Grumpy Cat, The Viral Internet Sensation, Has Passed Away At The Tender Age Of 7
The internet is remembering the star with hundreds of memes.
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, silence the pianos and with muffled drum, bring out the Grumpy Cat, let the mourners come.
Yep folks, the dreaded day has come — Grumpy Cat, AKA Tardar Sauce, AKA the very first meme so many of us clapped our eyes upon — has passed away. For a feline, Grumpy had a pretty short innings; she was seven when she died of complications following a urinary tract infection, whereas many cats live to significantly older than that. Her death was announced, fittingly, on Twitter, where for a certain kind of social media user she is a goddess.
“Grumpy Cat has helped millions of people smile all around the world — even when times were tough,” goes the death announcement. “Her spirit will continue to live on through her fans everywhere.”
Some days are grumpier than others… pic.twitter.com/ws209VWl97
— Grumpy Cat (@RealGrumpyCat) May 17, 2019
Even more fitting, however, is the outporing of emotion on the site, which has come in a form recognisable to all denizens of the corners of the internet where the feline found her fame — memes.
Yep, in the online version of a 12-gun salute, the cat has been valorised with a series of exploitable images commemorating her valour, her struggle, and her life.
me coming on twitter to hear grumpy cat died pic.twitter.com/pOsKlHBzzf
— ً (@airpodtyler) May 17, 2019
R.I.P Grumpy Cat. I’m sure cat heaven is so beautiful that you’ll hate it slightly less than you thought you would. pic.twitter.com/spxkmZ4A2d
— NotTheGreenGoblin (@TeamSymbiote) May 17, 2019
You were the best #GrumpyCat pic.twitter.com/xDvInHUeIv
— Igor Nunes (@igorbnunes) May 17, 2019
Even some celebrities are sharing tales of their own meetings with her: Andrew Lincoln of The Walking Dead and Grumpy of Snow White And The Seven Dwarves fame are both getting in on the act.
Blessed that #GrumpyCat got to meet Andy in her amazing life 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/fafXKrcwxn
— The Walking Dead (@TheWalkingDead) May 17, 2019
in honor of #grumpycat please reflect on her most iconic meetup pic.twitter.com/HWCjMqeVQ9
— tony snark (@greywarene) May 17, 2019
But perhaps the most impressive tribute of them all is an article by journalist Kelli Bender, who sums up the Grumpy Cat phenomenon in one striking headline: “I Was Lucky Enough to Meet Grumpy Cat 4 Times, and I Am a Better Person for It.”
What more can be added to that, really?
Rest in perpetually grumpy and sour-looking peace, you wonderful cat.