"but then I turned out to be that idiot"
January 29, 2025 7:48 AM Subscribe
If you live in the New Orleans metro area and are missing your pants, Admiral Galacticat may be to blame.
We have a laundry-obsessed cat too. I'm sure if Ernie were allowed outdoors, mysterious piles of socks would start to accumulate on my porch.
posted by PussKillian at 8:38 AM on January 29 [1 favorite]
posted by PussKillian at 8:38 AM on January 29 [1 favorite]
This seems like the least awful thing to happen to your underpants around NOLA
posted by Countess Elena at 8:47 AM on January 29 [9 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 8:47 AM on January 29 [9 favorites]
Huh. According to The Algorithm, there are countless laundry-stealing cats in communities across the globe. The cats involved are all the same. The humans involved are all the same. Every cat becomes a social media star. Every local TV news channel deploys cameras to do a cuteness story. Every cuteness story includes: interview with homeowners and laundry victims describing their initial bafflement, the terrible discovery, the homeowners' shame, their hand-lettered signs apologizing for their miscreant pets, their efforts to make restitution; doorbell camera footage of the cat in the act; attractive chuckling anchors who without exception call the animal a "cat burglar."
posted by Don Pepino at 9:13 AM on January 29 [9 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 9:13 AM on January 29 [9 favorites]
they're good cats, Dan
posted by phunniemee at 9:15 AM on January 29 [17 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 9:15 AM on January 29 [17 favorites]
I love that kind of story. No one thinks twice about it with dogs, who think everything is a toy, but it's probably the weird deadpan randomness of cats bringing things home that makes the difference.
My cat Uncle Louie just brings me his toys at night, howling in an eerie but muffled manner all the way up the stairs. He waits until I have settled down in bed and turned out the light to do it.
posted by Peach at 9:22 AM on January 29 [5 favorites]
My cat Uncle Louie just brings me his toys at night, howling in an eerie but muffled manner all the way up the stairs. He waits until I have settled down in bed and turned out the light to do it.
posted by Peach at 9:22 AM on January 29 [5 favorites]
Aw, Uncle Louie is so conscientious! Making sure his wards are all safely tucked in for the night! A top quality uncle.
posted by Don Pepino at 9:45 AM on January 29 [4 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 9:45 AM on January 29 [4 favorites]
Admiral Galaticat!!!!! I love you, you laundry-stealing bastard. What a handsome baby.
Admiral's dad's t-shirt is pretty epic too. this is all-around wholesomeness win. (thanks phunniemee!)
posted by supermedusa at 9:50 AM on January 29 [3 favorites]
Admiral's dad's t-shirt is pretty epic too. this is all-around wholesomeness win. (thanks phunniemee!)
posted by supermedusa at 9:50 AM on January 29 [3 favorites]
Sir Digby Chicken Caesar, aka Diggy, aka The Most Handsome Cat in Handsome Town, is deeply attached to what we call his wubby. It came with him from the rescue place; it's a homemade vaguely mouse-shaped knit toy and he will carry it around, singing his wubby song. He gets terribly offended if you mishandle the wubby (like when I have to vacuum and just chuck it willy-nilly on the couch, f'rex).
posted by Kitteh at 9:57 AM on January 29 [8 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 9:57 AM on January 29 [8 favorites]
One of my dogs, Kuiper, who is not legally a cat but resents me enough that I have my suspicions, is a sock herding savant. I can leave socks around the house and he will collect them and pair them up. It's one of the most impressive things I've ever seen.
posted by phunniemee at 10:04 AM on January 29 [9 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 10:04 AM on January 29 [9 favorites]
One of the Weird Sisters, Prudence, will line up her toys in a very precise row on one of her favourite blankets.
Again, I love weird cats and I love weird dogs. They enrich our lives so much!
posted by Kitteh at 10:07 AM on January 29 [4 favorites]
Again, I love weird cats and I love weird dogs. They enrich our lives so much!
posted by Kitteh at 10:07 AM on January 29 [4 favorites]
I agree with Don Peppino, these stories are such reliable traffic earners that I wouldn't doubt that there are computer programs that artificially generate them, and I know there are social media accounts that get millions of followers by stealing media from other accounts. It is difficult to not be deeply cynical about it these days.
But on the other hand, AWWW KITTY. My heart's not made of stone.
posted by JHarris at 10:15 AM on January 29 [3 favorites]
But on the other hand, AWWW KITTY. My heart's not made of stone.
posted by JHarris at 10:15 AM on January 29 [3 favorites]
That is the BEST NAME for a cat.
posted by jb at 10:46 AM on January 29 [5 favorites]
posted by jb at 10:46 AM on January 29 [5 favorites]
I feel like I can attest to the likelyhood of this being Actual News, I grew up in New Orleans, my father worked for this TV station, and those sure are some people you would find in the New Orleans suburbs.
posted by egypturnash at 11:20 AM on January 29 [5 favorites]
posted by egypturnash at 11:20 AM on January 29 [5 favorites]
I feel like the difference, re this kinda stuff, between cats and dogs is that dogs are playing but I think in their tiny little minds, cats think of this behavior as WORK. (the intent expression on Bella's little face when she makes muffins on me. SO.SERIOUS.)
posted by supermedusa at 11:26 AM on January 29 [6 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 11:26 AM on January 29 [6 favorites]
can I complain about people having outdoor cats yet or is the thread too new
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:22 PM on January 29 [2 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:22 PM on January 29 [2 favorites]
too soon
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:00 PM on January 29
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:00 PM on January 29
Yeah, for sure if you were going to feature one of these millions of TV news cat burglar stories, the New Orleans one was the one to pick. It was superb. Best catowners, best victims, best cat. And the best cat name in history.
posted by Don Pepino at 9:29 AM on February 2 [1 favorite]
posted by Don Pepino at 9:29 AM on February 2 [1 favorite]
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Our newest cat is one of these-- she brings socks, toys, cleaning rags, and ewww clumps of used tissues up and down the stairs, howling in triumph all the way. So now my oldest cat, beautiful and dignified in his age, is doing it too, only louder, he'll show this whippersnapper how it'd done.
posted by winesong at 8:27 AM on January 29 [3 favorites]