The Standing Cat meme features a feline standing upright on its hind legs, a behavior often called 'meerkating.' This posture gives the cat an oddly human-like appearance of confusion, alertness, or awkwardness. While various cats have gone viral for this, the most prominent versions capture that moment of 'what is going on?' that resonates with internet users. It is widely used to illustrate situations where someone is awkwardly waiting, eavesdropping on a conversation, or startled by a sudden noise. The meme's popularity stems from the relatable expression of being caught off guard while looking slightly ridiculous.