Tendencat

Tendencat is a term used in internet culture to describe a recurring pattern in which cat-themed memes or characters are employed to illustrate or symbolize broader social or cultural trends. The word blends tendency and cat and is typically used informally to refer to meta-patterns rather than a fixed, formal concept.

Origin and usage

The phrase has appeared in online discussions and meme analysis since the mid-2010s, often to explain how a single feline image or video template can be repurposed to reflect shifting attitudes, moods, or social contexts. In practice, a tendencat moment occurs when a cat motif is adapted across multiple posts to convey a comparable sentiment—such as surprise, defiance, irony, or affection—across diverse audiences and platforms. The term is mainly descriptive rather than prescriptive and is used to discuss how templates spread and mutate within meme cultures.

Concept and scope

Tendencat does not denote a single meme but a class of phenomena: the use of feline imagery as a convenient shorthand for public mood or cultural commentary. Analysts and commentators may use the concept to examine diffusion patterns, remix culture, and the way familiar templates facilitate quick interpretation. It is also noted for highlighting how simple visual cues can anchor diverse messages across communities.

Limitations

As a informal label, tendencat lacks an agreed formal definition and can be applied inconsistently. It is primarily a descriptive tool for discussing meme dynamics rather than a rigorous scientific category.

See also

Memes, meme diffusion, internet culture, remix culture.