Today, it’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t seen the displeased face of Grumpy Cat at least once in their life. The face of Tardar Sauce (Grumpy Cat) has remained one of the most popular and recognizable memes since 2012, a permanent scowl that somehow captures discontent and grumpiness perfectly. Today, it has become a brand and an entire subculture with millions of fans.
As you can see, you don’t necessarily have to be human to achieve success. Now there’s a motivational thought, isn’t it? AdmiGram.com looks back at the most interesting facts from the life of the internet’s most famous cat.
How to Become a Millionaire If You’re a Cat
© realgrumpycat via Instagram
Success always comes suddenly and unexpectedly. The cat owner’s brother found Tardar Sauce’s face so amusing that he couldn’t resist posting a couple of cat photos on Reddit. Within a couple of days, Tardar Sauce’s face had already gone viral across the internet.
By the way, even now, when everyone knows about Grumpy Cat, many people are convinced, for some reason, that Grumpy Cat is a male cat. In reality, our internet star is female. And her grumpy face is simply due to her inherent dwarfism and a bit of an underbite.
So when the cat owner’s brother saw how widely Tardar Sauce’s photos were being reposted online, he decided that with popularity like that, something needed to be done. Thus, in 2012, the cat’s official page was created on Facebook, and later on Instagram.
© The Official Grumpy Cat via Facebook
The name Tardar Sauce came about through a funny coincidence. When she was brought into the house as a kitten, Tabatha Bundesen’s daughter, Crystal, laughed because the kitten’s fur had spots that looked as though someone had spilled tartar sauce on her.
Since 2013, Grumpy Cat officially became a celebrity. Millions followed her social media accounts, books were written about her, she was invited onto talk shows, starred in commercials, and even won a Webby Award for “Meme of the Year.”
You might be surprised, but Grumpy Cat was even a special guest at the Oscars and the MTV Movie Awards. Her social calendar could have made British aristocrats jealous, let alone the rest of us mere mortals.
© realgrumpycat via Instagram
By the way, in 2013–2014, Grumpy Cat’s YouTube videos racked up more views and likes than most music videos by popular artists. This popularity led to the 2014 announcement that Lifetime would release the television movie Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever.
And thanks to Grumpy Cat, a beloved Christmas tradition flared up with new colors. Each year, the holiday window displays at Macy’s on Union Square in San Francisco feature live cats and dogs, helping homeless animals find homes and raising funds for local shelters — a tradition Grumpy Cat herself helped put in the spotlight with a special guest appearance.
Starting in 2014, Grumpy Cat became part of a full-blown media phenomenon, launching her own line of merchandise, including books, toys, t-shirts, and even coffee. The cat was a star not only online but also on television, appearing on Today, Good Morning America, and American Idol.
© realgrumpycat via Instagram
That adorable grumpy face charmed the media so thoroughly that everyone started parodying the expression. The most famous photos were attributed to Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, Conan O’Brien, and Jim Carrey.
According to some independent estimates, the proportion of abandoned cats decreased between 2013 and 2015. This happened because children around the world started asking their parents not for a real cat, but simply for a plush Grumpy Cat toy instead.
Grumpy Cat inspired and won over millions of fans worldwide. The year 2019 marked the end of Grumpy Cat’s life, but her legacy lives on in internet history and pop culture. Grumpy Cat’s life stands as the brightest reminder that not everything needs to be taken literally — or too seriously.
image on top: The Official Grumpy Cat via Facebook
