The US Army Engineer Cat Calendar is so bad it’s brilliant

You’ve probably already chosen your calendar for 2023. There may be beautiful landscape photos or famous works of art for each month. Throw it. I’ve Got Something Better: The US Army Corps of Engineers Portland District 2023 Cat Calendar. Download and print it now.

The calendar has the usual expected features, with a monthly picture and dates below. Each image shows a giant cat perching on or attacking equipment or a key piece of infrastructure. January begins with a tabby using Oregon’s Hills Creek Reservoir as a scratching post. July plays a cat sitting on the deck of a Corps of Engineers ship. Commentary on dams, giant cats and feline behavior accompanies the images.

The Corps of Engineers quietly released the calendar late last year, but it recently caught the attention of the general public. The Portland District tweeted about it last week, with a tongue-in-cheek response to criticism of the “badly photoshopped” calendar. “At least now we finally have a New Year’s resolution. I’m going to sign up for a Photoshop class,” the group wrote.

I would argue that much of the charm of the calendar would be lost if it were a slick production. The unusual proportions, wonky edges, goofy font, goofy writing and random set mark it as a labor of love and joy. Please, Corps of Engineers guy who did this, don’t take this Photoshop course. Experience your own giant cat truth and do it again for 2024.