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Longcat (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,[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 Nobiko ("Stretch" in Japanese[b]) some time around 2005 or 2006.[3][5] She was reportedly 65 centimetres (26 in) "from head to toe".[5]
 Longcat c. 2005 | |
| Other name(s) | Nobiko, Longcat |
|---|---|
| Species | Felis catus |
| Born | 2002 Japan |
| Died | (aged 18) |
| Known for | Subject of an Internet meme |
| Owner | Miko |
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.[6] 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".[7] In September 2020, after a period of ill health, Longcat was taken to the hospital, and died at age 18.[3][6][8]
Subsequently, the meme spread to English-language websites, primarily 4chan's /b/,[3][9] where it was edited into various images, and even had a song written about it.[7] 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][9][7]
A Pokémon design released in 2019, the "Gigantamax Meowth", was compared by some commentators to Longcat.[4][10]
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