'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

Author image for Ayala Sorotsky
Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
Sep 1, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

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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  • 01
    Tell us about a moment when your cat showed surprising bravery CANHAS CHEEZ BURGER
    via @ICanHasCheezburger
  • 02
    Lisa Setterfield I had a ginger boy once, his name was Buffy. He took on a Rottweiler and a Border Collie to protect me. Sent them both to the vets but didn't get a mark on him. He protected my kids until he passed away from renal failure. Like Reply 12
    via Lisa Setterfield
  • 03
    Amy Gilbert My orange boy is an extremely skittish cat but he's been protective of me ever since we bonded over my depre s on. You can't tickle me without him jumping between us hissing and smacking the shout of you and biting you >> Like Reply 21b
    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.

  • 04
    Phil Thorne My cat chased a stray German Shepherd after it came onto our small farm during school holidays. Our dog ran into the house, terrified and we watched from inside wondering what to do. Suddenly a brown streak shot across the lawn. Our cat (who liked to eat brown snakes) jumped up and latched onto it's throat, it took off with it's tail between it's legs! Like Reply Edited 3.
    via Phil Thorne
  • 05
    Heather Newman Kuhl My male was in a fight with another cat, my husband went to break it up, but before he got to them, our little tortoise-shell ran up and T-boned the other cat! Like Reply 2b
    via Heather Newman Kuhl
  • 06
    Cat standing bravely on metal beams beneath a glass rooftop, looking down
    via Olena Lialina

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 07
    �Top fan Claire Cahill Years ago, we had a tiny calico cat, called Jessica. She was beautiful. She had 2 kittens, a calico, and a ginger. One day, when they were out in the garden, 2 large dogs came in (don't know from where,
    via Claire Cahill
  • 08
    we lived in a sheep farming community, and loose dogs were a big no-no). Before they even got to see her kittens, Jessie went berserk, an' chased both dogs out of the garden. They never came back. Like Reply 6016
    via Claire Cahill
  • 09
    Top fan Say Velouria Astra She yelled at another cat, VERY LOUDLY. Promptly hides under the bed when strangers are over. Other cat is too curious and wonders "do the strangers like to pet kitties?"
    via Say Velouria Astra
  • 10
    Top fan Claire Cahill I would just like to pay tribute to a large tuxedo cat, that I met at the vet's surgery, many years ago. His human told me that she had been out in the garden, with her daughter, and her 2 month old grandson. It was a lovely day, so they left the baby outside, in his moses basket, while they got lunch sorted.
    via Claire Cahill
  • 11
    After a few minutes, they heard a commotion on the garden, and rushed outside. They were just in time to see the cat jump up into the crib, and attack a magpie that was pecking at the baby's blankets.
    via Claire Cahill
  • 12
    The cat lost one of his eyes, because magpies can be quite vicious. The baby was okay, both women were pretty traumatised, though. Like Reply 31b
    via Claire Cahill
  • 13
    I stepped out onto our patio, and the neighbor's German Shepherd ran up to the fence (a short fence, only 3 feet high) and started barking at me. Cat ran out of the house, went over the fence, and chased the dog all the way into its own house, ki-yi-yi-ing all the way. My hero. 3
    via Alan Davenport
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10548596736
    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.

  • 15
    Kal Breadmore Timothy and Darcey liked to go for a short evening stroll, following us. Timothy was less experienced than Darcey, and might fairly be described as 'nice, but dim'. Very loyal. It was a quiet area, but someone started a little sports car just after we passed. Engine
    via Kal Breadmore
  • 16
    running, headlights on. Unable to move, because Timothy was on his hind legs, in front of it, trying to face down this fierce predator that had just opened its eyes, and protect his mum, me. He was a very good, brave boy, and I told him so as I carried him home! Like Reply 21b
    via Kal Breadmore
  • 17
    �Top fan Sherry Boudreau Usually when I bring out the vacuum he hides. Well the other day when I brought out the vacuum he was under the table & stayed there even when I pushed the vacuum right up next to him.
    via Sherry Boudreau
  • 18
    Cynthia Maxwell Bruce insisted I follow him to our basement where I found smoke and an electrical fire about to go into flames. If he had not been able to get my attention I would have gone to bed and well, he saved the family. My brave hero Like Reply 21b
    via Cynthia Maxwell
  • 19
    Dana Marie Muir My tiny cat. She's 6 whole pounds. We lived with my son for 6 months and he had three cats. We had two and two yorkies. They had one cat who would chase my grand daughter just to bite her. He was an evil brat. I've seldom met a cat I didn't like but I hated that cat. Well,
    via Dana Marie Muir
  • 20
    she had him so afraid of her that he would search the room for her before he'd walk into it. He would run if she saw him. We never saw her hurt him but somehow she had him freaked out. It was hilarious. She's tiny.
    via Dana Marie Muir
  • 21
    FRIDAY AFTERNOON 3:30PM と
    via Dana Marie Muir
  • 22
    Top fan Rachel Davis My upstairs neighbours crashed their car into my flat (my bedroom to be precise) where my cats were sleeping while i was at work. Luckily no one was hurt and my cats although they were shaking hid in the bathroom.
    via Rachel Davis
  • 23
    Cheezburger Image 10548595712
    via Rachel Davis
  • 24
    Espan Kir espan GITLINS Kin
    via Rachel Davis
  • 25
    Top fan Suzy Gerry Getting blod drawn at the vet's office. Just sits perfectly still and doesn't make a sound.
    via Suzy Gerry
  • 26
    Top fan Sheila Worth My cat is afraid of people other than me, and different noises. No bravery in her, but I love her
    via Sheila Worth
  • 27
    Jason Adams Not my cat. She hides behind the washing machine if I open the balcony door. She's afraid of everything. Like Reply 20
    via Jason Adams

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