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icanhascheezburger_feedNo matter how scared of humans it might be, a cat in need will sometimes risk it and ask for help. It's up to us not to disappoint them.
If you own a cat, then you will learn this at some point or another: cats do not show us when they need our help. A sick cat - even your house cat - will hide their pain from you. That is simply part of how they are. It's instinctive for them not to show weakness, even to us. Part of what being a good cat owner means is paying attention to your cat all the time, noticing any little change that might indicate they are not feeling well. If your cat is suddenly not eating the same way as before, or drinking less water, or is less cuddly. Any change in behavior is an indicator that something might be wrong. This is about house cats. Stray cats are an entirely different beast to deal with.
Most stray cats inherently don't trust humans. If you've ever tried gaining the trust of a stray cat, then you know just how hard it actually is, how much work and time it takes. For a stray cat to ask for help from a human, it needs to overcome not one but two obstacles: its fear of humans and its instinct to not appear weak. A lot of stray cats simply never do it. And we think this is part of why stray cats live shorter lives than house cats. If they knew they had someone trustworthy to turn to for help, maybe they would do it more often. But some cats… take the risk. Some cats, at their worst moment, when they can tell that they will not survive much longer on their own, turn to humans. After that, there is only one shot. One chance. Break their trust now, and they will never come back. It is up to us to give them the help that they ask for, to show them that some humans are good and trustworthy and deserving of their fluffy love and affection.
The Big Idea: Amanda J. McGee
Sep. 8th, 2026 09:39 pmscalziwhatever_feed
Grow where you are planted. In author Amanda J. McGee’s case, that’s right in good ol’ Appalachia. It is because of this that she felt compelled to write her newest novella, A River Wide, about more than just a character from Appalachia, but about the land that so many of us see the beauty and incredulousness of on a daily basis.
AMANDA J. MCGEE:
Appalachia is in the news a lot. It’s got a sort of reputation at this point. But a lot of those who pontificate on Appalachia don’t really get it. They don’t get the disinvestment, the disillusionment. They buy their retirement homes — their second or third ones, mind — up against the National Forest because they like the views, but they don’t really know anything about the history of those views. The land doesn’t breathe for them.
Personally, I’m a bit of an animist. I grew up in a community very much like Belfont, on the banks of one of the oldest rivers in the world. So much of knowing a place is about listening, being sensitive to it. In my novella, Rhia can’t close her metaphysical ears. She’s bad at the people part, but really good at the nature part, and it makes it very hard to exist in a small community. In this way, Rhia and I are alike. It’s very hard to not hear the history of things.
The thing about any landscape is that, in the United States especially, we tend to try to separate the people from it. But the people are a part of the landscape. This concept is captured imperfectly in the Pastoral movement as a sort of backward looking navel-gazing. Once upon a time, man lived simply in the arms of nature! A shame we can’t get back there! But man — or woman, or person — always lives in the arms of nature. People and place are inextricable — the landscape of your home lives in your bones. I was born in a desert – my parents spent some time gallivanting away from the mountains in their youth — but I am at least a fifth generation Appalachian and most of my clear memories of childhood are here.
When I was a kid, my dad would take me on long walks in the woods. We would study scat, identify plants, listen to bird calls. Not everyone has that education. Some folks might learn to read the sky for a storm or develop an affinity for knowing when one of their cows are lame or ill. Some folks are very good at reading the water and knowing when a channel is likely to take your boat shooting through the rocks safely — and when it’s going to dump you out into the churn. All of that is a little bit of magic.
Rhia’s river talks to her literally. I’ve found the river I grew up on tells me all kinds of stories. In the mud behind my house I have found a whole wealth of secrets. Morphine bottles and old tires, mason jars and the gutted shells of giant clams. Sometimes, those artefacts become attached to real stories about people my parents or grandparents knew. Stories about hidden addictions, forgotten abundance, and the companies that owned mountains. They’re stories of the land, of how it raised up people and broke them, too. Rhia’s story isn’t a history book, but her history haunts her, and the river won’t let her forget it.
