The phrase “childless cat lady” has recently exploded across social media, transforming from a derogatory jab into a badge of honor for women embracing a life without children and full of feline affection. This meme’s resurgence was ignited by resurfaced 2021 comments from GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance, who used the “cat lady” trope to dismiss women without children as “miserable.” However, Vance’s intended insult has backfired spectacularly, fueling a wave of online solidarity and reclaiming of the stereotype. Women (and their cats) have taken to platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and X to proudly showcase their child-free, cat-loving lifestyles, demonstrating anything but misery.
But where does this “cat lady” stereotype originate, and why has it historically carried such negative connotations? The roots of this trope stretch back to medieval Europe, a period marked by intense suspicion and persecution of women deemed outside societal norms. In this era, women living alone, particularly those with pets, were vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft.
Diane Purkiss, an Oxford University professor specializing in English literature and witchcraft, explains this historical association. “The standard image of the witch…was an elderly woman living alone, with a visible pet,” she notes. Cats, being more affordable and practical pets than dogs, became particularly linked to these accusations. The belief that witches used animal familiars to carry out their dark magic further cemented this connection.
Adding to the feline suspicion, cats, especially black cats, were often demonized and associated with Satan. Purkiss elaborates, “The fact that cats can climb really well probably made them more frightening, since demons were meant to prefer entering houses through the chimney.” Owning a cat, therefore, particularly for a childless, postmenopausal woman, became a potential indicator of “supernatural involvement” and fueled the stereotype of the “crazy cat lady.” This prejudice, rooted in misogyny and fear of independent women, initially targeted older women who were no longer childbearing and lacked traditional family support structures.
JD Vance’s recent invocation of the “childless cat lady” trope, however, has resonated far beyond older generations. His comments sparked outrage across age groups, perceived as both misogynistic and outdated. The online backlash, particularly from younger women on TikTok, demonstrates a powerful rejection of this limiting stereotype. These “childless cat ladies” are not miserable; they are vocal, empowered, and finding community through shared experiences and humor.
Historically, the negative portrayal of women with cats went beyond mere suspicion. Medieval narratives even depicted these women as violent figures. Malleus Maleficarum, a 15th-century book on witch hunts, recounts tales of witches transforming into cats to attack others, according to historian Jan Machielsen. This demonstrates a long history of associating women outside traditional roles with not just deviance, but also aggression and danger. Even cats themselves suffered from this association, with historical accounts detailing cats being killed in public spectacles.
This “cat lady” propaganda was not confined to Europe. It traveled across centuries and oceans, influencing events like the Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts. Trial records reveal instances where cats were used as evidence against accused individuals, highlighting the pervasive nature of this harmful stereotype.
So, what exactly did JD Vance say to reignite this historical trope in the modern era? Speaking to Tucker Carlson in 2021, Vance asserted, “We are effectively run in this country…by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too.” He framed this as a criticism of the Democratic party and “corporate oligarchs,” implying that women without children lack a “direct stake” in the country’s future.
Vance’s comments, as reported by Forbes colleague Alison Durkee, align with his broader political stance advocating for policies that encourage childbirth and financially benefit parents. Facing recent backlash, Vance attempted to backtrack, claiming his remarks were “sarcastic” and that the focus should be on the “substance” of his concerns about declining family values. However, this attempt at damage control has largely been overshadowed by the meme’s explosive popularity.
Despite Vance’s efforts to downplay his words, the Childless Cat Lady Meme continues to gain momentum. Online communities, like the “Cat ladies for Kamala Harris” Facebook group with over 18,000 members, are flourishing. Merchandise featuring the meme is readily available online, and even celebrities like Jennifer Aniston have publicly criticized Vance’s comments. Taylor Swift, a known cat lover and child-free icon, has been enthusiastically adopted by fans as the unofficial mascot of this movement.
The childless cat lady meme, therefore, represents more than just internet humor. It’s a powerful example of stereotype reclamation, a feminist pushback against misogynistic tropes, and a celebration of diverse life choices. Women are not just rejecting Vance’s negative framing; they are actively redefining “childless cat lady” on their own terms – as a symbol of independence, happiness, and a whole lot of feline companionship.
