deserve to be alive 😡

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Jenny
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t think the cat has been sprayed with paint. It looks like s/he has vitiligo, which causes fur to turn white over time.

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And just because the average kitty sleeps around 16 hours a day, that doesn't mean they're lazy. They simply need to stay sharp!

"Being opportunistic hunters, they are built for short bursts of activity when prey presents itself," Lucy Hoile explained. "Periods of rest in-between are essential to conserve energy at other times of the day."

In fact, some of these furry critters (just like dogs) have no trouble earning their living through honest work. Just take a look at these bodega cats who keep convenience stores and corner shops pest-free!

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#11

The Committee Against Vacuum Cleaners

The Committee Against Vacuum Cleaners

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#14

I Found This Little Boy In The Countryside, Alone. Initially He Was Scared, Now He Seems To Be Pretty Comfortable

I Found This Little Boy In The Countryside, Alone. Initially He Was Scared, Now He Seems To Be Pretty Comfortable

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#18

She Didn't Like Her New Ears

She Didn't Like Her New Ears

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#20

A Motion Sensor Sign

A Motion Sensor Sign

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#21

Important Q

Important Q

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Dorothy Parker
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one on the right is Alfred Hitchcock. The left could be Donald Trump. Which would drive him over the edge. If you play with the fur you could turn Don into Cary Grant.

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#24

The Cat Burglar Has Struck Again!

The Cat Burglar Has Struck Again!

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#25

Getting Head Is Best

Getting Head Is Best

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#27

The Way My Cat Sleeps

The Way My Cat Sleeps

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#28

Behold The Glorious Whiskers Of Shoulder Cat

Behold The Glorious Whiskers Of Shoulder Cat

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#29

If You Can't Hide A Crime Scene, Just Pretend You Are A Victim

If You Can't Hide A Crime Scene, Just Pretend You Are A Victim

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#30

He Thinks He's Being Sneaky

He Thinks He's Being Sneaky

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#31

These Rolls Are Homemade

These Rolls Are Homemade

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#32

How Could You Be Mad At Her With Eyes Like Those

How Could You Be Mad At Her With Eyes Like Those

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#33

"I Do Not See The Humor In This"

"I Do Not See The Humor In This"

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#34

Today I Was Extremely Sad And I Thought "I Can't Wait To Go Home And See My Cat, He Will Make Me Happy". Ok Well I Found Out He Was More Depressed Than Me

Today I Was Extremely Sad And I Thought "I Can't Wait To Go Home And See My Cat, He Will Make Me Happy". Ok Well I Found Out He Was More Depressed Than Me

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Vicky Z
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thinking all of your life choices....or thinking that your hooman will come at make you happy again!

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#36

I’m Remodeling My Basement And All The Ceiling Tiles Were Just Removed. I Found My Cat Like This

I’m Remodeling My Basement And All The Ceiling Tiles Were Just Removed. I Found My Cat Like This

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#37

If You Bite Me In The Face, You Get The Bowl!

If You Bite Me In The Face, You Get The Bowl!

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#38

The New Spiderman Movie Got Me Confused

The New Spiderman Movie Got Me Confused

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#40

Wait...

Wait...

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#41

Being Sexy For Ya

Being Sexy For Ya

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#42

Delightful Cat Photos To Brighten Your Day

Delightful Cat Photos To Brighten Your Day

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#44

When Your Cats Creates Gradient While They Eat

When Your Cats Creates Gradient While They Eat

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#50

I. I Don’t Even Know

I. I Don’t Even Know

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Note: this post originally had 98 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.