As any savvy Internet user already knows, the Web’s incredible multimedia capabilities are mainly utilized for the photographic capture of cats doing funny, crazy, and often quite ridiculous things.  Purina, a major manufacturer of pet foods, knows this as well.  And thus, the time has again for “the Friskies,” a battle royale, if you will, of cat videos.

For “The Friskies” 2013, videos are entered into one of four categories.  Those categories are Cat Comedy, which is the classic straight-up humorous cat actions; Rescue Cat, which focuses on rescued and ex-shelter cats; Catventure, which features cats doing crazy things that we can’t possibly understand; and Pursuit of Food/Treat, which the ancient primal hunt of wild conflicts with a modern-day household.

Last year’s winners were taken from some 1,400 entrants.  Here are my picks from what’s left of this year’s crop.

Cat Comedy – The printer must die.

Rescue Cat – Ancient differences settled with only slight conflict.

Catventure – Leaves can make for an awesome, but mysteriously dangerous place.

Pursuit of Food/Treat – Windows, a blessing and a curse.

Ultimately, the winners (including finalists and semi-finalists) will be awarded their share of $25,000 in New York on October 15th, but what’s great is that in the meantime, Purina will be donating more than 250,000 cans of cat food to 20 partner animal-rescue organizations.

Cats Continue to Dominate the Internet with ‘The Friskies’ 2013

“Earth Day?” hisses Colonel Meow. “You mean Colonel Meow Day!”

Watch out Henri the Cat and Grumpy Cat! Your influence is on the wane!

Colonel Meow is the Angriest Cat on the Internet. In a few short months, he has become a rising force on the web (because Facebook is everything) while his legion of minions has mushroomed. His awesome power sells state-approved T-Shirts and playing cards.

But notoriety and trinkets are only the beginning. Colonel Meow plans world domination. In the very near future, he will not only rule the Internet, he will be the Internet.

Fear not. Beneath Colonel Meow’s terrifying visage is a just and merciful soul. But, please…just don’t feed him cheap cat food.

Colonel Meow Is Not Pleased

As if you couldn’t get enough of Tard the Grumpy Cat, now you can snuggle up with her and have her silently judge everything you do in plushie form. FizziMizzi from Etsy handmade this creation and it can be yours for less than the cost of a nice steak dinner. Use as a throw pillow to creep out your friends or just hug it and cheer yourself up. Life may be hard, but its not as hard as Tard’s.

Grumpy Cat the Plushie