The Evolution of Grumpy Cat
Who is Grumpy Cat?
In 2012-2014, Grumpy Cat was everywhere Appearances on TV shows like The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Today Show quickly transformed Grumpy Cat from an internet meme into a real-life celebrity. Just days after her first viral post, her owner, Tabatha Bundesen—who co-owns Grumpy Cat with her brother, Bryan—was able to quit her waitressing job as offers for merchandise, media appearances, and book deals began pouring in.
A Grumpy Cat Timeline
Tardar Sauce (Grumpy Cat's real name) is born in Morristown, Arizona. Her perpetually "grumpy" expression was the result of feline dwarfism and an underbite.
Grumpy Cat appears at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, drawing massive crowds and a three-block-long line of fans, and is named the festival's biggest star.
A wax figure of Grumpy Cat is unveiled at Madame Tussauds in San Francisco.
Grumpy Cat passes away peacefully at the age of 7... but her legacy lives on in all of us.
Grumpy Cat is remembered as one of the first and most successful internet pet influencers, whose accidental fame paved the way for the monetization of viral animal content and left a lasting mark on internet culture.