The Bad Times cat meme, explained.
The Bad Times cat meme is a cat “screaming” along to “BAD TIMES” by Imael Angel, pointing at the camera and lunging at the lens. It’s the Bad Times TikTok argument trend re-made with AI from one photo of a cat. You can make it with your own cat at bad-times.com for $6.99.
Make my cat’s Bad Times meme · $6.99 One close-up photo · ready in about 5 minutes · charged only when your video is ready
Where the cat meme comes from
It started with a person, not a cat. The original Bad Times clip is one take of someone having a huge argument with whoever is filming, every gesture timed to the song (more in what is the Bad Times trend). By October 2026 the most-shared versions were AI remakes, many starring pets: a cat doing the same over-the-top reaction is funnier, because cats already look like that when dinner is late.
The song is “BAD TIMES” by Imael Angel. If you’re wondering whether the artist is a real person, we looked into that in Is Imael Angel AI?
Meme captions that work
The meme lives on the caption. The video is one big reaction, so the caption sets up what the cat is reacting to:
- “The vet said ‘just a quick check-up’.”
- “When the treat bag makes a noise and it’s not for me.”
- “Me explaining why 5 a.m. is breakfast time.”
- “When you sit in my spot for ONE second.”
Make the meme with your cat
- Pick Your pet stars on the home page (that link selects it for you).
- Upload one photo of your cat. Face close-ups are best; a sitting photo works too, because Bad Times AI crops it to the close-up framing of the original. The tuxedo cat above came from a photo of it sitting on a kitchen counter.
- Pay once and get a vertical 9:16 MP4 with the song in about 3–5 minutes, ready for TikTok, Reels or Shorts.
Make my cat’s Bad Times meme · $6.99 One close-up photo · ready in about 5 minutes · charged only when your video is ready
Step-by-step cat photo tips and another sample are on Bad Times with your cat. Dog in the house too? See the Bad Times dog trend.
Quick answers
What song is in the Bad Times cat video?
“BAD TIMES” by Imael Angel. The cat versions keep the audio of the original TikTok clip, so the song plays exactly where it does in the original argument.
Is the cat really doing that?
No. The cat’s face and fur come from a photo; the performance comes from the original one-take clip. An AI video model re-renders that clip with the cat as the star, which is why the timing is perfect every time.
Can I make the Bad Times cat meme with my own cat?
Yes. Upload one photo of your cat at bad-times.com, pay $6.99 once, and get the 14.5-second vertical video with the song in about 5 minutes. No app or account needed.
Does it work with black or long-haired cats?
Yes. Any coat works as long as the face is sharp and well lit: for black cats, shoot near a window in daylight so the eyes and nose read clearly.
Bad Times AI is an independent tool inspired by the trend. It isn’t affiliated with the creator of the original video, Imael Angel or the song’s rights holders, TikTok, or anyone else connected to it. We don’t publish the song’s lyrics. Videos are for personal entertainment only — not a licensed product.