Grumpy Cat, a feline that rose to viral stardom thanks to her ever-displeased-looking expression, has died.
Grumpy Cat, real name Tardar Sauce, passed away due to a urinary tract infection on Tuesday morning in the arms of her owner Tabatha Bundesen, who said her family is “unimaginably heartbroken”.
Some days are grumpier than others… pic.twitter.com/ws209VWl97
— Grumpy Cat (@RealGrumpyCat) May 17, 2019
“Besides being our baby and a cherished member of the family, Grumpy Cat has helped millions of people smile all around the world – even when times were tough,” reads a statement from Grumpy’s owners on Twitter.
“Her spirit will continue to live on through her fans everywhere.”
Grumpy, from Phoenix, Arizona, rose to fame in 2012 after photographs of her instantly-recognisable frown were shared online, becoming an instant favourite for meme-makers.
According to her owner Ms Bundesen, Grumpy’s expression was caused by a form of feline dwarfism and it was her famous face which helped her gain millions of followers across Instagram and Twitter.
After the sad news was announced, tens of thousands shared tributes to the famous cat, with the phrase “Grumpy Cat” becoming the top trend worldwide on Twitter.
Heartbroken 😥😥😥 Sending my love to Tabatha and all your family. That came as quite the shock 🖤🌈
— Fran O'Reilly (@ShadEO9) May 17, 2019
Rest in peace Tardar Sauce AKA Grumpy Cat. This cat has brought so much joy to mine and millions of other people’s lives the last few years. May she enjoy the Rainbow Bridge. Thank you to her owners for sharing her with us. I’m truly crushed by this 💔 https://t.co/0QHTqjadCQ
— ɢʀᴀᴄᴇ (@geewhizzle) May 17, 2019
“This cat has brought so much joy to mine and millions of other people’s lives the last few years,” tweeted @geewhizzle. “May she enjoy the Rainbow Bridge.”
Although an unofficial account, fellow famous cat Gladstone, the chief mouser of the Treasury at Whitehall, London, shared a tribute to their Grumpy too.
RIP Grumpy Cat 😿 https://t.co/5nwJYqScot
— Gladstone (@TreasuryMog) May 17, 2019
One fan shared a photo of the “lucky” moment they met Grumpy in person.
RIP grumpy cat. I was lucky to meet you in London. pic.twitter.com/T3wZCM1UZS
— Mattie (@MattieStar26) May 17, 2019