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Ever tried to paint a cat? It turns out that it’s not as easy as you might expect. It indeed wasn’t for these Medieval artists anyway! While they excelled at painting religious scenes, portraits of Royalty, and naked ladies, this particular type of pussy offered an altogether different challenge.

There are a couple of reasons why these funny cats look as they do in the Medieval art depictions. One of them is that the primary purpose of these paintings was to translate the religious scripts to the illiterate (bear in mind that there were relatively few people who could read - monks, priests, and the nobility), and the other, unnecessary details weren't so scrupulously painted.

On the other hand, linear perspective, giving a painting depth, was not systemized until the Italian Renaissance. That's why the given ugly cats look so flat and slightly misshapen.

While most of them have got the basic shape of a feline down to a reasonable tee in these cat illustrations, it is the face that seems to provide the biggest problem. Instead of the cute kitten features we all know and love, the artists instead appear to favor a grim, almost human-like look that makes these cat paintings look a bit, well, scary. I guess the drawings do prove, though, that we have been obsessed with sharing cat memes since way before the internet!

Scroll down to check out the list of Medieval funny cat memes compiled by Bored Panda below, and don’t forget to vote for your favorites!

#1

Yeah... Fish Is Not Gonna Work, You'll Have To Try Harder

Ugly medieval cat painting with a distorted body, holding an object, illustrating humorous historical art style.

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stellermatt
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

pussy... c**k... jokes... must.. grown up....

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    #2

    Done With Life

    Medieval cat painting with a humorous, distorted face, highlighting the quirky art style.

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    Hans
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks a bit like a face swap with this foozled Jesus fresco.

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    #3

    What A Cutie

    Medieval cat painting with comical expression, highlighting the humor in historical art depictions.

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    Jenn
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    did someone start to paint a person then went 'ah f**k it - now it's a cat' ?????

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    #5

    Melancholic Cat Plays The Lyre

    Medieval cat painting with lute, featuring comical and exaggerated features, surrounded by colorful flowers.

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    abbi moon
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    why does it have a very human looking vagina?

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    #6

    Cat With Eyebrows

    Medieval cat painting with quirky features in ornate floral background.

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    Hans
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fair enough. Probably cats still had eyebrows in these days...

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    #7

    Hey Cat. Stop Licking Your Butt On The Book Of Maccabees Or You’ll Get An Arrow

    Medieval painting of a cat on a manuscript, depicting an unusual scene with an archer and arrow.

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    Agnes Jekyll
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Genius. I hope the guy who drew her got a good long laugh--all the way to his next 7-year transcription

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    #8

    The True King

    Medieval cat painting with quirky features, capturing humorous and unrealistic portrayal of cats in historical art.

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    stellermatt
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    *smile, he must have finished painting now, keep smiling*

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    #9

    This Must Be A Cat From The Hallucinogenic Meadows Of Scotland

    Ugly medieval cat painting with a cat playing a horn, featuring colorful background details.

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    Shmily Riley
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm feeling better and better about my cat drawing abilities.

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    #10

    This Cat Is Starring Into Your Soul

    Medieval cat painting with funny, exaggerated features and text in the background.

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    #11

    I Know I Don't Want To Know What These Two Just Saw

    Medieval painting of a lion holding a lamb against a patterned background, illustrating humorous medieval cat art.

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    webbkitten
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really want to know what's on the far side of this pic

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    #12

    This Bathing Cat

    Medieval cat painting with peculiar features, surrounded by colorful foliage and patterns.

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    stellermatt
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah Frank, I'm taking a bath, so what?! paint a picture, it'll last longer! oh...

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    #13

    The Cat You Cannot Unsee

    Medieval cat painting with humorous and unusual features in a colorful frame.

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    #14

    I Want To Have Whatever That Cat Is Having

    Medieval painting featuring an amusingly awkward cat and a dog in a room with tiled flooring.

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    Miss Cris
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh, at first I thought "this cat looks like a dog"... before scrolling

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    #15

    Look At Those Lovely Eyes

    Medieval cat painting with a crown, featuring humorous and unique artistic style.

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    #16

    Casual Cat Life

    Medieval cat paintings with whimsical and exaggerated features in a starry background.

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    #17

    This Bishop Cat

    Medieval cat painting with a comical appearance, wearing a hat and holding a staff.

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    Neeraj Jha
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's not a cat. That's King Ringtail Julien XIII!

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    #18

    Medieval Cheshire Cat

    Medieval cat painting with humorous expression, surrounded by ornate decorative elements and text.

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    Magpie
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No that is a demon.....oh nevermind.

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    #19

    Is This A Cat, A Dog Or A Boar?

    Medieval cat painting, showcasing a humorously awkward and abstract depiction on a green patch.

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    #20

    The One And Only Love

    Medieval painting of a person in a red robe kissing an oddly-drawn cat, highlighting medieval cat art humor.

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    webbkitten
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why is he wearing lipstick? did he plan this date?

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    #21

    Cat Rider

    Medieval art with a man riding an awkward-looking cat, highlighting the humorous depiction in ancient paintings.

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    Magpie
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At least all the parts of the face are facing the same way this time.

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    #22

    Defiant Cat Riding A Horse

    Medieval cat painting on horseback with dog, alongside decorative script, highlighting quirky historical art style.

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    #23

    I Has Mowse

    Medieval cat painting with exaggerated features holding a mouse.

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    webbkitten
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    why does the mouse look so normal and the cat look so...so wrong?

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    #26

    Zombie Petting A Cat

    Ugly medieval cat painting with distorted human figure holding a cat near vibrant foliage.

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    Miss Cris
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a pity that cats had eaten all that giant strawberries at middle ages so they have been extinguished before I was born, I would love them!

