thing are decidedly not great still — but this Texas attorney was able to make us smile today after a mischance with a Zoom filter .

Behold : Seven words—19 letters — that will eternally live in internet lore .

" I ’m here , live . I ’m not a cat . "

Texas attorney Rod Ponton , a county attorney , told the judge during a audition in the 394th District Court of Texas on Tuesday . Instead of his normal face , he had appear as a worried - looking gray kitten thanks to a filter on the WWW - conferencing software Zoom .

The evaluator hearing the case , Roy Ferguson , attempt to help Ponton ferment the filter off . The judge later posted about the hilarious encounter , warning those in the legal field to verify they turn off any filters after their child apply their computers .

Whenreached by Vice , Ponton said he was using his secretarial assistant ’s computing machine , which had the filter on it . He was capable to remove it and carry on to argue his sheath . But — BUT!—for a few glorious minute , this Texas lawyer was a unsure - count kitten ready to spill about contraband .

Here are our six favorite moments of the 42 - second video :

6.Early in the exchange when Ferguson severalise Ponton he had a filter on . Ponton — who is a khat at his point — expression frazzle as he glances over to his left hand , as if he ’s look for a way to quickly find his human form .

5.When Cat Ponton asks , innocently , " Can you hear me , judge ? "

4.The forbearance of Judge Ferguson . After Ponton clarifies that he is indeed , not a feline , the judge say , " I can … I can see that " and then strain to help Ponton fix the trouble .

3.When H. Gibbs Bauer , another lawyer in the case , notices something is amiss , leans forward , andputs on his glass — seemingly incredulous that a very cute kitten has introduce the chat .

2.Conversely , when another attorney , Jerry Phillips , is face away from his screen during most of the conversation , only to reckon up when Ponton say , " I ’m not a cat " and visibly chuckle .

1.One more time , the moment that will live on in internet infamy : " I ’m here , know . I ’m not a quat . "

Before we go , let ’s give Ponton some credit for being a secure sportswoman . He toldThe New York Times : " If I can make the commonwealth chuckle for a second in these hard time they ’re go through , I ’m felicitous to lease them do it at my expense . "

The hearing continued and eventually concluded after Ponton ’s substantial face returned to the screen .