this adorable optical illusion. It features a beautifully stacked pyramid of striped tabby cats hanging out in a grassy field, with a caption that challenges: “I see 10, and you? Be honest.” At first glance, 10 seems like a perfectly reasonable answer. But if you look a little closer at the details, you will realize this image is hiding quite a few extra furry friends.
To find the true number, you have to look past the main faces and search the nooks, crannies, and corners for the hidden miniature kittens.
The backbone of the image is made up of 9 obvious, medium-to-large cats stacked together. There is 1 large cat ruling the peak at the top tier, 2 cats directly underneath them on the second tier, 3 cats forming the middle layer on the third tier, and 3 cats anchoring the base at the bottom tier. That brings the initial count to 9 main cats.
The hidden kittens are where most people get tripped up. There are actually 5 tiny hidden kittens tucked away in the image. First, look right below the top cat’s ear on the right side—there is a tiny kitten head resting there. Next, look at the outer left arm of the middle-row cat; there are actually two tiny kitten faces vertically stacked, clinging to the side. There is also a tiny kitten face peeking out at the very bottom center, nestled right between the paws of the base cats. Finally, down in the very bottom right corner, hidden low in the grass next to the paws, sits one last tiny kitten.
When you add the 9 main cats and the 5 hidden kittens together, the right answer is actually 14 cats!
If you only counted 10, do not worry—you are not alone. The puzzle is cleverly designed to make your eyes skip over the tiny kittens on the edges and at the very bottom. How many did you find on your first try? Did you spot the two hitchhikers on the left? Drop a comment below and let us know if you beat the puzzle!
