Longcat

Longcat (c. 2002 – 20 September 2020) was a Japanese domestic cat that became the subject of an Internet meme due to her length. Longcat, whose real name was Shiro, was born in 2002. An image depicting her being held with "outstretched paws" became popular on Japanese imageboard Futaba Channel, where it was nicknamed Nobiko ("Stretch" in Japanese) some time around 2005 or 2006. She was reportedly "from head to toe".

Subsequently, the meme spread to English-language websites, primarily 4chan's /b/, where it was edited into various images, and even had a song written about it. A backstory was invented for the cat, involving a world-ending battle called "Catnarok" with a nemesis named "Tacgnol" (resembling Longcat with the colors inverted).

In a 2019 interview, Longcat's owner said that the cat was "originally rescued after being discovered on the street in 2002", and at the time was thin with gray hair; as she grew older, she became white and fluffy. The cat was deaf. In 2019, Longcat's owner said that, at age 17, the cat no longer "climbed to high places" but was "relaxing and living her life". In September 2020, after a period of ill health, Longcat was taken to the hospital, and died at age 18.

A ''Pokémon'' design released in 2019, the "Gigantamax Meowth", was compared by some commentators to Longcat.

See also

* List of individual cats
* Cats and the Internet
* Long Boi

Notes

References

{{reflist, refs=
{{Cite web , url = https://www.cnet.com/culture/internet/meme-celeb-longcat-has-died-at-age-18/ , title = Longcat, the internet meme icon, dies aged 18 , website = CNET , access-date = 2023-05-16 , archive-date = 2023-05-16 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230516063223/https://www.cnet.com/culture/internet/meme-celeb-longcat-has-died-at-age-18/ , url-status = live
{{Cite web , url = https://sea.mashable.com/culture/12531/remember-longcat-the-internet-meme-icon-has-finally-passed-away-at-the-age-of-18 , title = Remember Longcat? The internet meme icon has finally passed away at the age of 18. , first = Danial , last = Martinus , date = September 22, 2020 , website = Mashable SEA , access-date = May 16, 2023 , archive-date = May 16, 2023 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230516063221/https://sea.mashable.com/culture/12531/remember-longcat-the-internet-meme-icon-has-finally-passed-away-at-the-age-of-18 , url-status = live
{{Cite web , url = https://www.toutiao.com/article/6875242882974876164/ , title = 那只在无数梗图中出现的长条猫去世了 , date = September 22, 2020 , website = {{lang, zh, 今日头条 inri Toutiao, publisher = {{lang, zh, 游研社 YSTV, language = zh , access-date = June 20, 2023 , archive-date = June 20, 2023 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230620145102/https://www.toutiao.com/article/6875242882974876164/ , url-status = live
{{Cite web , url = https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/longcat-dead-at-18/ , title = Longcat, meme legend, dead at 18 , first = Mikael , last = Thalen , date = September 20, 2020 , website = The Daily Dot , access-date = May 16, 2023 , archive-date = May 16, 2023 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230516063223/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/longcat-dead-at-18/ , url-status = live
{{Cite web , url = https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/longcat-internet-meme-nobiko-japan-dies-age-cause-b528190.html , title = Longcat, the stretchy feline internet meme, has died aged 18 , date = September 22, 2020 , website = The Independent , access-date = May 16, 2023 , archive-date = May 16, 2023 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230516064724/https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/longcat-internet-meme-nobiko-japan-dies-age-cause-b528190.html , url-status = live
{{Cite web , url = https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2020/09/22/so-long-longcat---internet-bids-farewell-to-feline-behind-famous-meme , title = So long, Longcat – Internet bids farewell to feline behind famous meme , first = Qishin , last = Tariq , website = The Star , access-date = 2023-05-16 , archive-date = 2023-04-07 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230407124823/https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2020/09/22/so-long-longcat---internet-bids-farewell-to-feline-behind-famous-meme , url-status = live
{{Cite web , url = https://www.inverse.com/article/60179-pokemon-sword-shield-meowth-longcat-gigantamax , title = 'Pokémon Sword and Shield's Gigantamax Meowth looks a lot like Longcat meme , website = Inverse , date = 16 October 2019 , access-date = 2023-05-16 , archive-date = 2023-05-16 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230516063222/https://www.inverse.com/article/60179-pokemon-sword-shield-meowth-longcat-gigantamax , url-status = live
{{Cite web , url = https://www.polygon.com/2019/10/16/20917080/pokemon-sword-shield-new-gigantamax-pikachu-meowth-eevee-memes , title = Thicc Pikachu and Longcat Meowth coming to Pokémon Sword and Shield , first = Michael , last = McWhertor , website = Polygon , date = October 16, 2019 , access-date = May 16, 2023 , archive-date = May 16, 2023 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230516063221/https://www.polygon.com/2019/10/16/20917080/pokemon-sword-shield-new-gigantamax-pikachu-meowth-eevee-memes , url-status = live
{{Cite web , url = https://thenextweb.com/news/longcat-lives , title = Longcat lives! , date = May 24, 2019 , website = TheNextWeb , last = Hughes , first = Matthew , access-date = June 9, 2023 , archive-date = June 9, 2023 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230609200453/https://thenextweb.com/news/longcat-lives , url-status = live
{{Cite web , url = https://www.j-cast.com/2020/09/23394947.html , title = 「のびーるたん」「Longcat」コラ画像で世界的人気　「胴が長すぎる猫」シロ、天国へ , date = September 23, 2020 , website = J-Cast News , language = ja , accessdate = June 27, 2023 , archive-date = May 24, 2022 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220524194741/https://www.j-cast.com/2020/09/23394947.html , url-status = live

2002 animal births
2020 animal deaths
Individual cats in Japan
Internet memes introduced in 2006
Internet memes about cats