We talk a lot about the people of Appalachia, but do we talk about the landscape? The living, breathing biome that holds all of those people? The blue caress of the mountains against the gold of the evening sky in August? So much of the struggle of Appalachians — especially working class Appalachians — is bound up in the land. You can’t have a history of one without the other. A novella isn’t very long — there’s a lot left to tell about the history of Belfont. But I hope you look for the glimmers of that history, and it sparks some curiosity in you.
A River Wide: Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Bookshop
icanhascheezburger_feedIs there anything better than the smell of pumpkin spice wafting through the air to pair with some hissterical, brainless orange cats? We think not.
Everybody loves summer. Sure, summer is great, I guess - if you like being constantly sweaty and enjoy walking in a swimming pool of humidity every day. Me, purrsonally, I love fall. Fall is so much more comforting than summer. Comfy sweaters, pumpkin spice everything, and the leaves changing just makes me feel at home. So, now that it's officially September, it's time for us to move on from summer and welcome in autumn with open paws.
Fall is a multi-colored season. It can be bright, blue, and sunny one day, and dark and stormy the next. So, in honor of this cozy season that contains oranges, browns, and everything in between, we curated a heartwarming (mostly) orange cat collection. Why mostly orange cats? Because orange is one of the colors that represents fall the most - think pumpkin spice lattes, jack-o'-lanterns, and the colors of the leaves changing.
That's why this article is mostly orange. It has all the sweetness of orange cats, with some other kitties thrown in there to round out the full feeling that is fall feline cuteness. Kittens, bonded pairs taking naps together, and sugary kitty cuties are meant to give you the feeling of snuggling up with your cats as the weather changes without actually having to be there. That means that, no matter where you're reading this, you'll have that feeling of home to carry with you throughout your day. Because we all know that home is where your heart is, and our hearts belong to our cats.
Time to put your swimsuits away and take out your sweaters - PSL season is upon us!
icanhascheezburger_feedThe kitten was found alone on the street, following people around, but no one decided to take him. Until one person saw him and took him home. Sometimes the update you want to know is that simple. A stray kitten found his forever home.
By the end of his journey, he is a happy, healthy cat with a place of his own. That ending is a relief to know before watching because you can follow his story knowing that someone helps him and that the care continues beyond the rescue. Most of the time, we don't know what happens to an animal after the rescue. This time, the little cat gets a chance to grow up, and we get to see what becomes of him.
It is easy to become invested in a kitten within seconds. Suddenly, you want to know if he found a home, if he is doing well, and whether the next chapter of his life is kinder than the first. Here, the video leaves no questions unanswered. We see the animal in trouble, wonder what happened afterward, and we get the complete story. This heartwarming story is not a trailer for the movie; this is the full movie.
As time passes, the kitten becomes an adult cat. You know that nostalgia you feel when you see old photos of your pets. Your cat changes little by little every day, and you don't even notice how quickly they grow up until you see an old photo and wonder how the cat beside you was ever that small. With a rescued animal, those early pictures also hold the circumstances of your first meeting. It's part of a family history you couldn't have predicted. Documenting how you changed a kitten's life must feel really heartwarming.
icanhascheezburger_feedIf you find a lonely kitten in the middle of a country road, are you obligated to adopt it?
Once you see a kitten, tiny and alone where no tiny thing should ever be, the decision has basically already been made for you. You can tell yourself you are "just checking" or "just making sure she is safe," but we all know how this story ends. The kitten knows it too. She has known since the meowment you made eye contact with her.
There is something about finding a baby animal in need that activates every protective instinct in the hooman body. Suddenly, your crucial errands aren't so important anymore.The quiet routine you had for the rest of the day gets completely rewritten by a creature small enough to fit in your hands, yet somehow loud enough to rearrange your whole life.