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    #27

    This Looks Like A Lizard Pretending To Be A Cat

    A humorous medieval cat painting with unusual features, holding a small creature in its mouth.

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    #28

    Catnip Trip

    Medieval cat painting with awkward design, featuring a blue cat with wide eyes and leafy background.

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    Pillow
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just wondering, if any of this artists ever seen a cat?

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    #29

    Magpie Inspecting The Cat’s Butt

    Ugly medieval cat painting with exaggerated features and text above it.

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    Neeraj Jha
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cat seems to be celebrating #NoShaveNovember!

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    #30

    Catsnail

    Medieval cat painting with a whimsical snail body amidst colorful, ornate designs.

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    #31

    Medieval OMG Cat

    A humorous medieval cat drawing with exaggerated features, illustrating the quirky style of medieval animal art.

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    #32

    Wild Cats

    Ugly medieval cat painting with cats resembling sheep in a grassy landscape, illustrating humorous historical art interpretations.

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    Jef Bateman
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think they are weasels. I thought that the one in the tree was the body of one turned into some abominable object of worship at first, but it is a weasel getting some bird eggs.

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    #33

    Because Why Shouldn't A Cat Be Playing A Stringed Instrument?

    Ugly medieval cat painting featuring a cat playing a fiddle, surrounded by colorful abstract patterns.

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    #34

    Cat Churning Butter

    Medieval cat painting featuring a quirky depiction of a cat standing upright, holding a stick near a wooden barrel.

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    Dragonet
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At least it actully looks ok... semi-catish...?

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    #35

    Cats’ Habits

    Medieval cat paintings with abstract and humorous features in colorful illustration.

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    Gali Soff
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the middle one has the pattern of .. The Dress https://www.google.com/search?q=the+dress&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9g57bt4_aAhUOVa0KHWFlA4YQ_AUICigB&biw=1250&bih=652 😂

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    #36

    Bipedal Cat Monsters Eating A Leech?

    Two medieval cats with exaggerated features linked by a tail.

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    #37

    That Kitten Is Not... Ok

    Medieval cat painting with a monkey holding a bowl, showcasing humorous and peculiar art style.

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    My O My
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why are there cats ans apes side by side all the time?

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    #38

    A Feline With The Blues

    Medieval painting of an oddly drawn cat with humorous expression, adorned with decorative foliage.

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    #39

    I Can Has A Spindle?

    Ugly medieval cat painting with a monk holding a string, showcasing humorous and unusual art styles.

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    Miss Cris
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Where you looking for disney princesses?

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    #40

    Cloaked And Flower-Tailed Feline

    Medieval cat painting with a human-like face, blue body, and floral elements, showcasing unique historical art style.

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    Miss Cris
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And where is this man putting his hands?

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    #41

    Queen Cat And A Monkey Pope Tripping Balls?

    Medieval cat painting with a humanoid figure and a staff, showcasing humorous artistic style.

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    #42

    Monkey Hugging A Kitten - No Wonder The She Took It As Her Own

    Ugly medieval cat painting showing a monkey holding a peculiar-looking white cat with a green background and ornate details.

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    Jef Bateman
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why do they put so many monkeys with the cats? Is it because monkeys used to be common as pets?

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    #43

    Medieval Cat Or The Ouroboros? 'Tis The Catouroboros

    Ugly medieval cat painting with distorted features in an ancient manuscript.

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    Jenn
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    why does he have 2 different feet?

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    #44

    Alien Cat

    Ugly medieval cat painting with exaggerated features, set against a background of old script text.

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    Magpie
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hey at least this one kindof got the shape of the pupil right.

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    #45

    White Cat

    Medieval cat painting with a humorous, awkward expression, surrounded by ornate floral patterns.

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    #47

    Butt Licking Cat

    Medieval cat painting with distorted features on a blue background, humorously illustrating historical art style.

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    #48

    He Hates Meeces To Pieces

    Medieval cat painting with humorous depiction of cats in a castle, illustrating the quirky art style of the era.

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    Magpie
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The lizard on the right is nicely done tho'.

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    #49

    Classic Cat And Mouse Relationship

    Medieval cat painting with mouse and bird on its back, showcasing humorous art style.

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    #50

    Hudy-Gurdy Cat

    Ugly medieval cat painting with a feline playing a string instrument, surrounded by colorful floral motifs.

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    #51

    Someone Please Take That Kitten Out Of It's Misery

    Medieval cat painting with humorous depiction, a monkey holding a cat amid colorful decorative foliage.

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    Miss Cris
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like how the monkey express tenderness and care

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    #53

    The King Of The Cats... Or Maybe Demons That Went Through A Food Processor?

    King cat in medieval artwork surrounded by four cats, showcasing unintentionally humorous depiction of cats in medieval paintings.

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    #54

    Initial Cat

    Medieval painting of an awkward-looking cat holding a small animal, highlighting its unusual artistic style.

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    #55

    Drumming Cat

    Medieval painting of a quirky blue cat holding a framed object, showcasing its unique and humorous style.

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    KismetTheFox
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yo listen up here’s a story... Bout a little guy that’s blue, inside and outside Blue his house, with a blue little window

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    #56

    Marginal Kitten

    Medieval cat painting with quirky features beside decorative text.

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    #57

    Devil And The Cat Worshippers Kissing The Cat’s Butt

    Medieval painting of a cat with distorted features surrounded by people, depicting humorous medieval art style.

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    webbkitten
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    wait a minute, I've seen this episode before.

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    #58

    Kissing A Cat

    Medieval cat painting depicting a person in a red robe embracing an oddly drawn cat with text above.

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    #59

    Mouse Holder

    An awkwardly drawn medieval cat holding a rat, showcasing humorous medieval cat art style.

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