Paws: when cats scratch pop culture
They’re cuddly, mischievous and sometimes dictators of our daily lives… Yes, cats! And their lovable paws are no longer content with tapping away on keyboards: they’ve infiltrated our video games, our jokes, and even our fictional traditions. Popularized by Le Joueur du Grenier, the term “paws” is a perfect illustration of this feline influence in geek pop culture.
Paws: from Simba to Twitch
A scratchy first appearance
It all begins in The Lion King: Simba’s Fantastic Adventure on PlayStation 1. The player collects colorful lion paw prints… en masse. The first paw prints were born.
A video meme becomes a Twitch icon
In Le Joueur du Grenier ‘s episode on Disney games, the expression “games with paws” comes to life. Since then, they’ve become the official channel points on JDG’s Twitch channel(source).
Skate games everywhere
Dragon’s Lair (GameBoy), Dragon Ball Z: Budokai… These games are packed with items to collect: sugared almonds, butterfingers, cookies. The problem? These collectibles literally mark out the player’s path, making the experience sometimes… boring.
La Sainte Patounes: feline folklore
A party out of Scooby-Doo
In the JDG episode on Scooby-Doo, a zany festival is invented: Saint Patounes. People dance in traditional outfits (green for the women, purple for the men) and break mugs over the heads of those who forget to say “Patounes”. Classy.
An unofficial tradition with a strong following
She doesn’t appear on the calendar, but as soon as a game abuses the objects to be collected, Saint Patounes is invoked by the community, with humor and second degree.
A St. Patrick’s Day parody
Folk dancing, drinking, ritual punishment… Sainte Patounes is a quirky but tasty parody of Celtic festivals. Less leprechauns, more pincushions!
Velvet-legged videogame reviewer
Empty and boring” games
Frédéric Molas confides that a lot of recent games are “pork-barrel games”: beautiful graphics, but hollow gameplay. Picking up for the sake of picking up… it gets tiresome fast.
A humorous but fair review
The term “patounes” has become a critical tool: it’s used to describe with tenderness (or annoyance) games where collectibles replace content.
A wink adopted by fans
The JDG community has made this vocabulary its own: on Twitch, Reddit or Discord, talking about “paws” means understanding the jargon… and meowing together from the same heart.
Cats, pop culture superstars
Iconic felines
Garfield, Puss in Boots, Salem, Tom from Tom & Jerry… Cats have always ruled our screens with charisma and humor.
Internet kings
From Grumpy Cat to Nyan Cat, the Web is their kingdom. The term “patouns” simply extends this digital dominance.
Paws in all the media
Video games, TV series, movies, TikTok, even commercials: cats are everywhere. Their paws are everywhere, and we love it.
Conclusion
Paws aren’t just a gimmick for nostalgic gamers. They symbolize cats’ unique ability to invade pop culture with mischief and levity. From retro gaming to Twitch and fictional parties, our tomcats leave their mark everywhere… literally.
FAQ
What is a skateboard game?
A game of excessive item collection, often to the detriment of gameplay and exploration.
Why has “patounes” gone viral?
Because it’s cute, funny and critical all at the same time. And because JDG fans are big kids… just like us!
Is Sainte Patounes a real celebration?
No, but it’s celebrated whenever a game abuses collectibles. It’s more of a ritual joke than a real event.
Have cats always dominated pop culture?
Absolutely. They’ve never left the summit. And with the patouns, they’re really digging in!
🐾 Original tip:
Turn your cat’s paw print (edible ink!) into a bookmark. Cute effect guaranteed.
❌ Common error :
Confusing “paw-paw game” with “children’s game”. Some very pretty titles hide… empty gameplay.
😺 Unusual fact:
Cats’ paw pads are as sensitive as a human fingertip: they sense temperature, texture… and sometimes your mood!
