We’ve all seen it. Honestly, you’ve probably sent it to a coworker during a week that felt like a decade. It’s that grainy, slightly blurry picture of hanging in there—a tiny, terrified, but remarkably determined kitten dangling from a bamboo branch.
It feels like it’s been around forever. Because, in internet years, it basically has. Long before Reddit existed or "doge" became a thing, this feline was the original avatar of grit. But where did it actually come from?
It wasn't a viral tweet. It wasn't a TikTok trend. It was a physical poster from the early 1970s that managed to survive the transition from dorm room walls to smartphone screens without losing an ounce of its relatability.
The Los Angeles Photographer Who Started It All
Victor Baldwin didn't set out to create a global symbol of resilience. He was a Los Angeles-based photographer who specialized in portraits, often working with animals. In 1963, he took a series of photos of a Siamese kitten named Salami.
One of those shots captured Salami clinging to a branch.
Baldwin liked the shot. He put it in a book he published called Salami and His Friends in 1970. But the real magic happened when he decided to turn it into a poster. He added those four simple words: "Hang in there, baby."
It exploded.
By the mid-seventies, Baldwin had sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Even the Vice President at the time, Spiro Agnew, reportedly received one as a gift from supporters. It was a genuine cultural phenomenon back when "going viral" meant people actually walked into a store and bought a piece of paper with a cat on it.
Why This Specific Cat Hits Different
Why does a picture of hanging in there still resonate when we have millions of high-definition 4K cat memes at our fingertips?
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It’s the vulnerability.
Modern memes are often ironic or aggressive. They’re loud. This kitten isn't loud. It’s small. The branch looks precarious. There is a palpable sense of gravity working against that little guy. When we look at it, we don't just see a cat; we see our own Tuesday mornings. We see that project that’s overdue. We see the general exhaustion of existing in 2026.
Psychologically, it’s a concept called "effort justification." We value things more when we have to struggle for them. The kitten is the ultimate visual representation of the "middle" of a struggle—the part where you aren't winning yet, but you haven't let go either.
The Legal Battles and the Copycats
Success breeds imitation. Or, in this case, a whole lot of copyright infringement. Baldwin spent years trying to protect his work.
Because the image was so simple, people thought it was public domain. It wasn't. There were hundreds of variations. Some used different kittens. Some used different trees. Some even used puppets. But none of them quite captured the raw, accidental perfection of Salami the Siamese.
Baldwin eventually won a major lawsuit against a company called Infinitum Inc. in the late 70s, which helped establish how posters and "ephemeral" art are protected under law. It’s a boring legal footnote to a very cute cat, but it’s why the original version still feels so specific and "real" compared to the knockoffs you see on cheap coffee mugs.
The Evolution of the Hanging in There Meme
The picture of hanging in there didn't just stay a poster. It mutated.
In the 90s, it was the "office humor" staple. It sat next to the water cooler. It was tacked onto cubicle walls with pushpins. It became shorthand for "this job is soul-crushing, but I need the health insurance."
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Then the internet happened.
The image transitioned into the "Demotivational Poster" era of the early 2000s. People started parodying it. You’d see versions where the kitten eventually falls, or versions where the kitten is replaced by a corporate executive. But the parody only worked because the original was so sincere.
It’s one of the few pieces of "boomer" media that Gen Z and Gen Alpha actually respect. Usually, older trends get mocked or forgotten. But "Hang in there" is universal. It’s a vibe. It’s the aesthetic of survival.
The Science of Cute Aggression and Resilience
There is actually some interesting science behind why we like looking at a picture of hanging in there when we are stressed.
Research into "kawaii" (the Japanese culture of cuteness) suggests that viewing cute images can actually improve focus and heart rate variability. A study by Hiroshi Nittono at Hiroshima University found that people performed tasks with more care after looking at pictures of baby animals.
So, that poster in your cubicle? It’s not just a cliché. It’s a cognitive performance enhancer.
When you see the kitten struggling, your brain triggers a care-taking response. It softens the "fight or flight" edge of your stress. You think, If that tiny cat can hold onto a bamboo stick with its literal fingernails, I can probably handle this spreadsheet.
Not All Variations Are Created Equal
If you're looking for the "authentic" experience, you have to look for the grain.
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- The Original: Black and white (usually), high contrast, Siamese kitten, bamboo branch.
- The 80s Reboot: Often in color, fluffier kittens, softer fonts.
- The Digital Parody: Usually involves a cat in a much more dire situation, like hanging off a cliff or a skyscraper.
The original works best because it’s low-stakes but high-tension. The kitten isn't in a life-or-death action movie. It’s just... stuck. And that’s what life feels like most of the time. Not a tragedy, just a persistent state of being slightly stuck.
What This Says About Our Digital Culture
We live in a world of "toxic positivity." Everything is supposed to be amazing. We’re supposed to be "crushing it" or "living our best lives."
The picture of hanging in there is the antithesis of that.
It acknowledges that things suck. It admits that you are at the end of your rope. It doesn't tell you to "climb higher" or "jump to the next tree." It just tells you to stay where you are and don't let go.
That is a much more honest message than most modern self-help. Sometimes, staying exactly where you are and not collapsing is a massive victory. Victor Baldwin captured that 50 years ago, and we haven't found a better way to say it since.
How to Use This Energy in Real Life
If you’re feeling the weight of the world, don't just stare at the screen. Use the "Salami Method."
Identify the one "branch" you need to hold onto today. Maybe it’s just finishing one email. Maybe it’s just making it to 5:00 PM without losing your cool. Forget the whole tree. Just hold the branch.
Practical Steps for Your "Hang in There" Moments
- Lower the bar. If you can't thrive, just survive. The kitten isn't trying to do a pull-up; he's just hanging.
- Change your visual environment. If your digital space is cluttered, put a physical version of a motivator on your desk. There's something about tactile paper that hits differently than a pixel.
- Acknowledge the grit. Tell yourself, "This is the hanging part." Labeling the struggle makes it feel like a temporary phase rather than a permanent state.
- Find your "Salami." Find a small, mundane thing that brings you back to earth. For Baldwin, it was his pet cat. For you, it might be a specific song or a five-minute walk.
The legacy of the picture of hanging in there isn't about the cat. It’s about the fact that we’re all still looking at it. It’s a collective nod across generations. We’re all dangling. We’re all tired. But we’re all still here.
Hold on tight.