Originally posted on @jennifercarlton72's Instagram page, this wholesome kitten rescue is more than just a rescue. It was the beginning of a new chapter in Jennifer's life. She and her husband had their routine, and their life was more or less predictable… until Junie showed up. This smol kitten she rescued breathed new life into their days. Their meowrnings became filled with cuddles and tiny claws underneath bedsheets. Their evenings became impromptu playtimes and attempting to handle Junie's meowtrageously cute zoomies.
Sometimes, life gets quiet without us even noticing. Routine becomes predictable. Then one tiny kitten arrives on a country road and reminds everyone that love can still show up unexpectedly, meowing loudly for dinner. It doesn't get more purrfect than that.
icanhascheezburger_feedEarning the trust of a scared stray cat takes time, but apparently all it takes is one surprise lap jump to make every second worth it.
Marco, a little orange cat, started hanging around a cafe a few weeks ago. The only problem was that he was absolutely terrified of people. Even someone getting up from a chair nearby would send him running. Clearly, becoming friends with this orange boy wasn't going to happen overnight.
One cafe regular decided to keep trying anyway. There were some food bribes involved and eventually curiosity started winning out over fear. Marco still wasn't ready to be touched, but he was getting closer. With a nervous cat, sometimes being allowed to simply exist nearby without them sprinting away feels like a win.
Then Marco decided to skip about ten stages of the friendship process at once.
His new friend arrived at the cafe, took their usual seat, and noticed there was no Marco around. They started looking at their phone and went about their business until, completely out of nowhere, they felt a thump land on their lap.
Guess who?
Marco had apparently been hiding underneath the table waiting for them. This is the same cat who, just weeks earlier, couldn't handle someone standing up near him. Now he was voluntarily climbing into a lap like he'd been doing it forever.
We're going to say those food bribes were money well spent.
There's something pretty great about a cat deciding on his own that someone has officially passed the trust test. Marco wasn't chased down, picked up, or forced into affection. He got there on his own schedule.
In classic orange cat fashion, once he finally made his move, he went all in.
Monsters of Ohio Starred Review in Library Journal
Sep. 8th, 2026 04:13 pmscalziwhatever_feed
This actually happened, like, a week ago, but I’ve been busy traveling all over the place, so I’m noting it here now: Hey! Monsters of Ohio got an other starred review in the trades! This one is courtesy of Library Journal. The review is behind a paywall, but here’s the “verdict” portion of the review:
Scalzi’s delightfully quirky, cozy sci-fi horror serves up a heaping helping of small-town charm, offers a love letter to the author’s own rural Ohio small town, and pays homage to the pulp horror of classic scary movies while snarkily commenting that humans are the scariest monsters of all.
Sweet! For those keeping track, that’s two starred reviews, one in Kirkus and one in Library Journal, as well as a very positive review in Publishers Weekly. I’m pleased for my little book. Which, remember, comes out in November and which you can pre-order at your favorite bookstore (plus it’s not too late to get signed, personalized editions through Subterranean Press).
— JS
icanhascheezburger_feedBuying a new farm comes with enough challenges. Over 60 cats are over 60 challenges that the new owners did not sign up for.
Buying a new property is hard enough. Even if the place looks perfect, you know that there will be issues. Because there always are. A leaky faucet, perhaps. Bedbugs if you're extra unlucky. All kinds of things can go wrong. And when you do it, when you make the plunge, the investment, you kind of have to be prepared for everything. Except that we don't think that any new farm owner could have prepared themselves for finding so many stray cats on their property.
Finding one abandoned cat on your property is already a big deal. You have to decide whether to adopt, rehome or ignore. Every cat comes with its own story, its own habits, and its own difficulties with finding a home. Finding homes for 60 barn cats… sounds kind of like a cosmic joke. But for 40AcresOfFreedom on Reddit, it was reality. But instead of giving up, these owners did something ameowzing. They took on the mission of capturing each and every one of these stray cats and finding them all homes. And even though it took over two years, they have finally done it. These are the kind of people that we need more of in this world.
