“God forbid Terry has a hobby.” That one dry wit comment regarding a naughty cat captured the mood of the internet this week animals being their uninhibited, unpredictable, and just-plain-fun selves. For anyone feeling fatigued, these viral moments are the ultimate serotonin fix.
From moonwalking dogs at town hall gatherings to cats plotting on rooftops, the past couple of days have been a goldmine of animal antics. Social media timelines have been filled with pictures and videos that remind one why pets are the actual MVPs of comedy. And the icing on the cake? These aren’t scripted performances they’re just everyday moments captured at exactly the right moment.
Here’s a handpicked list of the funniest, most unconventional, and most adorable pet trends on the net right now.
1. The Feline Don Boss Named Terry
A viral clip introduced the world to Terry, a common orange cat who spends his daytime bugging Herb, the bichon frisé next door. Straddling the roof of a building precariously like some veteran mob leader, Terry looks down at Herb in an afternoon staredown that’s pettier and more dramatic than it has to be. So besotted was one spectator that he christened him “the head of the neighborhood cat mafia,” and another insisted he was oozing Ron Perlman-like Hellboy.
The caption to the post “our neighbor’s cat Terry gets our dog riled up every day on purpose” only contributed to the fun. With over 863,000 views and 136,000 likes, Terry’s shameless rooftop dictatorship proves that some cats are born for drama and that the internet shall always reward it.
2. Moonwalking for Democracy
In Cranford, New Jersey, politician Will Thilly turned a ordinary township committee meeting into a YouTube hit. Instead of jumping right into his rant about taxes being too high, Thilly moonwalked, then pulled off a dramatic breakdance back spin. Mayor Terrence Curran could only respond with, “I liked the interpretive dance.”
Thilly told Upworthy that the stunt wasn’t being performed for a chuckle it was about shattering barriers and making people sit up and listen. The ruse worked, especially with younger residents, and his clip received over a million likes. Either way, it’s earned him the title of being the only candidate who can debate policy and perform a back spin in the same breath.
3. Post-Vet Pet Comedy Gold
The internet loves bringing animals home from the vet, and this week’s crop of sleepy, wide-eyed, and laughably befuddled animals did not disappoint. There was a dog gazing into space as if wondering about life choices, a bird appearing to emerge from a psychedelic nightmare, and more, and the pictures were comedic gold.
These examples work because they’re universal who hasn’t been a little confused after a long day? The catch is, pets express their confusion on their faces, which makes them meme gold right away.
4. The Cat Who Took Over the Fish Tank
One of the most iconic pictures was a cat that was curled up inside a fish tank, looking absolutely unphased by the fact that it wasn’t where it was “meant” to be. The caption referenced the cat’s rationale why let the fish come to you when you can just live inside of them?
It’s the ultimate in feline boldness disrupting the rules with flair and pulling it off as if it’s totally natural. For those who adore their pets, it’s yet another indication that cats don’t just think outside the box they ignore the box entirely.
5. The Hamster With Main Character Energy
Some animals have charisma that just leaps off the screen, and this hamster was one of them. Framed in mid-pose, it wasn’t quite a rodent, more like a tiny celebrity caught by paparazzi. The internet quickly declared it “a human in a hamster’s body,” and the comments snowballed from there.
It’s the kind of post that triggers re-shares aplenty not because it’s sensational, but because it’s queerly intriguing. Proof that even the smallest pets can be divas.
6. A Pug Who Models All the Rest
A collection of pictures with a pug wearing an innately photogenic smile had followers declaring it a better photographer than most humans. In one image, the pug’s smile could give a toothpaste ad a run for its money; in another, its expression was red-carpet smug.
The trick is that the pug has not an ounce of self-awareness. While humans fret over angles and lighting, the dog merely smiles and ends up perfect each time.
7. The Cat Who Aced ‘Service Industry Face’
A viral picture was of a cat so exhausted-looking and uninterested that it was unwittingly adopted as the unofficial mascot for anyone who’s ever had to serve customers. The scrunched-up eyes, the pursed mouth it was all present.
The picture hit home because it’s painfully accurate. Whether you’re dealing with a whiny customer or a yapping dog that won’t shut up, sometimes the only thing you can do is tap into that apathetic cat energy.
This week’s animal photos demonstrate that heart, humor, and a dash of mayhem are the viral gold formula. Whether a cat running a rooftop empire or a politician moonwalking for attention, these photos remind the world why animals and the people who love them make the web such a more wondrous place.
