Grumpy Cat, whose scowling face graced the Internet for the past six years, making her owners millions of dollars, has died.
Grumpy Cat, whose real name was Tartar Sauce, died following complications from a urinary tract infection, her humans announced on Twitter. “Some days are grumpier than others…” the post began.
“We are unimaginably heartbroken to announce the loss of our beloved Grumpy Cat,” her owners wrote.
“Despite care from top professionals, as well as from her very loving family, Grumpy encountered complications from a recent urinary tract infection that unfortunately became too tough for her to overcome,” the post continued. “She passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, May 14, at home in the arms of her mommy, Tabatha [Bundesen].”
“Besides being our baby and a cherished member of the family, Grumpy Cat has helped millions of people smile all around the world–even when times were tough,” her family added. “Her spirit will continue to live on through fans everywhere.”
The New York Post reported that Grumpy Cat suffered from feline dwarfism, which was responsible for her frowning visage. This quirk, however, inspired a popular Internet meme and made the cat world famous. She became the spokescat for Friskies cat food, appeared in a commercial for Cheerios, and even starred in her own movie, “Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever.” She also wrote a self-titled best-selling book.
Further, she appeared on Broadway as the first biological feline to take the stage in a production of “Cats.” At the time, she was four years old and already had 8 million Facebook followers, the Post reported.
Grumpy Cat even has her own animatronic look-a-like at Madame Tussauds in London.
Grumpy Cat first became famous six years ago, when her face became a meme. She was named Meme of the Year at the 2013 Webby Awards, The New York Times reported, taking the top prize over “Gangnam Style” and “Harlem Shake” that year.
Grumpy Cat’s scowl was so popular she became one of the most profitable pets of all time.
“Estimates ranged widely on how much Grumpy Cat was worth, though Ms. Bundesen disputed a 2014 report that the cat had earned her $100 million. In 2018, Ms. Bundesen won $710,000 in a copyright infringement suit against a coffee company that made Grumpy Cat Grumppuccino,” the Times reported.
Though she was known for looking unhappy, her humans insisted she “really isn’t grumpy” but is “a super cute and cuddly kitty and loves to be held and rubbed,” according to her website.
Naturally, Grumpy Cat’s death has already been turned into a meme, with images of her frowning face appearing with the words, “So this is heaven? I hate it.”