Owning a cat (or any fuzzy creature) is a known stress reducer, and I have a super cute kitty at home. But sometimes I get stressed while at work — maybe I read a frustrating political story, or feel overwhelmed, or got a book rejection — and I can’t exactly go home to cuddle with my cat. I need a quick cat fix to make me laugh and reset my brain. That’s where cat GIFs come in! This might seem silly, but browsing through cat GIFs helps me break (almost) any chain of negative thinking and be productive again. So I wanted to share that cuteness (and productivity boost) with you!

Here are 20 of my favorite cat GIFs, guaranteed to make you smile! Each image links to its source, so feel free to download each image or bookmark this post to peruse whenever you need a bit of happiness.

1. This cat stretching his tiny legs

And spreading his tiny pink toes. It’s almost too cute to be real.

2. This cat who can’t even handle it

Being awake is just too much.

Cat Facepalm

3. This other cat who can’t even handle it

You can never have too many cats facepalming.

Cat can't handle it

4. This cat dancing on the Titanic

This may literally be the greatest GIF ever created.

Cat dancing with Leonardo Dicaprio on the Titanic

5. This cat who just wants out of this situation

This is how I feel whenever I look at Twitter lately, so I get it.

The great kitty escape

6. This kitten getting pulled in for a hug

Everything’s going to be okay. Right? RIGHT?

Kitten hug

7. This cat getting turned off

Nose boop = power button.

He can't even handle a nose boop.

8. This cat failing miserably

It’s like he didn’t even try.

Just total fail

9. This cat… I don’ t know what he’s doing, but it’s hilarious

Maybe he’s getting sucked into the vacuum of space. Hard to tell, really.

Is he okay? Unclear.

10. This sleepy kitty

A.K.A. me, every Monday.

He clearly has a case of the Mondays

11. This kitten living his best life

You can’t say you don’t want to rub those lil’ cheeks.

I just want to rub those little cheeks

12. This cat who resents objects

Some people who make GIFs are hilarious.

Fuck this thing in particular

13. This cat in a bucket of chicks

There’s no other way to describe this.

There's no other way to describe this

14. This cat who’s writing the next great American novel

You know it’s going to be good.

Cat Typing

15. This cat who just can’t win

Keep chasing your dreams, kitty.

Poor kitty can't catch the laser

16. This cat slipping into the upside-down

Those feet, though.

Uh oh, where'd he go?

17. This kitten who’d just rather not

It’s adorable but also he clearly doesn’t want this to be happening.

Not everybody likes to dance

18. This introverted kitty

I feel you, kitty. I feel you.

It's never really safe out there, is it?

19. This kitten being the absolute cutest thing

Oof those paws, I can’t even stand it.

Weeeee

20. This cat who missed her daddy

If this doesn’t make you tear up a bit, I don’t even know.

This is just the best

21. An honorable mention for those eyes

It may be a cartoon (Puss in Boots from Shrek), but he’s still downright adorable.

From Shrek, remember?

Want to share this post? Here are ready-made tweets:

Click to tweet: 20 Cat GIFs Guaranteed to Make You Smile by @DianaUrban http://bit.ly/2xlzIgt

Click to tweet: Ha! I needed this dose of cute. #cutenessoverload http://bit.ly/2xlzIgt

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