'He saved the family': I Can Has Cheezburger's cat community share the brave and pawsome deeds of their fluffy feline family members with joy and purride

All cat pawrents know that a cat's instincts are not, how can we put it - present - all the time. Sometimes your cat's instincts are sharp like a predator animal in the jungle, about to pounce on its prey. But other times, your cat's instincts are like a snail in summer, or an orange with a single brain cell between their cute triangle ears.

But there's something else every cat pawrent knows about their cat's instincts - when your cat is like your family, and you all are like family to your cat, their brave defensive instincts automatically kick in. They become brave little panthers, defending children from stray dogs, jumping on a sick person's chest until they go see a doctor, and insisting there's a suspicious smell coming from the basement and leading their hoomans to check it out. Humans might defend their cats, but cats also defend their humans. It's mewtual.

We asked ICHC's only feline family to tell us about these times when their cats showed a special kind of bravery - and let us tell you, the stories were as surprising as any cat pawrent can imagine. We love that everybody loves their cats like that, when they beam with pride, telling of their brave tales. And we also love knowing that these cats love their families, too.

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via @ICanHasCheezburger
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via Lisa Setterfield
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via Amy Gilbert
Cats are known to be attuned to how their humans feel. If you feel down, but you have a cat - it's like having a purring, healing machine, that rests on your chest and helps you feel better.
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via Phil Thorne
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via Heather Newman Kuhl
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via Olena Lialina

Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
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via Claire Cahill
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via Claire Cahill
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via Say Velouria Astra
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via Claire Cahill
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via Claire Cahill
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via Claire Cahill
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via Alan Davenport
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via Alan Davenport
Cats don't have that reputation, but they really are fierce defenders. So brave they chase dogs that are 10 times their size, keeping their humans and other fluffy family members safe.
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via Kal Breadmore
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via Kal Breadmore
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via Sherry Boudreau
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via Cynthia Maxwell
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via Dana Marie Muir
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via Dana Marie Muir
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via Dana Marie Muir
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via Rachel Davis
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via Rachel Davis
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via Rachel Davis
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via Suzy Gerry
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via Sheila Worth
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via Jason Adams