Cat tax joke caused a sensation: What is really behind it?

Cat tax joke caused a sensation: What is really behind it?

Schwaz, Österreich - In Austria, a supposed report on a “cat tax” causes excitement. An article by My district reported that cat owners should pay between 50 and 70 euros per cat in the future to meet a new EU regulation. With a total amount of 300 million euros, this tax could secure massive income from the tax authority. The news spread rapidly on social media, which triggered numerous concerns and outrage among cat owners. Many felt overwhelmed by the alleged tax, while some users criticized the politicians to think about such measures, while other political problems remain unsolved.

satire exposed

The article, however, turned out to be a clever carnival joke. As reported mimikama , it was clarified at the end of the text that it was a joke to open up the confusion that arose among the readers. This incident shows how quickly satire is perceived as a serious news in today's flood of information. Especially in times of increasing taxes and growing skepticism towards the EU, such stories seem to make some people believe that this could be a reality.

the joke, from Tyrol, exploits the weaknesses of political communication and questions the credibility of similar reporting. While satire is supposed to stimulate thought or ironically exaggerate grievances, in this case it leads to considerable confusion and displeasure. It shows how important it is to check information and to find out about the facts and sources behind it.