PSL Season Is Back: Purrs, Snuggles and Lattes to Fall Into the Coziest Season of the Year
Sep. 8th, 2026 10:30 amicanhascheezburger_feedCancel the summer plans and grab the biggest cup available because pumpkin spice latte season has officially entered the chat.
There's something about that first PSL of the year that makes fall feel real, even if it's still suspiciously warm outside. One sip and suddenly we're mentally wearing sweaters, watching leaves fall, and curled up on the couch with a cat purring beside us. Is it dramatic? Maybe. Are we ordering another one tomorrow? Absolutely.
Cats fit perfectly into pumpkin spice season because they already understand the assignment: get cozy and stay cozy. While we're sipping our overpriced autumn-flavored coffee, they're settling into our laps and making sure we can't get up until the mug is empty. Honestly, it's a pretty good arrangement.
Of course, our felines don't understand why their hoomans suddenly become obsessed with pumpkin spice every September. As far as they're concerned, we walked into the house carrying yet another drink that isn't tuna flavored and therefore has absolutely nothing to offer them. The whipped cream might get their attention, but otherwise they'll stick to their regularly scheduled treats.
Still, there's no better PSL companion than a cat. Coffee shop run complete? Check. Favorite blanket acquired? Check. Kitty curled up nearby looking extra fluffy? Now we're officially feeling fall.
So bring on the pumpkin spice lattes, cinnamon everything, cooler mornings, cozy evenings, and excuses to stay home with the cat. We waited all year for this, and we plan on enjoying every last basic sip of it.
The PSL is in hand, the cat is on our lap, and suddenly leaving the couch feels like an October problem.
icanhascheezburger_feedWhen we say you never know how the Cat Distribution System is going to get you, we need you to know we really do mean it. You might have thought that it could only catch you while hanging around next to trash or desolate paths and roads. Well, let us regale you with the tale of the Walmart kitten who met its hooman to be while they were innocently out for a bit of shopping.
It is often remarked that the most extraordinary things in life come from the most mundane moments. Genius ideas that come while brushing your cat's fur, incredible job offers when you are muddling your way through your Monday meeting, or even a cute cat child waiting for you to put them in your basket as you stroll the aisles of Walmart. A cat like that is once in a lifetime and no matter the price that they ask for, you had better say yes and with gusto. Luckily for this cat lover, the feline was free, though she did have to buy some food and a carrier…which is a pretty clever sales scheme.
Nonetheless, a kitten was saved this day, perhaps not from immediate peril, or any danger at all other than some potentially unfortunate accidents. But what this woman did is provide love, stability and support for a cat who had none. A cat who was left to try and survive in a Walmart parking lot, making breaking into the department store the only reasonable thing to do. After all, this cat was looking for a home, and everything you need for a home can be found in that one place.
icanhascheezburger_feedA hailstorm was evaded, but the storm of raising a tortie cat has just begun for this family.
There are not many cases in which such a tiny kitten is saved in the face of raging weather. But some do. These are the lucky ones for whom the Cat Distribution System succeeds in getting their human match to them right on time. Imagine getting the exact card you needed in your hand to complete a series in a card game, but with the life of a small cat on the line. So, you know, one major difference. But when a cat's life is saved, it always makes us happy, so we're here to share that happiness with the rest of the online feline-loving community.
But the thing is, the Cat Distribution System doesn't just affect the cats in need. They also have this special unit (probably) to make sure the intended person for the cat adoption is ready. And that's how a person who didn't want cats, like this one mom on Reddit, got the "maybe one more cat is okay" software installed in their heart as soon as she laid eyes on the small kitten. And that's what we call love at first meow.
