Get a cat

Get a Cat (Phrase): A slang term meaning “to get married,” based on the humorous observation that many married couples often adopt cats as their first pet. The phrase suggests a cozy, domestic lifestyle associated with marriage.

Origin: The term “get a cat” is widely believed to have originated on TikTok in early 2023, when a creator named @CozyCoupleChronicles posted a viral video captioned “First comes love, then comes marriage… then comes a cat named Pickles.” The video, which featured a montage of newlywed couples adopting cats, quickly racked up millions of views and sparked a trend.

Soon, other creators joined in, using the phrase in captions like, “When you know it’s serious: they’re ready to get a cat 🐈” and parodying dating milestones with references to feline adoption. The hashtag #GetACat trended across platforms, with users sharing relationship updates and jokingly speculating when their significant others would be ready to “get a cat.”

By late 2024, the phrase had entered broader slang usage as a cheeky way to describe tying the knot, solidifying its status in modern lexicon.

“Did you hear, Sally and Roger are going to get a cat?”
“Oh how nice, they are such a cute couple.”