While researching photographs entirely unrelated to cats, we came across the origin story of lolcats. Or at least the the forerunner. According to Wikipedia (& what better source of knowledge exists in the universe, really?):Cat macros have existed since at least the 1870s, when British portrait photographer Harry Pointer created a carte de visite series featuring felines posed in various situations, to which he added amusing text intended to further enhance their appeal.
ciao-cheerio-meow/GG Central
(1905 cat postcard by Harry Whittier Frees; Harry Pointer cat macro, 1870s)