NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Grumpy Cat, whose internet fame inspired not just its namesake memes but toys, comics, and a Lifetime Christmas special among many more passed away Tuesday, May 14 at the age of 7.
Grumpy Cat, also known as Tardar Sauce, first became a sensation when she appeared on Reddit on Sept. 22, 2012, when Bryan Bundesen, brother of owner Tabatha Bundeson, posted a photograph of the cat on Reddit.
The post received more than a million views in just two days. The titular grumpy expression on her face was caused by her underbite and feline dwarfism. Pictures and video of her only exploded from there, and by 2013 owner Bundesen had left her full-time job and hired a manager to work on Grumpy Cat’s career.
Grump Cat appeared on a legion of television shows, including Good Morning America, The Bachelorette, Today, and American Idol and was hired as the official spokescat of Friskies.
She started in Lifetime’s Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever with Parks & Recreation actress Aubrey Plaza, who produced the special, service as her voice.
“We are unimaginably heartbroken to announce the loss of our beloved Grumpy Cat,” a statement from her family and manager said, “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.