Three Must-See Cat Documentaries
What is the first thing that draws us to a movie? Is it the storyline? Trailer? Location? More often than not, a movie makes it onto our must-watch list due to familiarity- when our favorite actors or characters are involved. Though our counterparts (dog lovers) have an endless supply of movies, it is rare to come by a film that gives felines ample screen time. To me, this is always surprising. Cats are one of the most sophisticated, independent, and greaceful domesticated animals and yet we struggle to find a movie and that portrays these essential characteristics of a cat.
So, the catifyco team set out on a mission: to find the best of the best cat movies for our fellow feline lovers. Below are a list of three cat documentaries we found to be creative, informative, and most important: not boring!
1. Kedi (2017)
Kedi, Turkish for Cat, is a recent documentary by Ceyda Torun that follows the lives of 7 community cats, their interactions with the humans and environment around them, and their impact on these locals' lives. The trailer immediately draws the viewer in by introducing us to the main characters in this story. We are given a glimpse of these cat's diverse personalities in their home: the streets of Istanbul, Turkey.
Beautifully filmed, this documentary's opening line states that “the cat embodies the indescribable chaos, the culture, and the uniqueness that is the essence of Istanbul. Without the cat, Istanbul would lose a part of its soul.” As the movie progresses, we see the impact of these cats on those around them. They are an embodiment of the culture of Istanbul. With a whopping 98% on RottenTomatoes, we recommend this moving documentary for anyone and everyone!
2. The Lion Living in your Living Room (2015)
Cats are perhaps some of the most controversial and mysterious creatures we encounter daily. They are an enigma encompassed in myth and superstition in many cultures around the world. But do we really understand our feline friends?
The Lion Living in your Living Room directed by Donna Zuckerbrot brings together cat researchers and other cat experts to tell us more about these unique and mysterious creatures. From the history of feline domestication to the sassy cat walk to the therapeutic purring, this documentary is not only informative but shows us how to read and communicate with our cats. Unlike other informative documentaries, this one does not only put cats in the spotlight but explains their sophistication while showing fellow domesticated cats all around the world. Since it is available on Netflix, be sure to add it to your queue!
3. Lil Bub and Friendz (2013)
Every cat lover (and even those who are not) know and absolutely love Lil Bub. She is an adorable kitty known for her big eyes and tongue sticking out. With more than 3.5 million views on YouTube for her video of sitting in front of the fireplace, Lil Bub is an internet sensation and loved by millions. From humble beginnings, Lil Bub and Friends captures her and her human's inspirational story and their gradual rise to fame. Furthermore, it follows other internet sensations such as Grumpy Cat and Keyboard Cat.
On April, 2013 Lil Bub and Friendz won the Tribeca Online Festival Best Feature Film and we can see why. This is a heartwarming and light hearted documentary portraying the lives of some of our favorite feline internet sensations.
Though the term "documentary" may remind us of nap-time in our history classes, these documentaries are absolutely stunning. Dare I say, therapeutic and inspirational? We found ourselves watching every moment of these documentaries, sometimes in tears and other times in awe. We learned new things and for once, we were able to see our favorite feline creatures in a well-deserved spotlight.
How did these documentaries make you feel? Comment below and let us know what you think!
