Cats That Look Like Hitler is a satirical website featuring photographs of cats resembling Adolf Hitler, dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945.[1] Such cats are often referred to as kitler on the Internet.[2] Most of the cats are piebald, with a large black splotch underneath its nose, much like the dictator's toothbrush moustache, and other features that suggest a typically stern expression. Some have diagonal black patches on their heads resembling Hitler's fringe. The site was founded by Koos Plegt and Paul Neve in 2006[3] and became widely known after being featured on several television programmes across Europe[3][4][5] and Australia.[6] The site was later run only by Neve. By February 2013 he had approved photographs of over 7,500 cats.[7] The website has not been updated since April 2014.
Type of site | Satirical |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Country of origin | Poland |
| Owner | Paul Neve |
| Founder(s) | Koos Plegt Paul Neve |
| URL | www |
| Commercial | No |
| Launched | 2006 |
In popular culture
editStephen Colbert mentioned the site on The Colbert Report in July 2010.[8] The site was commonly referenced in the now defunct Australian gaming magazine Total Gamer and has become well known in New Zealand since it was mentioned on the Edge Nightshow by Brad Wattson that his cat 'Piggles' was the No. 1 "kitler" (kitty Hitler) in the world. The site was also mentioned fleetingly in The Social Network.[9]
Cats are a popular staple of Internet culture, and Cats That Look Like Hitler can be considered an offshoot of a broader cultural fascination with cats on the Internet. In 2011, The Daily Telegraph reported on a "kitler" that was unable to find adoption due to its facial resemblance to the dictator.[10]
Writer for The Times, Ben Machell, has interviewed the owners of sensational cats such as those on the site and has come up with various possible explanations for the creation and popularity of cats on the Internet, including Cats That Look Like Hitler. Machell mentions the cat's mysterious nature and personality as a perfect target for projecting personality and emotion on, and recalls the worship of cats by the ancient Egyptians.[11]
A meteorologist at Kansas City's news station, KCTV5, apologized after featuring a cat that looked like Hitler, also named "Kitler", during a segment called "Caturday" which features photos of local cats submitted by viewers along with the weather update.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Finkelstein, Daniel (26 February 2007). "Cats That Look Like Hitler". The Times. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008.
- ^ "Researchers Find Why Some Cats Look Like Hitler". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ a b Brottman, Mikita (7 February 2007). "Mein Kat". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
- ^ Ross, Jonathan (2006). The Jonathan Ross Show (TV-series). UK: BBC.
- ^ The Graham Norton Show (TV-series). UK: BBC. 2008.
- ^ Walmsley, Dan (2006). The Breakfast Show Live: A History of the Web (TV-series). Australia.
- ^ Neve, Paul. "Frequently Asked Questions". CatsThatLookLikeHitler.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ^ Moos, Jeanne (28 July 2010). "Cats That Look Like Hitler". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ "The Social Network (2010)". IMDb. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ "Hitler Cat 'Overlooked for Adoption Because of Markings'". Telegraph.co.uk. 29 July 2011. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ Machell, Ben (6 October 2012). "What Is It About Cats?". The Times. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013.
- ^ "Kansas City Meteorologist Apologizes after Showcasing the Cat Kitler". The Jerusalem Post. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
External links
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