46 Cats Plotting, During Or In The Aftermath Of Their Crimes

The creator of the ‘Crime Cats’ subreddit tells Bored Panda that the idea for it came to them when they were doing research for another cat subreddit they monitor.

"I kept coming across cats in these situations. I thought maybe I should create a sub for cats in all sorts of “crime” scenarios. Having cats all my life definitely helps, having seen them do the most hysterical things."

Their idea really took off, as since its creation on September 20, 2025 (a mere 11 days ago), it already has amassed 21k weekly visitors.

"People love cats, and they also love to laugh. These two things just go hand in hand. I think it’s a perfect recipe for a sub. People also like to share this type of content," the creator says, explaining the reason why the subreddit attracted so much attention.

Having created a subreddit about cats, it's a given that the creator loves them.

"Definitely love cats! Yes, because they are mischievous and also everything else about them. Their companionship, love, intelligence, feistiness, creativity, foolishness, I could go on and on."

During the short time that the subreddit has been active, the creator already has many ‘criminal cat’ posts that are their favorite:

1. “Dammit” - A cat who appears to second-guess himself a little too long.
2. “Ms Catalie Purrtman deserves to be here” - A cat who brings home an unusual dinner.
3. “We have a thief at home” - A criminal cat who realizes he’s being watched.

"Of course, people pick their own posts to upload, but the intent is to be humorous and fun. Like our sub says, it’s, “For cats plotting, during or in the aftermath of their crimes!”

We’ve got a great community started, so if you’d like to come post, comment, or just watch the hilarious antics, we’d love to have you!" the creator says, inviting every cat fiend to join them.

According to experts, cat behavior that seems weird to us can be boiled down to one word—curiosity. They were blessed with this trait by their ancestors, who are mesopredators, both predators and prey. 

“Cats must always be aware of what is going on in their surroundings. They can’t afford to miss an opportunity to eat, but they must also be cautious of any dangers,” says Mikel Delgado, Ph.D., Rover’s resident cat expert on The Pet People Panel. To survive, cats have to be naturally curious and constantly observe, investigate, and learn.

They are also good hunters and highly intelligent animals—a combination that makes it hard for them to stay still. “Lively minds are by definition curious,” said philanthropist and researcher Stephen Grand, Ph.D. “Cats frequently get themselves stuck up in trees, jammed in trash cans, or peppered with hedgehog quills—all in the name of curiosity.”

Experts say the strong curiosity likely forms during kittenhood. “Kittens tend to be more curious because they are learning about things in their environment that they have never encountered before,” Dr. Delgado says. “To determine if something is safe, a kitten might want to watch it, slowly approach it, and maybe touch, smell or taste it.”

This sense of curiosity doesn’t disappear with age, but older cats may become more wary and calmer, as they face fewer new experiences with age. “A cat’s sensitive period is between two and nine weeks of age,” Dr. Delgado explains. “After that, it’s not that the door for learning is closed, but they may be slower to form positive associations with new experiences and may be more wary.”

One behavior that cats are led to do out of curiosity that people might see as mischievous is scoping out the countertops or pantries for a snack, even directly following a meal. Their search for food can be led by curiosity too, not only because of hunger cues.

“If cats were to wait until they were hungry before hunting, they would run a high risk of starving to death due to the difficult nature of hunting and capturing prey,” International Cat Care explains. The curious cats are simply seeking out their next meal in the event that a dinner isn’t served.

That said, curiosity shouldn’t be confused with aggressive behavior. If owners notice any change in their feline’s behavior, they should consider visiting a vet. When aggressive behavior appears, it’s possible that they simply need an engaging environment to satisfy their curiosity, as indoor environments can stifle their natural instincts, leaving many cats under-stimulated and bored. Therefore, owners have to find healthy outlets for their natural behaviors like climbing, scratching, and hunting.

This can be done with interactive play using interactive toys like feather wands or toy mice to mimic hunting behaviors. Playtimes should last 10-15 minutes twice daily to keep your pet active. It’s also advised to rotate toys regularly to keep things fresh and exciting. Food time can also be engaging by utilizing food puzzles and hiding food to encourage felines to ‘hunt’ for it.

Another great tip to redirect a cat's curiosity from naughty behaviors is to install vertical spaces they can climb and even scratch their nails on. If it’s possible, try to set up a window view for your cat so they can watch the outside world. Bonus points if you add a bird feeder outside for added entertainment. Lastly, DIY obstacle courses and hiding spots should get their energy out and should put an end to unwanted behaviors sparked by innocent curiosity.