‘Cat Grandpa’ Goes Viral After Pet Shelter Shares Pics of Him Sleeping With Cats

“Terry Lauerman of De Pere has become an online sensation this week after the pet shelter where he volunteers shared photos showing the 75-year-old – who has since been dubbed The Cat Grandpa – fast asleep while snuggling several of the shelter`s cats.

Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary Inc.`s Facebook post about Lauerman has garnered over 80,000 reactions and 22,000 shares since Tuesday afternoon – and those numbers continue to climb. The post also made its way onto social news sites like Reddit and BuzzFeed, and was covered Thursday by Good Morning America.

We are so lucky to have a human like Terry. Terry just came along one day and introduced himself. He said he`d like to brush cats. Eventually it became everyday. He brushes all of the cats, and can tell you about all of their likes and dislikes. He also accidentally falls asleep most days. We don`t mind – Cats need this! Terry is a wonderful volunteer.”

Green Bay Press Gazette

I wish I could post a video or photograph that would go viral, but I`m not as photogenic as a cute kitten, I don`t have any discernible talents, I don`t possess a grotesquely large butt capable of breaking the Internet, and I`m too lazy to learn a trick that will elicit views.

However I love taking naps with my cats, and maybe if I post a pic of Tico, my 25-pound kitty, plopped on my head as I`m taking a nap, we`ll become Internet sensations.

I`m jealous of The Cat Grandpa, he doesn`t clean the litter boxes or perform any other useful service at the pet shelter, all he does is brush the cats and take naps with them, and suddenly he`s a geriatric pimp.


Move over Cat Grandpa, I`m going to dethrone you as the most lovable cat-loving old codger on the Internet.