These cats are fighting terrorism
In late November 2015, police in Brussels raised the city's terror alert to its highest possible level and put the city on lockdown. Residents were advised to stay inside. Public transportation was shut down. And authorities asked people to refrain from posting about police movement on social media.
So, the people of Belgium obliged ... with cat pictures.
#BrusselsLockdown
It was an instance of the Internet responding in the way only the Internet can: a host of peripherally related, animal memes that quickly united people across the globe and cut the tension of a very scary situation.
#BrusselsLockdown
There were cats dressed as Darth Vader...
#BrusselsLockdown
There were cats studying military strategy...
#BrusselsLockdown
There were cats armed and ready to take on the terrorists...
#BrusselsLockdown
There were even cats working on their ninja skills.
#BrusselsLockdown
Suffice it to say, the felines of social media were not pussyfooting around.
#BrusselsLockdown
They totally had it under control.
#BrusselsLockdown
They also took it upon themselves to highlight the many silver linings in the situation. A lockdown, for example, is a perfect time for a catnap.
#BrusselsLockdown
It wasn't just cats. Animals of all shapes and sizes began flooding social media channels like Twitter and Instagram, and the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown went viral within minutes.
#BrusselsLockdown
Like the rapid social media reaction to the Paris attacks that emerged in the form of an illustrated Eiffel Tower icon within a peace sign, the Internet's catty reaction to the police lockdown in Brussels points to the unparalleled power of social media to connect and communicate.
#BrusselsLockdown
'Cause while the human race may fight like cats and dogs, the pets of the world stay cool and collected.
#BrusselsLockdown
...even when they have to hunker down in tight spaces.
#BrusselsLockdown
People joined in by photoshopping pictures.
#BrusselsLockdown
They joined in by doctoring illustrations.
#BrusselsLockdown
They even put their poor, unsuspecting pets in costume.
#BrusselsLockdown
Because, when it comes to defeating terror with humor, there's more than one way to skin a cat.
#BrusselsLockdown
Here, a cat owner pokes a little friendly fun at the sort of terror suspects Belgian police are trying to smoke out.
#BrusselsLockdown
Here, a clowder of cats is captured glaring at the camera as if they have been interrupted in the middle of a very important meeting. National security perhaps? Diplomatic relations?
#BrusselsLockdown
We'll likely never know, but one thing is for sure. At times like this, social media really is the cat's meow.