Longcat

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Shiro (シロ)
File:Longcat is loooooooooong.jpg
Longcat c. 2005
Other namesNobiko-san (のび子さん), Nobīru-tan (のびーるたん), Longcat
SpeciesFelis catus
Born2002 (2002)
Japan
Died (aged 18)
Known for
  • Being long
  • Subject of an Internet meme
OwnerMiko

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 (シロ),[1][a] was born in 2002.[3] An image depicting her being held with "outstretched paws"[4] became popular on Japanese imageboard Futaba Channel, where it was nicknamed Nobīru-tan[b] (のびーるたん[c]) and Nobiko-san (のび子さん[d]) some time around 2005 or 2006.[1][5][3][6] She was reportedly 65 centimetres (26 in) "from head to toe".[6]

Subsequently, the meme spread to English-language websites, primarily 4chan's /b/,[3][7] where it was edited into various images, and even had a song written about it.[8] 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).[3][7][8]

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.[9] 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".[8] In September 2020, after a period of ill health, Longcat was taken to the hospital, and died at age 18.[3][9][10]

A Pokémon design released in 2019, the "Gigantamax Meowth", was compared by some commentators to Longcat.[4][11]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Shiro" (シロ) is a word derived from "white" (白い).[2]
  2. ^ "-tan" (たん) is a childish word for the suffix "-chan" (ちゃん) used when referring to people.
  3. ^ Written のびーるたん[2]
  4. ^ Written のびさん[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).