Garfield's famous catchphrase, "I hate Mondays," is iconic and completely relatable. Over the years, many have speculated as to why a cat with no job or schedule would feel so passionately about the start of the traditional work week. Now a new theory suggests it can be traced back to the orange tabby's childhood. Er, kittenhood.

Some people believe Garfield hates Mondays because his human, Jon Arbuckle, must leave for work and leave him alone (well, with Odie). Monday is, therefore, worse than any other day because it arrives after a weekend in which Jon is home, spending time with the feline. The grumpy cat would rather say hates Mondays than admit his deep affection for Jon.

However, the reality may not actually be that heartwarming. A new Reddit theory goes into Garfield's canonical past as a kitten in an Italian restaurant. The television special Garfield: His 9 Lives shows that Garfield was born in the kitchen of Mama Leoni's. Basicall,  as soon as he was born, he ate all the fresh lasagna and pasta in sight, and developed a lifelong passion for the dish.

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The theory notes the restaurant is a mom-and-pop establishment, many of which traditionally close on Mondays, providing the owners with some time away after a (hopefully) busy weekend.

So, if the restaurant where Garfield lived as a kitten was closed on Mondays, there would be no fresh, warm lasagna or pasta for him to devour. That would then force him to turn to leftovers. Garfield does not like leftovers; he loves fresh, warm lasagna. Therefore, the reason he hates Mondays is because Mondays are when he, at least as a kitten, was forced to subsist on leftovers.

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This theory makes a lot of sense. It explains why Garfield hates Mondays in particular, and not just any work day that would require Jon to leave home. His hatred comes from a very impressionable time in his life. As a kitten, he learned to associate Mondays with something he deeply dislikes. Even though he is with Jon now and doesn't have to eat leftovers on Mondays, the association is still there.

This theory provides a depth to Garfield's famous catchphrase that actually makes it funnier -- and still just as relatable.

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