We know what you're thinking: Why am I not in Minneapolis right now at the first Internet Cat Video Film Festival watching the best clips of cats chasing laser pointers, purring and ignoring the camera?
Attendees will get to watch the 79 finalist videos, selected from a field of 10,000, in high-quality, on a large outdoor screen — and for free. The winner will be announced Sept. 8 on Animal Planet's "My Cat From Hell."
Lucky for you, the Walker Art Center will post a playlist from the festival online after it ends. We'll bring you that the moment it's released. It's the next best thing to being there.
BONUS: The Most-Viewed Cat Videos of All Time
It goes on too long, and could do with a little more motion to justify the Stealer's Wheel soundtrack. But these are forgivable sins in the cat video world, it seems; Tom Tom's spherical plastic antics have racked up more than 11 million views.
Sometimes on YouTube, the simplest ideas are the best. Tabby kitten, ball of yarn, shaky camerawork: go go gadget 11 million views!
Who doesn't love an underdog -- especially when it happens to be a kitten? This inspiring scene of courage in the face of fear has racked up almost 12 million views since December 2011 (and features the only appearance by a dog in the top 30.)
Uploaded way back in August 2006, this legendary boxing match between BJ and Cognac is easily the most successful cat video from YouTube's pre-Google era. It has now been watched nearly 13 million times.
Perhaps the finest example of the cat voice-over subgenre, "Patty-cake" was a 2010 collaboration between two YouTube users on opposite sides of the world. Hong Kong-based Becky provided the video, and U.S.-based Justin Elliot added the hilarious narration. Result: 14 million views.
A relatively new breed of cat, the Munchkin seems almost genetically designed for YouTube success -- especially when six weeks old. This 2008 video boasts 14 million views and way too much cuteness for its own good.
One of the world's most popular cats, Japanese megastar Maru -- a male Scottish Fold -- made his first appearance in this January 2009 video, which went on to gain more than 14 million views.
Step one: put kitten in box of wipes. Step two: add two other kittens and a Debussy soundtrack. Step three: 15 million views!
There aren't any actual cats in this 2008 picture-book narration by 6 year-old Maddy Kelly. But that didn't stop it from gaining 16 million views. Whether you like this one may depend more on your feelings about squealing 6 year-old girls than your love of cats.
OMG, this shot of me with my mouth open has been watched 17 million times? OMG.
Pro tip: music rarely enhances cat videos the way their makers might expect. Still, this short is worth its 18 million views for the one shot of kittens lined up to chow down.
SPOILER ALERT: The big round green thing wins by default. Still, those of you who gave this video 19 million views already knew that.
It's no "Dramatic Chipmunk," the five-second clip from which it borrows the concept and the music, but this swiveling kitty still managed to make heads turn with 21 million views (compared to the chipmunk's 35 million).
Well, not drunk, but sedated -- it's the "David After Dentist" of cat videos, with nearly 22 million views.
It's no "Surprised Kitty," but 22 million views prove that we like to watch just about any kitten playing on its back.
We really wish there was some way to remove the laugh track from this seminal moment in cat communication. The human-like voice is uncanny; the video has gained more than 22 million views.
Billy the cat passed on in 2010, but his voiceover prayer lives on -- with more than 23 million views.
Forget Keyboard Cat and his fake piano-playing. This right here is the "Shine" of cat videos. Nora's musical efforts have been watched 24 million times in this video alone, not to mention the sequel.
There's something profoundly disturbing about this one, more so with the laugh track. Still, it has 25 million views.
Before there was Nyan Cat, there was Keyboard Cat. This original video has 25 million views, but if you added in all the "play him off" variations, Nyan wouldn't stand a chance. Stick around for the encore.
It has violence, a twist ending, and it's a rare foray into the gross-out genre. That may be why this cat video boasts 30 million views.
The terror, the shrieking, the shaky camerawork -- it's the Blair Witch Project of cat videos. It also has 31 million views.
The most-watched cat video voiceover has gained 33 million views -- by riding on the back of the fourth most-watched cat video ever, and translating it into words every human couple can understand. "You ... you don't listen."
Sometimes known as "ninja kitty," this silent movie manages to build tension until the very last second. The stalking has been seen more than 34 million times.
Here we see two successful elements in the cat video world: show a cat doing something no feline in its right mind would do, and set it to just the right song. Those 35 million views can't be wrong.
The first in a hugely popular series, Cat Man Do won the "Best Comedy" award at the British Animation Awards in 2008. It also garnered 35 million views.
42 million views for this? Really? Just goes to show how low the bar is set for stardom when you're young and beautiful.
You'll need a hug yourself after watching this heart-melting moment. We hope everyone who contributed to the 47 million views had someone close by to throw their arms around.
Want to know what they're really saying? They're debating just how many times those silly humans will watch their conversation. Answer: 50 million times.
Cats seem to lend themselves well to rap songs, but none have been quite as catchy as the hook for "Mean Kitty," the tale of a cat named Sparta. Sparta's owner, Cory Williams, is a 30 year-old actor -- and thanks to this video, he has been seen busting his moves more than 64 million times.
Back in October 2009, British YouTube user Rozzafly uploaded this and changed the course of cat video history. She's never uploaded anything since, but we like to think Surprised Kitty is still out there, throwing its paws up, some 64 million views later.
Poor Burger the shelter cat had clearly been through some rough times when this video was shot. Luckily, he found a home soon after. We have to wonder how many of the 77 million views came from dogs.
You were expecting someone else? The 8-bit Pop Tart-shaped feline has been spreading rainbows for more than a year, garnering 79 million views along the way.
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