2012-04-01
Explanation
This comic imagines what would happen if cats were actually intelligent enough to have discovered a cure for all disease, but were unable to communicate it to humans. In the first two panels, an orange cat thinks to itself: "My God... I'''ve figured out a cure for all disease. I'''ve got to express it to the human." The cat then considers that expressing such a complex idea will be difficult, requiring "noises and all five appendages" (four paws and a tail).
In the third panel, the cat rolls onto its back and says "Mew" -- its best attempt at conveying this world-changing information. The human, of course, interprets this as adorable cat behavior and responds with "Who'''s a little kitty? Yoooou'''re a little kitty!" while the cat screams internally: "Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"
The humor comes from the fundamental communication barrier between species. Even if a cat had genius-level intelligence, its physical apparatus for communication (meows and body language) would be interpreted through the lens of how humans already understand cats. Rolling on its back -- the cat'''s attempt at complex sign language -- is universally read by humans as an invitation for belly rubs, not a medical breakthrough.
The votey shows the cat being petted and saying "People are dying! People are d-- oh that feels nice," suggesting that even a genius cat would be susceptible to the pleasures of being petted, undermining its own noble mission. This was published on April 1st (April Fools''' Day), 2012.