Crying Cat Meme: Why the Internet Loves Sad, Teary-Eyed Cats

What Is the Crying Cat Meme?

The crying cat meme is a reaction image or series of images showing a cat with exaggerated, watery eyes and a sad expression. Most of these pictures are digitally edited to make it look like the cat is on the verge of tears. People use them as a visual way to say: “I’m hurt, I’m disappointed, or I’m emotionally destroyed… but in a relatable, slightly funny way.”

You’ll usually see crying cat used:

• Under screenshots of bad news (“Rent is going up again…”)
• Reacting to minor tragedies (like dropping your burrito face-down)
• In memes about burnout, social anxiety, or heartbreak
• Paired with captions like “me pretending I’m fine” or “holding it together”

The power of crying cat is that it sits right between comedy and genuine vulnerability. It lets you admit you’re struggling, but in a way that feels safe and light-hearted.

Where Did the Crying Cat Meme Come From?

The exact origin of the crying cat meme is a bit fuzzy, but internet culture historians trace it back to the mid-2010s. Early versions appeared on meme-making sites and image boards around 2014, where users took an existing cat photo and edited in glossy, teardrop-like eyes and a sadder mouth expression.

One widely cited early example comes from a Meme Generator user in 2014, who edited a serious-looking cat photo into the now-iconic teary-eyed face. Over time, that image was cropped, resized, recolored, and remixed into hundreds of variations. Popular platforms like Reddit, 4chan, and Twitter helped turn “crying cat” into a global reaction meme.

As the template spread, people started combining the crying cat face with:

• Different cat bodies and backgrounds
• Other meme formats (like “thumbs up” or “this is fine” situations)
• Highly specific niche jokes (gaming, school, work-from-home, etc.)

Today, “crying cat” isn’t a single image — it’s a whole visual language that internet users instantly recognize.

Why Do We Relate So Much to Crying Cat?

On paper, crying cat is silly: a photoshopped, overdramatic pet. But in practice, it hits a nerve. It captures that feeling of being sad, overwhelmed, or fragile, yet still functioning and trying to laugh it off.

1. It makes heavy feelings feel lighter

Talking about mental health, anxiety, or burnout can feel intense. Using a meme like crying cat creates a softer entry point. Instead of typing, “I’m emotionally exhausted,” people post a crying cat with a caption like, “me when I open my email.”

2. It’s exaggerated, but familiar

The giant glassy eyes and trembling face are over the top — but that’s the point. They match how emotions feel inside, even if we don’t show them that way on the outside.

3. Cats are perfect emotional mirrors

Cats are expressive without saying a word. Even with minimal changes, a small shift in eye shape or mouth curve can look unbelievably sad. When you add digital “tears,” the result is both adorable and heartbreaking.

Popular Crying Cat Meme Variations

Once the original crying cat face became popular, the internet did what it always does: it made spin-offs. Some of the most recognizable versions include:

• Classic Crying Cat: A simple close-up of the edited cat face with watery eyes — the default reaction image.
• Thumbs Up Crying Cat: A cat giving a thumbs up while trying not to cry. It’s the perfect meme for “I’m not okay, but I’m trying to be polite about it.”
• Double Crying Cat: Two or more crying cats in the same image — often used for “group suffering” jokes (like coworkers surviving another meeting).
• Crying Cat + Screenshot: A sad situation screenshot (like a bank account total) paired with a crying cat to emphasize the pain.
• Localized Crying Cat Memes: Versions with captions and jokes tailored to specific countries, languages, or fandoms.

As meme culture evolves, new crying cat formats continue to appear — animated stickers, GIFs, and even short videos where the cat “reacts” in sync with audio clips.

Are These Cats Really Crying?

Short answer: No, most crying cat memes are not photos of cats actually crying.

Cats do produce tears, but usually for medical reasons like irritation or eye infections — not because they are “sad” in a human emotional sense. The wet, glassy eyes you see in the memes are almost always edited in.

That said, there are some important ethical points to keep in mind:

• Avoid sharing images where the cat looks clearly injured, sick, or restrained in a cruel way.
• If a meme obviously comes from a real-life distress situation, it’s better not to amplify it.
• If you’re photographing your own cat, never scare, corner, or stress them just for content.

Memes are fun. Real animal suffering is not.

How to Use Crying Cat Memes Without Being Mean

Like any meme, crying cat can be used in ways that are harmless and hilarious — or hurtful and insensitive. A few simple guidelines keep you on the right side.

