Image via Complex Original
The Internet loves cats, and the Internet loves lists. There has never been a more perfect union. In fact, some websites have based their entire existence on constantly combining the two. While we've done our fair share of dipping into that well (we see you Lil Bub), our style-obsessed brains have always been trying to find the point where cats, lists, and style all intersect. That day has finally come.
We linked up with Ben Huh, the CEO of the Cheezburger Network—the people who've brought us such viral blessings as FAIL Blog and Lolcats—in order to discuss the very, very serious matter of which cats were absolutely killing it in the style department. After hours of deliberation, multiple e-mail arguments, and one very, very well-edited Google Doc, we finally reached a verdict. Read on to see where your favorites memes land, and find out what happens when Ben Huh Ranks The 25 Most Stylish Cats on the Internet.
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25. Lime Cat
Ben says: "Lime Cat tried to make wearing a fruit a "thing" but didn't quite happen. A lesson on what happens when you go out on the fashion limb and fail."
Lime Cat took Anna Wintour's bob haircut and made it appropriate for the meme world.
24. Longcat
Ben says: "The skinny jeans of all cats, Longcat is a classic, especially if you're into a long torso."
Fashion is all about exaggerated proportions, and Longcat has that down pat.
23. Basement Cat
Ben says: "Black will always be cool. So is being bad. But being evil? The supervillain of the Internet cat world is always in style, always slim, but not a fit for everyone's taste."
All-black everything? No problem for Basement Cat, the resident street goth of Internet felines.
22. Keyboard Cat
Ben says: "Keyboard Cat, real name Fatso, appears in grainy old video footages laughing at other people's misery. Kinda makes sense for a guy named Fatso."
Keyboard Cat's scrubs-blue T-shirt may not be the most fashion-forward uniform, but it works for him. He'd be much higher on this list if he had a matching keyboard necktie.
21. Chester Cheetah
Ben says: "Chester, the 1980s called and wants their high-tops back."
He was slinging Flamin' Hot Cheetos since you were a kid and looks perenially cool in his uniform of sunglasses and high-tops. Animal print is on-trend these days, but Chester literally wakes up that way every morning.
20. Simon the Cat
Ben says: "The new Garfield with an ironic black and white twist. He's the Anna Wintour of disinterested cats."
Simon Tofield's animated feline friend is a champion of minimalism. If you share a love of clean lines, felines, and simple colors like black and white, Simon could be your spirit animal.
19. Grumpy Cat
Ben says: "She's a hater, and we love her for it, and everything she hates turns into gold."
Fashion and style wouldn't be the same without super salty people (sup, Internet commenters?), and Grumpy Cat is right there with them in solidarity.
18. Puma Logo
Ben says: "A corporate spokesperson who doesn't really say much. Probably a good gig if you can get it."
Puma's logo offers something the other big athletic companies don't: a cat. Sorry Le Coq Sportif, but Puma's feline logo takes the cake. In addition to being prominently featured on the tongues of iconic kicks like the Puma Suede and the Clyde, it gets top billing on models like the Puma Cat 2.
17. Serious Cat
Ben says: "Often imitated by Hollywood stars, this mega-pose is like 'Blue Steel' but useful and effective."
Guys, looking good is serious business. And while no stylish person should take themselves too seriously, sometimes it helps to have a reminder that no one should be laughing at your outfit. Thank you for that, Serious Cat.
16. Henri, Le Chat Noir
Ben says: "If Prada needs a spokes cat, Henri is the shoo-in."
Not only is he French, but Henri is well-versed in moody, black-and-white videos, existentialism, and looking at himself in the mirror. Sounds like a video lookbook waiting to happen.
15. Lil Bub
Ben says: "She's a movie star now, thanks to tapping into her fountain of kitten youth, but keeps things cool and chill."
We love Lil Bub so much we dedicated a whole week to her. The perma-kitten is to cat memes what the Olsen twins are to fashion: magically ageless beings who are more successful than we will ever be.
14. Happy Cat
Ben says: "Simply the most zen of the cats. If you like simplicity and contentment in your life, he's your cat."
Look, the fashion world gets enough crap about not eating, et. al., and Happy Cat reminds everyone that sometimes, it's okay to just get a freaking cheeseburger. Yes, we all can has... as long as Fashion Week isn't around the corner.
13. Toonces The Driving Cat
Ben says: "Part teenage rebel, part distracted driver. Don't let Toonces happen to you."
