The phrase “cat lady” has long carried negative connotations, painting a picture of lonely, eccentric women. However, a recent online movement is turning this stereotype on its head, fueled by controversial comments from GOP figure JD Vance. What started as a derogatory trope has been hilariously and powerfully reclaimed by women across social media, giving rise to the “Cat Lady Meme.”
This resurgence began after a 2021 interview with JD Vance resurfaced. In it, Vance used the term “cat lady” to describe childless women, suggesting they are “miserable” and seeking to make others unhappy too. His remarks, intended as a political jab, inadvertently sparked a wave of online defiance. Women, and their feline companions, took to platforms like TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook to proudly showcase their “cat lady” lifestyles, demonstrating anything but misery.
But where does this enduring stereotype originate? The concept of the “cat lady,” laden with negative baggage, isn’t a modern invention. Its roots stretch back to medieval Europe, a time when women who deviated from societal norms faced suspicion and persecution.
The Medieval Origins of the “Crazy Cat Lady” Stereotype
Centuries ago, the image of a woman and her cat was far from benign. In medieval Europe, cats, particularly black cats, were often associated with witchcraft and demonic forces. This superstition intertwined with existing societal anxieties about women living outside of traditional roles.
Diane Purkiss, an Oxford University professor specializing in witchcraft, explains this historical link. “The standard image of the witch… was an elderly woman living alone, with a visible pet,” she notes. Cats, being more affordable and practical than dogs, became the animal most commonly linked to these suspected witches. The belief was that these “animal helpers” aided witches in their dark magic.
Furthermore, cats’ agility and climbing abilities fueled fear. “The fact that cats can climb really well probably made them more frightening, since demons were meant to prefer entering houses through the chimney,” Purkiss elaborated. Owning a cat, especially for a woman who was childless and past childbearing age, became a red flag, a potential “sign of possible supernatural involvement.” This historical context laid the groundwork for the stereotype of “cat ladies” as not just odd, but potentially dangerous or even “crazy.”
This prejudice wasn’t confined to whispers and rumors. Historical texts like the Malleus Maleficarum, a 15th-century book on witch-hunts, depicted witches transforming into cats to commit violence. Jan Machielsen, a historian of early modern religion at Cardiff University, points out that cats were even killed in public spectacles during this era, highlighting the depth of anti-cat sentiment intertwined with fear of women.
The stereotype even crossed the Atlantic, influencing events like the Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts. Records from these trials reveal instances where cats were used as evidence against accused individuals, demonstrating the pervasive nature of this fear-driven association.
JD Vance’s Comments and the Modern Meme Revolution
Fast forward to the 21st century, and JD Vance’s remarks tapped into this deeply ingrained stereotype. Speaking to Tucker Carlson in 2021, Vance lamented that the country was being “run… by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives.” He framed this as a negative influence on the nation, suggesting these women lacked a “direct stake” in society.
However, Vance’s attempt to weaponize the “cat lady” trope backfired spectacularly. Instead of shaming women, his words ignited a powerful wave of online solidarity and humor. Women of all ages embraced the label, creating and sharing “cat lady memes” that celebrated their lives, their cats, and their choices.
TikTok became a breeding ground for these memes, with countless videos showcasing women playfully responding to Vance’s comments while cuddling their feline companions. One popular TikTok post declared, “The childless cat ladies of America have spoken… We ride at dawn,” accompanied by a video of a cat nonchalantly grooming itself.
The movement extended beyond TikTok. A Facebook group titled “Cat ladies for Kamala Harris” gained over 18,000 members, further demonstrating the political undertones of this reclamation. Merchandise featuring the “cat lady meme” quickly appeared online, from t-shirts to hats, solidifying its status as a cultural phenomenon.
Celebrities and Taylor Swift Join the Feline Fun
Even celebrities joined the “cat lady meme” conversation, amplifying its reach and impact. Jennifer Aniston publicly criticized Vance’s comments, adding her voice to the chorus of disapproval. Fans playfully dubbed their favorite child-free, cat-loving female celebrities as icons of the movement.
Perhaps the most prominent figure to be embraced by the “cat lady meme” community is Taylor Swift. Known for her love of cats, Swift was enthusiastically crowned the unofficial mascot of the “childless cat ladies” club by her fans, the “Swifties.” One X user cleverly juxtaposed Swift’s Time “Person of the Year” cover (featuring one of her cats) with Vance’s comments, writing, “Hell hath no fury like a certain childless cat lady who has yet to endorse a presidential candidate.”
Reclaiming “Cat Lady”: From Insult to Empowerment
The “cat lady meme” represents more than just internet humor. It signifies a powerful act of reclaiming a historically negative stereotype and transforming it into a symbol of independence, self-sufficiency, and joy. Women are using the meme to challenge misogynistic tropes, celebrate their choices, and build community around shared experiences and, of course, their love for cats.
What JD Vance intended as an insult has become a badge of honor. The “cat lady meme” demonstrates the resilience and humor of women online, turning outdated prejudices into a source of empowerment and feline-fueled fun.