Use crying cat to punch up, not punch down

It’s usually fine to use the meme to react to:

• Your own bad decisions (“me after spending my rent on takeout”)
• Shared, relatable struggles (school, work, bills)
• Fictional scenarios or mild, everyday frustrations

Avoid using crying cat to mock:

• Someone’s serious mental health struggle
• Real tragedies (illness, death, abuse, disasters)
• Specific vulnerable individuals or groups

Remember there’s a human behind the screen

It’s easy to hide behind memes, but if someone shares something painful and you respond only with a crying cat image, it might feel dismissive. Sometimes the best “reaction” is a real message: “Hey, are you okay?”

How to Make Your Own Crying Cat Meme (Ethically)

Want to create your own crying cat meme starring your cat? You can — just make sure it’s fun for you and safe for your pet.

Step 1: Take a natural, comfortable photo

Capture your cat in good light when they are relaxed. No flash in the eyes, no forcing poses, and no costumes that clearly stress them out.

Step 2: Use a simple photo-editing app

On your phone or computer, you can gently exaggerate:

• The shine in the eyes (to mimic “tears”)
• The mouth shape (slightly turned down)
• Contrast and shadows (to add drama)

Keep it subtle enough that your cat still looks like themselves — that’s what makes it funny and endearing.

Step 3: Add a caption that feels true to you

The best crying cat memes are oddly specific:

• “Me after opening my credit card statement”
• “When the group chat hangs out without you”
• “When the vet says the diet food is ‘for your own good’”

Step 4: Consider accessibility

If you post your meme on platforms that support alt text, add a short description like: “Edited photo of a cat with big watery eyes and a sad face, used as a crying reaction meme.” It makes your content more inclusive for people using screen readers.

When a Meme Mirrors Real Grief & Pet Loss

For many people, crying cat memes are more than just jokes. If your cat is aging, sick, or has already crossed the rainbow bridge, these images can hit surprisingly hard. They become a shorthand for real grief.

Some cat parents:

• Post crying cat memes when their pet is at the vet
• Use them to mark adoption anniversaries or loss anniversaries
• Share them in pet communities where everyone understands the pain

From Meme to Art: Turning Your Crying Cat into a Keepsake

For some owners, the crying cat meme phase is just the start. If a particular photo of your cat becomes “the” meme among your friends or followers, you might want a more permanent way to remember it — something you can hang on a wall or keep on a shelf, not just scroll past.

That’s where handmade pet portraits come in. Instead of a quick phone edit, artists can turn your cat’s funniest, saddest, or most iconic expression into a physical piece of art.

If you’re on the fence, you can always start by browsing the Pet Portraits From Photos collection to see real examples and decide which style matches your crying cat the best.

Crying Cat Meme FAQ

Is the crying cat meme photoshopped?

Yes. The signature teary eyes and extra-sad facial features are usually edited onto a cat photo. The cat in the original image is not literally crying from sadness the way humans do.

Who created the crying cat meme?

There isn’t a single, publicly famous creator. Early versions appeared on meme-making websites and image boards around 2014. One widely referenced template came from a Meme Generator user who edited an existing “serious cat” photo into a teary-eyed version.

Why do people use crying cat memes so much?

Because they strike the perfect balance between humor and honesty. It’s an easy way to say “I’m not okay” about everyday struggles — like money, school, work, or relationships — without writing a long emotional post.

Is it okay to use crying cat memes if my own cat passed away?

Many people do. For some, posting memes is part of their grieving process and a way to remember their pet with a mix of sadness and warmth. If it feels healing and respectful to you, it’s valid. If it feels painful, you can always step back and use more private rituals instead.

How do I turn my crying cat meme into a real portrait?

Save your favorite photo (with or without digital tears) and send it to a custom pet art shop. With PetDecorArt, you upload your image, choose a style (3D wool sculpture in a frame, hand-painted oil portrait, or other formats), confirm the preview photo they send you, and then wait for the finished piece to arrive.

Final Thoughts

The crying cat meme started as a small, edited reaction image — and turned into one of the internet’s favorite ways to express soft, slightly ridiculous sadness. Used well, it helps us laugh at the hard parts of being human without denying that those feelings are real.

Whether you leave it as a meme in your camera roll or turn it into a framed portrait on your wall, one thing is clear: our cats carry a lot of our emotions, online and offline. Maybe that’s why, when we see those big watery eyes, we recognize a little bit of ourselves.

Continue Reading: 

1. Side Eye Cat Image Guide: Why We Love That Judgy Feline Look
2. Staring Dog Meme: Why These Judgy Pups Rule the Internet (and How to Turn Yours into Art)
3. Funny Cat Memes: Why We Love Them (and How to Turn Your Cat Into a Meme Legend)
4. Dog Side Eye Meme: Why Your Pup’s Judgy Look Took Over the Internet