13 Coughing Cat Memes: The Best Examples of This Exaggerated Template Across All Themes
What is the "Coughing Cat" Meme?
The Coughing Cat is a photoshopped image of a feline characterized by its unnaturally wide mouth and scrunched eyes. Viral since late 2018, the image is primarily used to mimic the facial expressions of young children coughing.
The image is a digital edit created by the Instagram account @Idascreatures and was first uploaded on November 27th, 2018. It is not a candid photo; the original cat was likely yawning or meowing before the facial features were exaggerated. According to Know Your Meme, it gained mainstream traction after being reposted to Reddit's r/aww with the caption "how little kids cough," which remains its most common association.
Primary Use Cases:
- Toddler Comparisons: Illustrating the uninhibited way children cough or sneeze without covering their mouths.
- Gagging/Nausea: Used as a reaction image to express physical repulsion or the act of dry heaving.
- Loud Noises in Quiet Settings: Representing the awkwardness of making a sudden, ungraceful sound (like a cough or wheeze) in a silent environment.
- Secondhand Embarrassment: A visual response to "cringe" content, where the user's face metaphorically "scrunches up" in reaction.
Explore 13 Classic "Coughing Cat" Meme Examples