This SNL skit was one of the early precursors to the Internet cat trend of the modern age. What he lacks in proper clothing he makes up for with attitude. He was YOLO before it was corny, or even a motto. See Toonces driving cars off cliffs like it's nothing.
12. Garfield
Ben says: "The grandfather of cat celebrities. Garfield ushered in a generation of introvert cat-lovers."
Part of style is not caring. Garfield just didn't care at all. If you ever needed to learn how to generate chill vibes, you need not look any further than this dedicated lasagna lover.
11. Nyan Cat
Ben says: "Not many cats can make a rectangle dress look good. But then again this cat poops rainbows."
Nyan Cat blasts rainbows out of its butt and its body is made out of Pop Tarts. If that doesn't yell "Jeremy Scott" we're not sure what does.
10. Hello Kitty
Ben says: "Defining Japan's kawaii culture for decades, she's adorable and timeless, unless you're too old."
Hello Kitty is the OG of dressing up cats. Her wardrobe is full of everything from denim overalls, nerd glasses, polka dots, and leather motorcycle jackets. She's probably got the most versatile style out of any cat on this list.
9. "Buy a Boat" Cat
Ben says: "He's an upwardly-mobile head of household, a marketer's dream and he's probably trying to figure out how to buy a better car than you."
"Buy a Boat" Cat is really Bjork's husband in the "Triumph of a Heart" music video, but that doesn't make him any less stylish. In fact, we're sure if more cats followed in his stylish footsteps, they could be married to super rich, capricious musical weirdos too.
8. Business Cat
Ben says: "This cat is all business, but nothing ever gets done. Dilbert, you have new competition."
If you need more proof that simply wearing a tie can make you look professional, just take a look at Business Cat. Without it, we'd just give him a nice pet and maybe a treat. But with it, we're ready to hand over the keys to the corner office. Dress for the job you want, people!
7. Hamilton the Hipster Cat
Ben says: "My, my, that ironic trucker hat looks great with your ironic moustache."
Hamilton is to the cat world what Nick Wooster is to the street style set. No one can mess with that perfect mustache, and when he gets dressed up, he kills it. Hamilton is single-pawedly bringing back the Rich Uncle Pennybags steez.
6. Shere Khan (TaleSpin)
Ben says: "He takes himself too seriously and rules with fear. Not a popular management style for the Millennials."
After The Jungle Book, Shere Khan got himself a razor-sharp tailor and started rocking ill-double breasted suits in TaleSpin. The fact that he naturally wore everything with tiger stripes? A definite indicator of his inherent next level sense of style.
5. Jaguar Logo
Ben says: "This cat is making a comeback under its new ownership. British sexiness, brought to you by an Indian owner. How much more globally awesome can it get?"
Quite possibly the most luxurious cat co-sign, the Jaguar hood ornament and logo has been the stuff of rap legend. With call-outs from guys like Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Rick Ross, simply being behind the wheel of one is a status symbol.
4. Colonel Meow
Ben says: "You think you've got a bad hair day? Colonel Meow takes it to heights and looks great doing it."
It takes a real cat to embrace their hairstyle, and Colonel Meow not only does it with grace, but also serious swagger. No one cat should have all that hair, but he tames it like a champ—and his fanart is simply the stuff of legend.
3. Chemistry Cat
Ben says: "Professorial, retro, clean cut with a dash of nerd. He doesn't know he's a hipster, but he is."
Chemistry Cat has dressing up down to a science... but he also has science down to a science. There's probably no other cat that understands this Wu-Tang Clan reference disguised as elements on the periodic table.
2. United Bamboo Cats
Ben says: "Celebrate diversity! Celebrate minature human clothes in cat form! The new United Colors of Benetton."
United Bamboo is known for their annual calendar depicting various cats "kittened out" in the latest collection. The best part? If you think your pet has the chops, you can enter them in a contest to see if they can make the year's shoot. It's like America's Next Top Model... but with cats. What's not to like about that?
1. Choupette, Karl Lagerfeld's cat
Ben says: "I don't know why, but I expected Karl Lagerfeld's cat to be the hairless kind. She's adorbz, tho."
Karl Lagerfeld is a G in his own right, but Choupette is the queen of fashionable cats. Recently immortalized by tokidoki in a capsule collection, Lagerfeld's right-hand cat isn't just his pet, she's the very muse of Chanel. Let's hope she doesn't feel all that weight on her shoulders.