9 Most Famous Cats Throughout History
Cats have fascinated humans for a long time now. Be it perennially online millennials watching and sharing cat memes or the Egyptians worshipping and immortalising the animal in stone for eternity. Over the last decade especially, cats have occupied a special place in pop culture. And on the occasion of International Cat Day, which is celebrated on August 8 every year, here’s a list of the most famous cats throughout history.
9 Popular Cats Over The Years
Grumpy Cat Visits The Broadway Cast of "Cats"
The Grumpy Cat
Tardar Sauce, or as it was most famously known as The Grumpy Cat, took the Internet by storm in 2012 when a photo of it went viral on Reddit. Nobody believed that a cat could hold such a human-like expression but the owners shared a video on YouTube that dismissed Photoshop claims and catapulted the Grumpy Cat to become an Internet celebrity. In reality, Tardar was a very pleasant and happy pet but got her characteristic sour expression because of a rare form of dwarfism.
CatCon a Convention for Cat Lovers in Pasadena California
Lil Bub
Another Internet celebrity cat, Lil Bub endeared millions of Internet users with its permanent kitten-like appearance and tongue that remained lolled out of its mouth constantly, as a result of a rare genetic mutation. Lil Bub was also the only cat in history to be diagnosed with the bone disorder, Osteopetrosis. The cat’s struggles and adorable appearance made it an instant Internet celebrity and helped raise funds for its medical treatments. Even though the cat passed away in 2019, its legacy lives on in the form of Lil Bub’s Big Fund for the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the first nationwide fundraiser for pets with special needs.
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Orangey
You might recognise this Ginger who played the infamous ‘Cat’ in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) alongside Audrey Hepburn. Named Orangey, the cat went on to appear in many TV shows and movies, like the Dick Van Dyke Show and Diary Of Anne Frank. It even won two PATSY awards, which are the pet equivalent of Oscars. True to its movie star status, Orangey was a complete diva. According to those who worked with it, the cat was extremely mean and prone to wandering off set whenever it felt like it.
Taylor Swift with cat Olivia Benson
Olivia Benson
Taylor Swift’s Scottish Fold Olivia Benson, named after the singer’s favourite TV show character, is the third richest pet in the world. With a networth of $97 million (about INR 800 crores), Olivia Benson is living a better life than most human beings. It has a huge fan following on Instagram with many fan clubs dedicated to it and has even appeared alongside Swift in music videos and commercials.
11th Annual Shorty Awards - Arrivals & Cocktail Hour
Nala
This cross-eyed Siamese/tabby mix is the richest pet in the world with a staggering net worth of over $100 million dollars (about INR 1000 crores). She also holds the Guinness World Record for being the most followed cat on Instagram with her 4.5 million followers. The reason for her fame is her rags-to-riches story as her recovery from a sickly shelter cat to Internet royalty was documented thoroughly and followed by millions. With her own pet food line and many other successful ventures, Nala is living her best life.
Netflix's XO, Kitty Los Angeles Premiere
Hello Kitty
One of the most recognised fictional cats across the world, Hello Kitty is a pop culture icon. The fictional cat first came into existence as a coin purse in Japan back in 1974. In 1976, its popularity grew in the United State of America and the rest, as they say, was history. Over the years, the franchise has blown up and evolved into an $80 Billion dollar business.
Karl Lagerfeld presents Photo Calender featuring cat Choupette
Choupette Lagerfeld
Fashion mogul Karl Lagerfeld’s stunning Birman cat, Choupette, is almost as iconic as her late owner who referred to her affectionately as the love of his life. The cat was left millions upon Lagerfeld’s death in 2019 and now lives in Paris with her nanny. For the 2023 Met Gala, where the theme was centred around the legacy of the designer, celebrities like Doja Cat and Jared Leto, decided to pay tribute to Choupette by taking on its avatar.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)
Salem Saberhagen
Another fictional cat that holds a special place in our hearts is Salem Saberhagen, from the 90s sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch. It deserves a place on this list even if it is not ‘technically’ a cat. In the show, a 500-year-old witch was cursed to live 100 years as a black cat as a punishment for trying to take over the world. During the course of filming, three black cats essayed the role of Salem in the show.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Garfield
No famous cat list can be complete without a mention of this iconic orange cat. Created in 1978 by comic artist Jim Davis, the cat became famous worldwide because of its wry humour, human-like disdain for Mondays and love for lasagna. It even gets its own day on June 19, which is celebrated as National Garfield the Cat day in the US.
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