Cats That Look Like Hitler is a satirical website featuring photographs of cats resembling Adolf Hitler. Most of the cats have a large black splotch underneath their nose, much like the dictator's toothbrush moustache. The site was founded by Koos Plegt and Paul Neve in 2006 and became widely known after being featured on several television programmes across Europe and Australia. The site is now only run by Neve. As of February 2013, the site contained photographs of over 8,000 cats, submitted by owners with digital cameras and Internet access and then approved by Neve as content.
In popular culture
Stephen Colbert mentioned the site in his The Colbert Report in July 2010. The site was commonly referenced in the now defunct Australian gaming magazine Total Gamer and has become well known in New Zealand since it was mentioned on the Edge Nightshow by Brad Wattson that his cat 'Piggles' was the No. 1 "kitler" (Kitty/Hitler) in the world. The site was also mentioned fleetingly in The Social Network.
Cats, like those on the Cats That Look Like Hitler website, seem to have an overwhelming presence on the Internet, in memes (see LOLcats) as well as various YouTube videos and related sites. Much attention has been lavished on Cats That Look Like Hitler, some for being "cute" and some, as mentioned above, for being "offensive." Nevertheless, Cats That Look Like Hitler contributes to a wide assortment of cat themed websites and content. Writer for The Times, Ben Machell, has interviewed the owners of sensational cats such as those on the site and has come up with various possible explanations for the creation and popularity of cats on the Internet, including the Cats That Look Like Hitler. Machell mentions the cat's mysterious nature and personality as a perfect target for projecting personality and emotion on, and recalls the worship of cats evident in historical records since the ancient Egyptians.