Pet Slang on Social Media: How People Talk for Their Dogs & Cats

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A cat running wildly across a living room with the caption “ZOOMIES!!”.

Pets aren’t just pets anymore. They’re content creators, co-stars, and sometimes even the main characters of whole accounts. In 2025, people don’t just post pictures of their dogs and cats — they narrate for them, roast them, and drop slang that makes every “zoomie” or nap into a meme.

Nobody just says “my cat was running around.” Instead, it’s:

Here’s the language of pet life online — from TikTok edits to IG captions to Discord pet channels.


🐾 Core Pet Slang

Zoomies

  • Meaning: Bursts of chaotic energy, usually late at night.
  • Example (TikTok): “3 a.m. zoomies unlocked.”

Paw-rent

  • Meaning: A pet owner, but in the style of “parent.”
  • Example (IG Bio): Dog paw-rent, 2 years strong.”

Treat Tax

  • Meaning: Giving your pet a snack in exchange for cuddles, photos, or obedience.
  • Example (Threads): “Wanted a cute pic. Had to pay the treat tax.”

Fur Baby

  • Meaning: A beloved pet treated like a child.
  • Example (Group Chat): “Canceling plans, can’t leave my fur baby alone.”

Petfluencer

  • Meaning: Pets with social media followings.
  • Example (IG Story): My dog’s a bigger petfluencer than me.”

🐕 Everyday Pet Life Slang

Derp Face

  • Meaning: A silly or goofy facial expression pets make.
  • Example (IG Caption): “Caught him mid-derp face 😭.”

Loaf Mode

  • Meaning: Cats (or dogs) sitting in a loaf-like position.
  • Example (TikTok): “Loaf mode: activated.”

Blepping

  • Meaning: When a pet’s tongue sticks out slightly.
  • Example (IG Post): “She’s blepping again.”

Zoom Cam

  • Meaning: Posting videos of pets going wild around the house.
  • Example (TikTok caption): “Zoom cam footage from last night.”

Trash Panda

  • Meaning: Nickname for pets (usually cats) when they get into garbage or mess.
  • Example (Discord): “Trash panda struck again, ripped open the snack bag.”

📱 Platform-Specific Pet Talk

TikTok

  • Zoomie POVs: Fast-cut edits of pets running around.
  • Blepping Clips: Close-ups of cats/dogs with tongues out.
  • Petfluencer Trends: Pets “reviewing” toys or acting in skits.

Instagram

  • Treat Tax Stories: Pics of pets mid-snack.
  • Derp Face Carousels: Collections of funny expressions.
  • Fur Baby Posts: Emotional captions, soft lighting.

Discord & Group Chats

  • Zoom Cam Spam: Sharing chaotic pet videos.
  • Trash Panda Pics: Roasting pets for their mess.
  • Loaf Mode Threads: Dropping loaf-shaped photos.

Threads & X (Twitter)

  • Paw-rent Rants: Posting pet-parent struggles.
  • Petfluencer Jokes: Memes about pets stealing clout.
  • Fur Baby Hashtags: Everyday affection turned slangy.

Pull Quote:
“In 2025, your pet isn’t just your pet — they’re your co-star and sometimes your brand.”

A dog making a goofy face with drool, captioned “Drip Face.”

🧩 Why Pet Slang Sticks

  • It turns chaos into comedy. Saying zoomies makes shredded curtains funny.
  • It humanizes pets. Fur baby and paw-rent frame them as family.
  • It builds community. Shared words like blepping or loaf mode make strangers bond online.
  • It’s content-ready. The slang itself fits into captions, hashtags, and viral clips.

📊 Quick Table

Slang TermMeaningExample UseWhere It Shows Up
ZoomiesChaotic pet running bursts“3 a.m. zoomies unlocked”TikTok, IG
Paw-rentPet owner, styled as parent“Dog paw-rent”IG, Threads
Treat TaxSnack payment for pet content“Had to pay the treat tax”IG, Threads
Fur BabyPet treated like a child“My fur baby is sick 😭”IG captions
PetfluencerSocial media pet personality“Dog’s a petfluencer now”TikTok, IG
Derp FaceGoofy pet expression“Caught his derp face”IG, TikTok
Loaf ModePets sitting loaf-like“Loaf mode activated”TikTok, Discord
BleppingPet’s tongue poking out“Blepping all dayIG, TikTok
Zoom CamChaotic video of zoomies“Zoom cam footage”TikTok edits
Trash PandaPet making a mess“Trash panda ruined the kitchen”Discord, memes

A person holding their pet affectionately with the caption “Canceling plans, can’t leave my fur baby alone.”

🔚 Final Reflection

Pet slang makes everyday chaos feel like culture. From derp faces to trash panda disasters, these words let us joke, connect, and show off the little creatures who run our lives.

It’s not just memes. It’s a shared language that says: pets aren’t side characters anymore. They’re the main event.

Because in 2025, every fur baby has a story — and the slang writes itself.

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