There’s a great scene in the TV show The West Wing where President Barlett — who is clearly the greatest leader this nascent nation has ever had — guides his young aide, Charlie, through the process of completing his income tax return. After meddling, it turns out that Charlie actually owes money, thereby scuppering his plans to buy a fancy surround-sound TV system.
We hope you fared better this tax season and will soon be gleefully clutching your refund. That being said, here’s a feline-friendly guide in pictures to frittering the cash away in the fanciest manner possible.
You’ll need to invest in a sleek sports car — but this baby is strictly for napping on.
<a class="fb_share" href="" onclick="shareIt(event,this)" data-gotourl='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p%5Burl%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catster.com%2Flifestyle%2Fincome-tax-federal-return-refund-funny-cat-pictures-photos-spend&p%5Bimages%5D%5B0%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catster.com%2Ffiles%2FTaxCatCar.jpg&p%5Btitle%5D=White cat on the car via Shutterstock.
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White cat on the car via Shutterstock.
If your backyard isn’t an ocean stocked with fish, you’re not doing this right.
<a class="fb_share" href="" onclick="shareIt(event,this)" data-gotourl='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p%5Burl%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catster.com%2Flifestyle%2Fincome-tax-federal-return-refund-funny-cat-pictures-photos-spend&p%5Bimages%5D%5B0%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catster.com%2Ffiles%2FTaxCatfishing.jpg&p%5Btitle%5D=Cat fishes in a pond at sunset via Shutterstock.
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Cat fishes in a pond at sunset via Shutterstock.
Upgrading that water fountain is all the rage this season.
<a class="fb_share" href="" onclick="shareIt(event,this)" data-gotourl='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p%5Burl%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catster.com%2Flifestyle%2Fincome-tax-federal-return-refund-funny-cat-pictures-photos-spend&p%5Bimages%5D%5B0%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catster.com%2Ffiles%2FTaxCatFountain.jpg&p%5Btitle%5D=Cat drinking water at the water-tap via Shutterstock.
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Cat drinking water at the water-tap via Shutterstock.
If in doubt, keep it bedazzled. This Ragdoll knows that anything less is simply uncivilized.
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Ragdoll kitten inside large champagne glass with many disco mirror balls via Shutterstock.
Now is a good time to invest in some home help. A docile dog is a perfect servant — just make sure to let the brute know who’s the boss from day one.
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Big dog and little kitten looking at each other via Shutterstock.
Show your charitable side by gifting your human an upscale oil painting portrait.
<a class="fb_share" href="" onclick="shareIt(event,this)" data-gotourl='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p%5Burl%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catster.com%2Flifestyle%2Fincome-tax-federal-return-refund-funny-cat-pictures-photos-spend&p%5Bimages%5D%5B0%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catster.com%2Ffiles%2FTaxCatPainting.jpg&p%5Btitle%5D=Oil painting. Portrait of a girl with a black cat via Shutterstock.
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Oil painting. Portrait of a girl with a black cat via Shutterstock.
Now for the most important lesson of all: Remember, the real bank is a mattress.
<a class="fb_share" href="" onclick="shareIt(event,this)" data-gotourl='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p%5Burl%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catster.com%2Flifestyle%2Fincome-tax-federal-return-refund-funny-cat-pictures-photos-spend&p%5Bimages%5D%5B0%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catster.com%2Ffiles%2FTaxCatMoney.jpg&p%5Btitle%5D=Cat and money on sofa via Shutterstock.
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Cat and money on sofa via Shutterstock.
How would your cat spend an income tax refund? Let us know in the comments.
Read more cat humor on Catster:
- We Ask a Cat About International Pooper Scooper Week
- Videos We Love: Airborne Cats Who Fall Short of Their Goals
- We Ask a Cat What He’d Do if He Had Thumbs
About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world’s foremost expert on rappers’ cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it’s not quite what you think it is.