What is the breed of grumpy cat?
Grumpy Cat, whose real name was Tardar Sauce, was a female cat that became an internet sensation for her unique facial expression that made her look perpetually grumpy. She rose to fame in 2012 after photos of her were posted online and went viral. Grumpy Cat’s breed and genetic mutation that caused her grumpy appearance have been the source of much speculation and interest over the years.
Grumpy Cat’s background
Grumpy Cat was born on April 4, 2012 in Morristown, Arizona. She was one of a litter of four kittens born to a calico cat named Tabatha. The kitten who would become known as Grumpy Cat was born with a form of feline dwarfism and an underbite that caused her to have a distinctive frowny face. Her owner, Tabatha Bundesen, said that it was Grumpy Cat’s unique grumpy expression that prompted her to choose her as a pet from among the litter.
Speculation about Grumpy Cat’s breed
Much speculation has swirled about what cat breed Grumpy Cat belonged to or if she was some special mix that resulted in her one-of-a-kind look. Some of the speculated breeds included:
– Persian – One of the most popular guesses is that Grumpy Cat was part Persian cat based on her long fur. Persians are known for their fluffy coats and squished looking faces. However, Persians do not have the extreme frowny underbite that Grumpy Cat had.
– Exotic Shorthair – Like Persians, Exotic Shorthairs have a pushed in looking face. But they have a short coat rather than long fur.
– British Shorthair – British Shorthairs can have round faces and large eyes like Grumpy Cat’s, but do not have such an extreme underbite.
– Ragdoll – Ragdolls are a relatively new cat breed that can have blue eyes and colorpoints like Grumpy Cat. But they lack the flattened face and underbite.
– Mixed Breed – Many people speculated that Grumpy Cat was likely a mixed breed cat that happened to inherit genes that made her look so unique.
Grumpy Cat’s genetic mutation
In 2019, scientists tested Grumpy Cat’s DNA to try to pinpoint the genetic mutation responsible for her unusual appearance. They discovered that she had a combination of two genetic mutations that both contribute to dwarfism and the extreme shape of her face.
The first mutation Grumpy Cat had was in a gene called Fkbp4 which is responsible for helping stabilize the formation of new blood vessels and bones. Mutations in this gene can cause a type of dwarfism.
The second genetic mutation was in the gene for crystallin which is a protein found in the lens of the eye. Mutations in this gene are known to cause malformed faces and jaws in cats.
The scientists concluded that it was this pair of genetic mutations in tandem that resulted in Grumpy Cat’s distinctive look. Having just one of the mutations on its own would not have made a cat look like her.
Conclusion
While her exact pedigree and breed mix remain unknown, the genetic analysis revealed that Grumpy Cat’s one-of-a-kind grumpy appearance stemmed from two separate mutations that caused dwarfism and facial deformities. Her unique look launched her to internet stardom. Though Grumpy Cat passed away in 2019 at the age of 7, her legacy lives on through memes and pop culture. She demonstrated how a cat with an unusual appearance due to genetic chance can capture the hearts of people around the world.
| Year | Key Grumpy Cat Event |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Born in Morristown, Arizona |
| 2012 | Gains internet fame after photos posted online go viral |
| 2013 | Stars in the Lifetime holiday movie “Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever” |
| 2014 | Wins Lifetime Achievement Award at the Friskies awards |
| 2018 | Stars in the movie “Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever” |
| 2019 | Dies from complications of a urinary tract infection |
| 2019 | Scientists analyze her DNA and uncover genetic mutations |
Grumpy Cat became an internet celebrity known for her perpetually grumpy facial expression. Her unique appearance was caused by two genetic mutations that resulted in dwarfism and an extreme underbite. She rose to fame in 2012 thanks to viral photos posted online by her owner. Grumpy Cat capitalized on her internet stardom, starring in films, television specials, and even a Lifetime movie. She passed away in 2019 at age 7. Though the exact breed mix remains unknown, Grumpy Cat demonstrated how a cat’s unique looks and personality can capture widespread attention and love. Her one-of-a-kind frowny face left a lasting impact on internet culture.
The cat owned by Tabatha Bundesen named Tardar Sauce was born in 2012 with an underbite and feline dwarfism caused by two genetic mutations. This gave her a perpetually grumpy looking facial expression that prompted her owner to nickname her Grumpy Cat. In 2012, pictures of Grumpy Cat were posted online and quickly went viral due to her unique appearance. She became an internet celebrity known for her frowning, squinty-eyed look. Grumpy Cat starred in films, television specials, books and merchandise. She passed away in 2019 at the age of 7. Though her exact breed remains unknown, her legacy as an iconic internet meme and pop culture figure lives on.
Grumpy Cat, whose real name was Tardar Sauce, was a mixed breed cat born in 2012 that became famous worldwide thanks to her unique facial expression caused by genetic mutations that made her look perpetually grumpy. Images of Grumpy Cat posted online by her owner Tabatha Bundesen quickly went viral in 2012, launching her to internet stardom. Her squinty eyes, downturned mouth, and sloped underbite became iconic. Though her exact breed mix is unknown, genetic testing revealed she had mutations in two genes that cause dwarfism and facial deformities. Grumpy Cat leveraged her online popularity into film, television, merchandising and advertising deals. She passed away in 2019 but remains one of the internet’s most famous cat memes and pop culture figures.
Tardar Sauce, nicknamed “Grumpy Cat,” was a mixed breed female cat born in 2012 who became an internet celebrity because of her unique grumpy facial expression caused by genetic mutations. Images posted online by her owner Tabatha Bundesen went viral, making Grumpy Cat famous worldwide thanks to her downturned mouth, squinted eyes, and sloped underbite. Her exact breed ancestry is unknown but DNA testing showed she had a combination of mutations that caused feline dwarfism and facial deformities giving her a one-of-a-kind grumpy look. Though she passed away in 2019 at age 7, Grumpy Cat’s iconic meme-worthy frown left a lasting legacy in internet culture. She remains one of the most recognizable cat stars and pop culture phenomena born from viral internet popularity.