27 Feline Funnies Featuring the Cattest of Cat Memes
Sep. 8th, 2026 06:30 amicanhascheezburger_feedWhat's better than cats? More cats! And the cattier they are, the better.
Cats always make everything better. From household items to deep, emotional discussions. Everything is better when there's a cat involved. The more cat a thing is, the better it is in general. Just think about it: You eat lunch, and when you finish your food off the plate, you discover a cat painting underneath - that's wholesome. You arrive at a friend's house and ring the bell, and instead of a "ding dong" (standard, boring, plain), it's a loud "MEOW" (original, surprising, reminds you of cats) - it's whimsical and heart-lifting. You talk about a sad subject with someone close on the phone, a sad and difficult conversation, but then your cat comes and gently curls themselves up on your lap - and you instantly feel a little better.
Cats make everything better.
So when we talk about such a regular shmegular day, as this one, we always aim to elevate it through cats. And the best way to do so is with cat memes. Because even memes are better with cats. And when you have so many cat memes, it's hard to stay sad, mad, bored, or whatever negative emotion you've been feeling today. Just put a cat on it - it'll be just fine. Especially when funny cats are around.
Happy Birthday, Star Trek
Sep. 8th, 2026 03:03 pmscalziwhatever_feedAs I note in the Instagram post above, I have a particular reason to celebrate the existence of Star Trek: Without it, I wouldn’t have written Redshirts, or at least, if I had written something like it, it would have had a rather different grounding and a very different existence. A different name, to be sure.
But even without that obvious personal connection, the franchise has enriched my life, and the lives of millions of others, over the six decades it’s been around. I’m glad it’s been around for us all. May it continue to live long and prosper.
— JS
22 Purrfectly Cozy Cat Memes to Savor With Your First Cup of Coffee
Sep. 8th, 2026 05:45 amicanhascheezburger_feedCats are absolved from mistakes and faults just inherently.
Everyone makes mistakes. A day of purrfect ease could be ripped under you in the blink of an eye. You stroll along and suddenly you find that you've said the worst thing at the worst time. You never really know yourself until you're met with the moment where intention and impact accidently miss each other, and all you can do is stand there, replaying it in your head long after the moment has passed. We carry these moments like weights at the gym. We analyze them, assign meaning, and build narratives around them, whether they're true or not. Our narratives dictate our whole world, and let us decide our thoughts and actions. A single mistake can cost a whole relationship, job, or your sense of self.
But cats? Cats never feel the shame, the guilt, or the pressure that humans feel. We're so riddled with lamentations and struggles from the slightest things, while cats could maliciously destroy a prized possession and just go to their couch throne for a nap immediately afterwards. And it's not that they're truly malicious, mean, or have ill-intentions. But their whole system of life is built around them – you're merely the plaything in the corner of their life that feeds them and lets them have the comfort they deserve. Cats live completely unburdened by this internal trial. A cat can knock a glass off the table, stare directly into your soul, and walk away without a shred of remorse. Not because they are careless, but because they do not equate mistakes with identity. The action happens. The moment passes. Life continues. There is no moral residue.
Cats play the victim, they play docile and delicate at the times when they know they've done wrong. They look at you with big eyes, airplane ears, and a sense of innocence after they just knocked your keys off the table, broke your favorite mug, and destroyed all the toilet paper on the roll in the bathroom. And what are you to do? You have to just let them do their implicit apology, their feigned sadness, and their adorable manipulation on your heartstrings.
26 Cuddly Cat Memes to Fall Into the Sweet Spooky Season With
Sep. 8th, 2026 03:15 amicanhascheezburger_feedWe don't care what others think, as far as we're concerned, as soon as August ends and September begins, spooky season is in full swing.
We can already hear what all the other sceptics have to say: "It's not even cold yet", "It's way too early for Halloween decorations", "We haven't even gone to the beach once yet"… All excuses to ignore the sign that the best season of all is finally upon us: Fall.
