`Lolcats' sites for when you're feline funny

Charlotte Observer ^ | May. 16, 2007 | RANDY SALAS

[Daffynition]

It's no secret that cats are popular online. In fact, the fickle felines inspired a Web Search column (www.startribune.com/

websearch/?p=112) that received a great reader response. Since then, though, an entire kitty subculture has emerged on the Web in the form of cat photos with funny sayings written on them.

At first, they were called cat macros, but now go mostly by the name lolcats -- combining the Web abbreviation for "laugh out loud" (LOL) and "cats." The captions are written with poor English and bad grammar, as if the cat is commenting on the situation depicted in the photo, which sometimes is digitally altered for exaggeration.

For example, one lolcat posted online recently showed a black and white cat sticking out its tongue. Its eyes looked artificially brightened and bugged out with the aid of an image-editing program such as Photoshop. The caption: "mai tung dryd out."

To the casual viewer, lolcats might seem nonsensical at first. But once you get into the cadence of how they're written, they can be quite funny.

The Intelligence Group, which monitors the Web for things that appeal to Gen X, Gen Y and tweens, recently identified lolcats as a hot online trend. But I got in on them awhile ago when former colleague Shruti Mathur, who moved to New Jersey last year (www.newtojersey.blogspot.com), e-mailed me to gush about them.

"It cracks me up," she said. "They have other animals, but lolcats are always the funniest, even for a dog person like me."

The most popular of the lolcat sites is arguably I Can Has Cheezburger? (www.icanhascheezburger.com). It started in January with an image of a pudgy kitty, a big smile on its face and wide eyes, and the caption: "I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?" That spawned funny follow-up photos with burger kitty, and, well, here we are today.

Other lolcat sites include:

• community.livejournal.com/cat--macros

• www.kscakes.com/LolCats

• www.dropline.net/cats

• www.lolcats2.com

• www.macrocats.com

Most images posted on the sites are family-friendly, but some occasionally feature naughty humor or noncat subject matter that might be considered inappropriate for kids.

How to create a lolcat

1. Find an engaging photo of a cat.

2. Think of a funny caption.

3. Add it to the photo with image-editing software.

4. Use a sans-serif font.

5. Make it read as if said by the cat, with bad grammar and spelling.

6. Post it to one of the Web sites listed above.

7. Laugh.

Web Search Randy

Salas

[Daffynition]

[Niteranger68]

[Daffynition]

LOL

[uglybiker]

Next we need a site for lolpeople.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

[Darkwolf377]

Just to interrupt for a sec—anyone know of a Loldogs site? My gf has dogs, doesn’t care for cats. (Sorry, sorry...)

[Daffynition]

Don't know of one ... maybe you should get a new GF.

[Darkwolf377]

Don't know of one ... maybe you should get a new GF.

Well, she IS a liberal...

Hmm, there's a new FR thread--"Do you have a liberal girlfriend/ boyfriend/ spouse?"

[Niteranger68]

Your kitty?

[Allegra]

Well, she IS a liberal...

{wince!} Two strikes...

[Allegra]

ROFLMAO!

[Allegra]

[Daffynition]

THAT could be a dousey! Would be lots of war stories there. LOL

[uglybiker]

[Daffynition]

Cat [deaf] was devoured by a coyote ... dog gone from cancer. /sad

[Niteranger68]

I know it's not a cat, but this one kills me.

[Daffynition]

[Niteranger68]

Sorry about that......

[Slings and Arrows]

---

[fnord]

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Thanks!

[Slings and Arrows]

You’re welcome.

[Daffynition]

Thank you ... other equally wonderful critter companions have followed ... never replacing them but adding to the enrichment of life.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

[Slings and Arrows]

xkcd.com is great!

[Daffynition]

What 2 do about this LOLCATZ ADDICTION wez gots???!1

[Slings and Arrows]

What 2 do about this LOLCATZ ADDICTION wez gots???!

Rehab is for quitters.

[Daffynition]

[fzx12345]

CAT THREAD!

[andyandval]

Oh my goodness that is too funny!

[martin_fierro]

That spawned funny follow-up photos with burger kitty, and, well, here we are today.

[martin_fierro]

Since then, though, an entire kitty subculture has emerged on the Web in the form of cat photos with funny sayings written on them.
At first, they were called cat macros, but now go mostly by the name lolcats -- combining the Web abbreviation for "laugh out loud" (LOL) and "cats." The captions are written with poor English and bad grammar, as if the cat is commenting on the situation depicted in the photo, which sometimes is digitally altered for exaggeration.

[martin_fierro]

[CAluvdubya]

I can't resist this one:

[pigsmith]

[A knight without armor]

AAAAAHHHHHH! (shrieking) I LOVE IT!

[JRios1968]

[JRios1968]

[Petronski]

[Lady Jag]

[Lady Jag]

[MEG33]

LOL..Great thread..Bookmarking to explore the links!

[fzx12345]

[Lady Jag]

Takin Kar

[Lady Jag]

[Danae]

Oh the PAIN.....

[Jack Deth]

How's This?





Jack Deth~05/19/07.

[Jack Deth]

Jack.