One needs only to think about the rabid popularity of LOLcats to know that people love cats doing silly things. Perhaps because they have a (self-perpetuated) rep for being so cool and above it all that it is so utterly delightful when they do something humiliating.

I never used to be one of those people, but then I got a cat and now rush for the camera whenever he so much as lays on his back in a vaguely cute fashion. And somehow that put me on the funny cat video email list of my friends.

These are easily the best of the funny cat videos which have swamped the ‘net, Facebook, YouTube, and so on in the past year or so. It must be noted here that all but one of them are Asian. I don’t know what it is about cats in Asia, but they are apparently extra ridiculous. And extra fat.

5. Surprised Cat.

Our only non-Asian entry. I have no idea why or how this little kitten evolved such a reaction to the dreaded ‘kootchy-coo’ game, but it is so other-wordly cute that it makes my ovaries hurt. That makes no sense, but there you have it.

4. Water Faucet Cat.

Many of us know cats that like watching running water, but someone needs to tell this one that cats don’t like to get wet.

3. Box-Jumping Cat.

Meet Maru, the obese and silly Asian cat, who amongst other things evidently likes to defy gravity by basically levitating himself from a seated position and hurling himself into boxes. Truly impressive.

2. 12-pack Attack Cat.

Maru again, who appears to have a weird thing for all things square and cardboard. He stalks empty soda box containers and then throws himself into them and skitters across the floor, fat legs hanging out the back, and ramming himself head first into the furniture. Oh, Maru.

1. Ninja Cat.

There is nothing to be said for this one other than hilarious.