Ayn Rand’s Cat Pic Addiction

We’re not sure, but Ayn Rand might have invented the phrase “I’m not here to make friends.” The author of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged also founded Objectivist philosophy, which holds up selfishness as a virtue. Famous for scathing put-downs, Rand is about the last person we’d imagine getting snuggly on the couch with Mr. Pusskins, but apparently we were wrong.

Mallory Ortberg of The Toast discovered this letter Rand wrote to Cat Fancy magazine (she was a subscriber):

Does it sound like the editors of Cat Fancy were trolling Rand a bit? If so, she definitely took the bait — and did not resist the temptation to offer a small lecture in Objectivist definitions. Still, the letter provides more proof (as if it were needed!) that everyone, EVERYONE, loves adorable cat pictures. And if Rand liked photos of cats, it’s objectively true that this would slay her:

Thanks, Marshall!