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Do you ever get the feeling that life is all about cats? The internet’s obsessed with them. Your friends keep sending you cat memes during work. And you keep thinking about cats so much, they seem to pop up everywhere you look. Relax—you’re not alone.

People are posting photos of all the random places and items that they saw cats in and Bored Panda has collected the very best examples of feline pareidolia for you to enjoy.

Scroll down and take a look at all the cats unexpectedly showing up in people’s everyday lives. Don’t forget to upvote your fave pics and if you have any photos of cat outlines meowsteriously stalking you, post them in the comment section, dear Pandas.

#2

My Wife’s Hot Chocolate Was Visited By A Mysterious Cat

My Wife’s Hot Chocolate Was Visited By A Mysterious Cat

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#3

This Bag Looks Like A Cat

This Bag Looks Like A Cat

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In an earlier interview with Bored Panda, professor Kang Lee from the University of Toronto explained to us the science of seeing faces and familiar figures in things.

"Pareidolia illustrates the interaction between the visual cortex and the frontal cortex of the human brain. It suggests that our brain is highly sensitive and expecting to encounter and process some special classes of objects in our environment because they are biological and socially important to our adaptions to the environment," the professor detailed.

#4

Dog's Shadow Looks Exactly Like A Cat

Dog's Shadow Looks Exactly Like A Cat

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#5

This Shadow Of The Window Frame Looks Like A Cat Is Perched Up There.

This Shadow Of The Window Frame Looks Like A Cat Is Perched Up There.

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#6

This Can Of Paint Looks Like A Cat

This Can Of Paint Looks Like A Cat

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Raine Soo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a beautiful likeness of a cat. It also reminds me of that Japanese print 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa'.

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"For example, when you are walking in a dark street in the evening, your brain is on high alert to detect whether any threat will jump out at any moment. In this case, you are more likely to have face or human pareidolia because it is important for you to err on the side of caution if you mistake a tree as a human being."

He continued: "However, for some people, their frontal cortex’s expectation for certain objects (e.g., faces) become so high that they see faces in many situations where no faces exist."

According to Professor Lee, this is normal and there’s nothing wrong with people who see faces or figures where there aren’t any.

#7

The Makeup Squirt On My Sponge Resembled A Cat This Morning.

The Makeup Squirt On My Sponge Resembled A Cat This Morning.

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#8

Grumpy Cat In My Apple

Grumpy Cat In My Apple

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#9

This Cloud Looks Like A Cat, And A Dog.

This Cloud Looks Like A Cat, And A Dog.

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“Pareidolia is different from paranoia or delusion or abnormal vision of individuals with psychosis. In fact, a recent study shows that those people with pareidolia tend to be more creative. Also, people who are religious may be able to see religious icons in non-face objects as well."

He added that pareidolia shows how powerfully our imaginations (which comes from our frontal cortex) can affect our perception (which takes place first in the visual cortex which is located in the occipital lobe in the back of our head).

#10

The Pattern On My Dogs Chest Looks Like A Cat Mid Sneeze

The Pattern On My Dogs Chest Looks Like A Cat Mid Sneeze

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#11

This Cat Food Bag's Shadow Looks Like A Cat

This Cat Food Bag's Shadow Looks Like A Cat

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#12

This Grass That Looks Like A Giant Cat

This Grass That Looks Like A Giant Cat

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Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Legend says a cat once fell asleep there. Sadly, never woke up. Nowadays the grass and flowers tell us the story about the cat who wandered.

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“What we see are not things over there in the world but actually the co-creation of what is out there physically and what is in our mind mentally through our expectations and imaginations,” he said.

However, pareidolia isn’t only a visual phenomenon. “Pareidolia is a broader phenomenon as it extends to touch and sound and other sensory channels. For example, you sometimes sense your phone vibrating when it is not, it is a tactile form of pareidolia. When you hear voices in a noisy environment, it is an auditory form of pareidolia." So technically you could feel a cat brushing up against you or hear a feline meowing, too!

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#13

This Crack On The Stairs Looks Like A Cat

This Crack On The Stairs Looks Like A Cat

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Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Legend says it will make you trip down if you walk by that spot. ♡

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#14

Cat Formed By Cracks Above My Light Switch

Cat Formed By Cracks Above My Light Switch

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#15

The Reflection Of This Watch Looks Like A Logo For Some Cat Super Hero.

The Reflection Of This Watch Looks Like A Logo For Some Cat Super Hero.

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#16

This Chip In My Window Looks A Bit Like A Cat

This Chip In My Window Looks A Bit Like A Cat

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#17

The Way My Lotion Squirted Out Looks Like A Cat

The Way My Lotion Squirted Out Looks Like A Cat

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#19

This Tree Behind My House Looks Like A Cat Turning Back To Look At Me

This Tree Behind My House Looks Like A Cat Turning Back To Look At Me

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#20

This Thread On My Floor That Looks Like A Cat

This Thread On My Floor That Looks Like A Cat

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#21

This Lil Squirt Of Lotion Looks Like A Tiny Cat

This Lil Squirt Of Lotion Looks Like A Tiny Cat

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#22

This Parking Spot Has A Salty Cat On It

This Parking Spot Has A Salty Cat On It

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#23

This Popcorn That Looks Like A Cat

This Popcorn That Looks Like A Cat

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#25

My Banana Has A Bruise That Is A Silhouette Of A Cat.

My Banana Has A Bruise That Is A Silhouette Of A Cat.

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#26

The Tigers On These Socks Look Like House Cats When Turned Inside Out

The Tigers On These Socks Look Like House Cats When Turned Inside Out

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#27

The Way The Glass From One Building Reflects Onto The Brick Into The Image Of A Cat.

The Way The Glass From One Building Reflects Onto The Brick Into The Image Of A Cat.

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#28

The Thorax Of This Bug Looks Like A Cat With Sunglasses

The Thorax Of This Bug Looks Like A Cat With Sunglasses

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#30

The Shadow Of This Box Of Tissues Looks Like A Cat

The Shadow Of This Box Of Tissues Looks Like A Cat

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Note: this post originally had 58 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.