The internet meme landscape is ever-evolving, with new trends and sensations emerging constantly. One such phenomenon that has recently captured the attention of online communities, particularly within LGBTQ+ and furry circles, is the “Boykisser Cat” meme. Often accompanied by the phrase “Oooooo You Like Boys You’re A Boykisser,” or its variant “You like Kissing Boys Don’t You,” this meme utilizes a captivating GIF of a cat character to playfully accuse viewers of enjoying kissing boys. This seemingly simple meme has resonated widely, spawning numerous variations and becoming a staple in online humor. Let’s delve into the origins, spread, and cultural impact of the Boykisser Cat meme.
Origin Story: From Twitter Artist to Discord Sensation
The visual foundation of the Boykisser meme lies in the creative work of Twitter artist Mauzymice. On June 22nd, 2022, Mauzymice shared an original GIF featuring a talking cat character whose eyes dramatically turn red and hypnotic. This initial GIF, while not explicitly related to the “boykisser” concept at the time, garnered attention with over 3,100 likes in the following months, showcasing the appeal of the character itself.
Original Mauzymice hypnotic cat GIF
Months later, in November 2022, a Redditor on /r/196 cleverly repurposed a Mauzymice GIF, adding the caption “this is how u look saying that shit.” This iteration, posted on November 9th, 2022, received significant traction, accumulating around 2,400 upvotes in four months. The specific Mauzymice GIF used in this Reddit post had been shared on Twitter earlier, on June 25th, 2022, and had already gained considerable popularity with approximately 4,500 likes in nine months.
Mauzymice original GIF used in "this is how u look" meme
The true birth of the “Boykisser” meme occurred in early January 2023. An anonymous creator, likely within the confines of private Discord servers, combined Mauzymice’s “red and hypnotic” GIF with the now-iconic top caption: “oooooo you like kissing boys ur a boykisser.” While the exact origin remains elusive, a screenshot from Imgur, dated January 9th, 2023, reveals a “girlkisser” variant circulating within a Discord server, suggesting the meme’s rapid evolution and adaptability.
Early "girlkisser" variant in Discord
On January 10th, 2023, Twitter user @PinkDeerfox further solidified the meme’s form by tweeting an edited screenshot of the “boykisser” GIF. This edit featured black eyes for the cat and the slightly altered text, “you like kissing boys don’t you.” This tweet garnered significant traction, amassing around 6,700 likes in two months and marking the earliest known public appearance of this specific phrasing. The following day, on January 11th, Twitter user @_Moon_Runner_ replied to @PinkDeerfox with the original “oooooo you like kissing boys ur a boykisser” GIF, receiving over 210 likes in two months and representing the earliest known public posting of the GIF itself.
"You like kissing boys don't you" variant, popularized on Twitter
Meme Spread and Online Virality
The Boykisser Cat meme quickly transcended its likely Discord origins, rapidly spreading across various online platforms. YouTube played a role in its dissemination when, on January 13th, 2023, YouTuber phantasma uploaded a video that incorporated and referenced the “this is how u look saying that shit” GIF. This video accumulated approximately 28,600 views and 1,000 likes within two months, further exposing the meme’s visual elements to a wider audience. [Unfortunately, the original video is no longer available.]
Reddit became a crucial platform for the Boykisser meme’s widespread adoption. Starting around January 15th, 2023, “boykisser” memes and GIFs began flooding subreddits. On this date, user Nichita0000 posted the “you like kissing boys don’t you” variant to /r/196, earning around 1,300 upvotes in two months. The meme’s adaptability was further demonstrated on January 16th, 2023, when Redditor AlephXVII posted a “girlkisser” version of the Boykisser GIF on /r/196, gaining over 90 upvotes. The meme’s expansion beyond just “boykissing” continued on January 18th, 2023, with Redditor Hitoshi-nya posting a variant to /r/TheRatEmpire featuring the text “oooooooo you like boys now ooooooo you’re a boykisser ooooooo.” This post garnered over 570 upvotes in two months, highlighting the meme’s versatility and appeal to niche communities.
Extended text variant on /r/TheRatEmpire
As February 2023 approached, the Boykisser meme evolved into a fully-fledged exploitable template. Users began recaptioning the GIFs with a diverse range of texts, demonstrating the meme’s potential for broader application. For example, on January 31st, 2023, Redditor pisscorn-boy ironically subverted the meme by posting a negative variant to /r/furry_irl that read, “You like kissing girls don’t you.” This post received approximately 2,900 upvotes in a month and a half. The meme even became self-referential, as seen in a post by Redditor MERMANADE on /r/furry_irl, also on January 31st, 2023, which gained around 1,500 upvotes in the same period. This meta-awareness further cemented the Boykisser meme’s place in internet culture.
Self-referential Boykisser meme
Exploring Boykisser Meme Variations
The Boykisser meme’s strength lies in its adaptability. The core elements – the hypnotic cat GIF and the accusatory yet playful text – can be remixed and reimagined in countless ways. Here are some examples showcasing the meme’s versatility:
Example of Boykisser meme in a different context
Boykisser Meme Templates for Creative Remixing
The enduring popularity of the Boykisser meme is partly due to the availability of templates that allow anyone to create their own variations. These templates typically feature the core GIF assets, enabling users to easily add custom text and adapt the meme to different contexts and inside jokes.
Template: Mauzymice artist signature GIF
Search Interest and Meme Longevity
[Search interest data is currently unavailable for this meme.] However, given its rapid spread across multiple platforms and the consistent creation of new variations, the Boykisser Cat meme has demonstrated significant online traction. Its relatability, humorous tone, and adaptable format suggest the potential for continued relevance within internet meme culture.
External References
[1] Twitter – @Mauzymice
[2] Imgur – girlkisser
[3] Twitter – @PinkDeerfox
[4] Twitter – @_Moon_Runner_
[5] Reddit – /r/196
[6] Twitter – @Mauzymice
[7] YouTube – this is how you look saying that stuff
[8] Reddit – /r/196
[9] Reddit – /r/196
[10] Reddit – /r/TheRatEmpire
[11] Reddit – /r/furry_irl
[12] Reddit – /r/furry_irl
