At some point over the last year or so, you've probably encountered an image of a cat staring into the distance with its paw curled up under its chin as if it was pondering something intensely.

Known as the "Cat Thinking" meme, the reaction image has persisted since first appearing in early 2025 as a way to express deep thought in memes, both ironic and genuine.

But where did the image come from, and who created it? How did this goofy-looking cat become so prevalent online? Let's explain the origin and use of the Cat Thinking meme.

Where Does The 'Cat Thinking' Meme Come From?

The image used in the Cat Thinking meme originated from a photograph titled "Thinking Cat," which was published by American artist Douglas Sacha on the Fine Art America website on February 5th, 2019.

The image depicts a tabby cat gazing upward with a contemplative expression, a pose that would later make it particularly well-suited for use as a reaction image conveying confusion, deep thought or attempts at problem-solving.

The earliest known memetic use of the image appeared several years later on January 14th, 2025, when TikTok user rexiilol posted a version of the photograph accompanied by the caption, "Thinking what job imma get on the 19th of January," notably using the "Job Censored" meme trend.

The post framed the cat's expression as one of contemplation and uncertainty, helping establish the image's association with mulling something over. The TikTok went on to garner more than 366,000 views and 93,000 likes within a month, marking the earliest documented instance of the photograph being repurposed as the Cat Thinking meme format.

How Is 'Cat Thinking' Used In Memes, And What Does It Mean?

The Cat Thinking meme is primarily used as a basic reaction image featuring the animal with a perplexed expression, often accompanied by text captions that set up the joke.

Because of its broad applicability, the image has become a staple reaction meme across numerous platforms, including usage as a sticker on TikTok.

In the weeks following its emergence on TikTok in early 2025, the Cat Thinking image began to spread across various social media sites as users paired the photo with their own humorous captions.

These edits typically framed the cat as contemplating various dilemmas, social situations or relatable anxieties, with text placed either above the image or directly overlaid on the cat's face to create image macros.

Another early example appeared on January 15th, 2025, when TikTok user swirls_jaytrx posted a version of the meme captioned, "When yo mama start getting mad at you so you gotta act serious so she don't get even more upset." The post received roughly 2,300 views and 100 likes within a month, furthering its early memetic use online.

The meme continued to gain traction in the following weeks. On February 11th, 2025, Instagram user ofcoursecats shared a version of the image portraying the cat deep in thought about food, amassing more than 70,000 likes and 40,000 reposts within just two days.

As similar edits proliferated online, the Thinking Cat image became increasingly established as a reaction meme used to humorously represent the mental process behind both mundane decisions and irrational thought patterns.

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What Are Some More Examples Of 'Cat Thinking' Memes?

What Are Some Memes Related To 'Cat Thinking'?

Thinking Baby

The "Thinking Baby" meme is often compared to Cat Thinking because both formats use nearly identical visual cues to depict contemplation and internal deliberation.

Thinking Baby features a black-and-white photograph of a baby resting their hand on their chin while looking off to the side, and the image similarly became popularized on X / Twitter in 2025 as a reaction meme accompanied by questions or hypothetical scenarios.

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For the full history of the Cat Thinking meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.