The Facebook page Mysterious Cat has over 388,000 people following it for precisely that. The page captures the unique charm and quirks of our beloved companions, sharing memes about their sudden bursts of energy, naughty adventures, and derpy faces. Whether you own one of these animals yourself or are simply scrolling through, there’s always a post to make you smile. More info: Facebook In fact, scholars of media history say that understanding the cat postcards of the early 20th Century might help us to understand social media today. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, “postcards functioned like social media today.” Cheaper, faster, and more convenient than a letter, they were used to share random musings, plan logistics for where and when to meet, tell jokes and, of course, post cat pictures. The first postcards were printed in Austria-Hungary in 1869 – fortuitous timing for innovation in the mail field because in 1874, 21 countries established the Universal Postal Union, allowing mail to be sent and delivered internationally. More countries followed in the next few years, and postcards rode this wave. “You could send a postcard to someone at 10 saying you’ll be there at 5:30, if you’re going from Manhattan to Jersey City, and you can get the message to them fairly quickly.” At the time, they were considered more than just pest control. Monarchs and socialites, including Queen Victoria, were famous cat lovers, and the animal’s association with Halloween was well-established. Some postcards featured cats just being cats: sipping milk from saucers, playing with yarn, and basking in the sunlight. Others depicted them dressed as humans, working jobs, and taking part in various domestic scenes. The results showed that people were happier after watching videos of cats, and that they felt less anxious or sad. Something tells me that memes and even postcards have a similar effect. Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