While summer is all fun and games, and is full of special activities we truly enjoy, it does not compare to the season that follows and brings with it the coziest weather of them all. Fall is the winner in every department, from the clothes, the orange trees and falling leaves, the smell of the first rain of the season, and the absolutely best holidays of the year. The streets go quieter as kids return to school, people start planning their Halloween costumes and discuss where and with whom they will spend Thanksgiving this year, and we simply soak up every last minute of all that fun. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
We are not the only ones in our household excited about this shift in the air. We can already see how the slight shift in the weather is affecting our cats. While they might not be as excited as we are about Halloween costumes, we know they can't wait for the cold AC to turn off for the final time this year, and for the temperatures to finally drop enough for all the cozy blankets and heaters to come out of their hiding place. All they want is a nice, long snuggle session in bed, where we don't kick them off us when their furr gets too hot to bear. We can't wait to pull out a good book, some hot chocolate, and get super cozy until the sun goes down.
Since we are not quite there yet, we are doing everything in our power to manifest the cozy season to start as soon as possible, including using the help of this cozy collection of cute cat memes, so scroll down to help the cause!
5 Nutrient-Rich Foods Your Cat Needs For 9 Lives Longevity
Sep. 7th, 2026 03:15 pmicanhascheezburger_feedWe all want our cats to live furrever, so here are some foods to improve their diet and longevity.
Cats aren't just internet trends, memes, or hilarious furballs of fun to make us laugh when we get home. There's a serious side to them that we always need to remind ourselves of, and that's their health. Some cats are naturally bigger, or smaller, but the point is that since our cats mean so much to us, it's always of utmost importance to remember to not just keep them happy, but to keep them healthy too. Here are 5 nutrient-rich foods safe for cats that you may not have known about. Just remember that none of these foods should replace your cat's normal eating routine or cat food you normally buy. These should be used sparingly.
icanhascheezburger_feedHe deserves more than rain and cold.
With September here in full swing, rain might just be around the corner for you. Summer felt like it lasted forever, and whether you like the heat or the cold, the fact remains that each year the skies oscillate between temperatures. In the story below, a little white kitten was found outside in the rain, freezing cold, and in a dish full of water! How awful for this poor little thing. The kind person who found him immediately rescued him from the harsh environment outside and took him home. After a couple vet visits the two are housemates. This little guy got what he deserves, which is the warmth of a real home, and a pawrent to take care of him instead of a dish of water.
icanhascheezburger_feedJust when they thought their cat-rescuing days were behind them, the CDS sent assignment number four.
After three cats and more than two years away from fostering and rescuing, this family had officially decided their household was full. Three kitties were plenty, and adding another was definitely not part of the plan.
Unfortunately, nobody informed the Cat Distribution System.
A little kitten suddenly appeared at the husband's workplace, and no one was quite sure how she got there. They suspect she may have hitched a ride with a trucker or possibly been dumped. Either way, after a month of searching and finding no owner, it became pretty clear this little girl was on her own.
At first, she kept her distance. But slowly, she started warming up to the husband, and naturally, he started falling for her too. It probably didn't hurt that his wife began sending him to work armed with cat food. Nothing builds a feline friendship quite like becoming the person who brings dinner.
Eventually, he announced that he was going to try catching her. The next day, he simply scooped her up and brought her home. So much for that break from adopting!
Even with three resident cats waiting at home, the approximately 4-month-old kitten fit in almost immediately. After just one night, her new pawrent was already declaring, "Yeah, this is my baby." Once those words come out, there's no pretending this is temporary anymore.
The little newcomer is now fully vetted, preparing to be spayed, and officially part of a four-cat household that was absolutely supposed to stop at three.
This also happens to be the fourth time the CDS has made a delivery to this family, so maybe they should stop acting surprised.
The Cat Distribution System saw two experienced rescuers taking a well-earned break and decided their application for retirement had been denied.