Cat vocalizations have been a staple of online video since the early days of pet clips on YouTube, where short meow recordings were shared as ringtones, soundboard buttons and editing assets. As short-form video grew on TikTok and Instagram, a single clear meow became a reusable shorthand for cuteness, neediness or comic timing, often dubbed over babies, animated characters and other animals for contrast. Its continued popularity comes from its universality, as audiences instantly understand the sound without any context, language or explanation needed.