I Wrote About Cat Instagram Accounts Because My Black Joy Is Important

This is an article about cat Instagram accounts. Why? Because Black lives matter, and as a Black health editor, all I can manage at this point are coherent sentences about cats. This article will not help advance the conversation about police brutality. It will not explain the glaring health disparities that Black people face in the United States. This round-up of cat Instagram accounts won’t touch on the various ways that the stress of racism kills Black people. All I know is that cats bring me joy (among other emotions), and Black joy is an essential tool for maintaining sanity as a Black person under state-sanctioned duress.

If you’re Black and reading this, I hope you like cats. But more than that, I hope you remember that your life matters. And even in the face of overwhelming injustice, you’re allowed to feel joy, you’re allowed to take care of your mental health, and yes, you should ogle cat Instagram accounts if it brings you even a second of peace.

Below you’ll find seven cat Instagram accounts for your viewing pleasure. For more expected ways to maintain your sanity, here are 44 ways you can manage your mental health as you survive and thrive in your body. I hope life brings you moments that make you feel like a kitten sleeping on someone’s lap. If nothing else, I hope these accounts make it a little easier to smile.

1. Bodega Cats of Instagram

By far my favorite cat-related Instagram account, Bodega Cats of Instagram combines two of my favorite things: cats and New York City bodegas (one of the few consistent outposts for toilet paper throughout the coronavirus pandemic). There’s also something very quaint about watching cats snooze next to your favorite household items.

2. Toasted_Elvis

Toasted_Elvis is a British shorthair cat who spends a lot of time looking annoyed with his feline friend Chin. These two friends, who are thoroughly underwhelmed, might capture your current mood, but the shots of Elvis alone (or the ones where it’s obvious he’s the size of a huge baby) are bound to make you smile.

3. Little.Foster.Family

This Instagram account makes you feel like you’re a member of the family. Periodically, you’re introduced to new foster kittens, and you get to watch them grow and move on to their “forever homes.” Cute images of cats are always a solid idea, and the videos of sleeping and purring kittens might induce an ASMR sensation.

4. Atchoum the Cat

Honestly, if 2020 were a cat, it would be Atchoum, a Persian cat with hypertrichosis (a condition that causes excessive hair growth). Atchoum has glorious gray fur and the most piercing eyes. He looks elegant, ferocious, and, quite frankly, tired of everyone’s nonsense. Same here, Atchoum. Same here.

5. KittenxLady

This cat Instagram account has some of the most adorable kittens on the internet, and—in the heat of the moment—you might contemplate cat adoption. Now that I’ve warned you, don’t hold me responsible for anything that happens as you scroll the feed.

6. Hosico_cat

Hosico is a Scottish Straight cat with all of the charm Toasted_Elvis possesses (see above), but this kitty also uses props. Almost every shot of Hosico includes something visually appealing, including but not limited to: a skateboard, a floral crown, an iPhone, and a plant-shaped scratching post. What’s not to enjoy?

7. iAmMoShow

It’s hard to describe this Instagram account in one sentence. It’s run by a man who calls himself the #CatRapper—unsurprisingly, he loves his cats and regularly puts out mini music videos underscoring that fact. More importantly, there’s a vibrant, overwhelming joy that jumps out of every picture and video. Cute kitties aside, this might be the level of cat-daddying we all need right now.

Related:

• 44 Mental Health Resources for Black People Trying to Survive in This Country
• Black Joy Isn’t Frivolous—It’s Necessary
• Racism and the Invisible Struggle of Mental Health in the Black Community