Let me start by saying I am a longtime cat lover. This playful post was inspired by two things: Our English Center cat, who looks exactly like Mr.Milothechonk @ Instagram (don’t you agree?) – and lyrics from The Kiffness’s viral hit, “They’re eating the dogs… they’re eating the cats…” Honestly, it’s an earworm (a song you can’t get out of your head).
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Have you heard the “Eating the Cats?” Seen the video? No? Well, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Enjoy @TheKiffness’s purrfect song: “Eating the Cats” in the player below. This video has topped 10 million views on YouTube in a matter of weeks.
The lyrics: “They’re eating the dogs, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa; they’re eating the cats, meow, meow, meow meow, they’re eating the pets of the people who live there….” is a tongue-in-cheek critique of the absurdity of misinformation and extreme political rhetoric. The song’s playful, satirical nature provides commentary on how certain narratives, often exaggerated or misrepresented, can be used to inflame fear and division, especially those around race and immigration.
David Scott, known by his stage name “The Kiffness,” is a South African musician, producer, and internet personality famous for his comedic and satirical remixes and parodies. He blends electronic music with quirky humor, often incorporating viral internet content or collaborations with animals in his music videos.
The Kiffness first gained widespread attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, with catchy remixes of popular memes and viral animal sounds, creating a unique niche in the music world. With a sincere, subdied style, dry wit, musical talent, and social commentary, Scott has built a loyal fanbase.
In 2015, Scott released “They’re Eating The Dogs,” inspired by a viral moment from a news interview featuring a South African politician. During a parliamentary protest, this politician made a statement about people “eating the dogs,” which Scott cleverly turned into a catchy and humorous track. The song used repetition and humor to highlight the absurdity of the statement, while also providing commentary on the political climate in South Africa.
Recently, the track found new life in an unexpected American context as a popular post for Kamala Harris’s campaign. The song’s satirical tone, with its underlying political commentary, resonates with the playful but sharp messaging style often seen in U.S. political campaigns. Yes, it’s the purrfect choice for Harris’s team to powerfully engage with social media savvy audiences.
As a result of claims from Trump social media influencers, JD Vance and Trump himself, the city of Springfield Ohio came under threat by some who believed the falsehood. They believed that illegal Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were abducting and eating pets.
As the saying goes, “A lie can go halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” (Winston Churchill)
If you want to read more about this rumor and its consequences, go to the highly respected debunking site Snopes.
Want to help?
Kiffness is contributing all proceeds from the newest version of the song “Eating the Cats” to Clark County SPCA in Springfield, Ohio. (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). If you’d like to donate to them directly, visit their website here:
https://www.clarkcountyspca.org/donate
I feel like The Kiffness’s song fits both categories of “literary devices,” but I’ve included some simple definitions below so you can draw your own conclusions.
Parody happens when you take something serious, like a famous book or movie, and make a funny version of it. You’re imitating the style or the way it’s written, but with a twist—usually to make people laugh. It’s kind of like a playful copycat. Think of it like doing a goofy impression of something.
Satire, on the other hand, is a bit sharper. It’s when you use humor to make fun of something, but the goal is often to point out problems or criticize things, like politics or society. It’s funny, but there’s usually a deeper message behind it. You’re joking, but you want people to think about it seriously.
In short, parody is more about having fun, while satire tries to make a point while still being funny.
Moving on, and moving back in time, here’s one more cat-themed song from the way back machine: This song is neither satire or parody, but it does blur the lines between people and cats. Is it the cat or the people who are “strutting” around? Or both?
“Stray Cat Strut” (1981) by the Stray Cats, is a rockabilly hit with an early MTV video about a street-smart cat living carefree and embodying independence and rebellion.
If you missed the early MTV era, you have to watch this very vintage video.
What is a trope?
A trope is a commonly recurring theme, concept, or device in storytelling across literature, film, TV, and other media. Tropes help convey ideas quickly by using recognizable patterns, such as the “reluctant hero” or the “happy housewife.” They often rely on sexist or racist clichés.
Cat tropes go viral in 2024 with “Childless cat ladies“
This vintage sexist trope (closely related to “crazy cat ladies”) has recently resurfaced in American politics and is used pejoratively (=critically) to describe women who remain single or childless by choice, sometimes accompanied by stereotypes of loneliness, eccentricity or downright insanity.
Political figures like JD Vance have invoked this trope to criticize modern societal values, suggesting that the decline in marriage and family structures is linked to a broader cultural shift away from traditional norms. Donald Trump has occasionally echoed similar sentiments, framing childlessness as a sign of moral or cultural decay.
Thankfully, public figures like Taylor Swift challenge this stereotype, embracing independence and success without clinging to conventional family and gender roles. Swift, often seen as an icon of female empowerment, represents a counter-narrative to Vance, celebrating individual choice and challenging outdated labels.
Finally, let’s move onto the cat idioms. Some you will already know, but some will be new.
1. Let the cat out of the bag – To reveal a secret, often by accident.
2. Curiosity killed the cat – Being too curious can get you into trouble.
3. Cat got your tongue? – Asked when someone is unusually quiet or not responding.
4. Raining cats and dogs – It’s raining very heavily.
5. Like a cat on a hot tin roof – To be anxious or restless.
6. There’s more than one way to skin a cat – There are multiple ways to achieve something.
7. The cat’s meow – Something or someone considered outstanding or excellent.
8. Look what the cat dragged in – Used humorously to refer to someone’s disheveled appearance or unexpected arrival.
9. Fight like cats and dogs – To argue or fight intensely.
10. Cat nap – A short, light sleep.
11. Playing cat and mouse – Engaging in a game of pursuit or teasing, often to gain an advantage.
12. A fat cat – A wealthy or influential person.
13. Put the cat among the pigeons – To do something that causes trouble or disturbance.
14. Scaredy-cat – Someone who is easily frightened.
15. Cool cat – Someone who is stylish, confident, and relaxed.
16. Like herding cats – Trying to control or organize a chaotic group or situation.
17. Not enough room to swing a cat – Describes a very small or confined space.
18. Grinning like a Cheshire cat – Smiling broadly, often mysteriously or mischievously.
19. Dead catting – A political strategy where a shocking or controversial event is introduced to divert attention from a more damaging issue.
20. Catfishing – Posing as someone else online to deceive, especially in romantic contexts.
21. Crazy cat – A cool person who does things that are outrageous or out of the norm. (somewhat archaic)
22. Cat – a person, usually a man. Usage is similar to the word “dude” or “guy.” (somewhat archaic)
Finally, I want to encourage you; if you are an American expat living abroad (cat lady, cat gentleman or dog person) – left, right or center – be sure to vote in the upcoming US election. Don’t have your ballot yet? Here’s the link to Vote From Abroad.
Author of “Eating the Cats” – Brenda de Jong-Pauley, MA. Brenda is an ESL teacher and the founder of The English Center. She lives in the Netherlands with her cat and her husband.
Featured photo: Samantha The English Center cat with her Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary.
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