The BLEHHHHH 😛 Cat, also known as the I Am Not Doing That Cat, is a widely recognized viral photograph depicting a cat playfully sticking out its tongue. This image has become a popular internet meme, typically accompanied by humorous captions that portray the cat as refusing demands or expressing silly defiance. Originating from an Instagram post by fatfatmillycat in July 2022, the Bleh Cat meme gained significant traction in August 2022, particularly after a viral tweet about homework. This meme also played a role in the broader surge of “Silly Cats” memes.
The original photograph of the bleh cat was shared on July 23rd, 2022, by the Instagram account fatfatmullycat[1]. This post featured a series of six photos of Milly, the cat, one of which captured her sticking her tongue out directly at the camera. This initial post garnered over 6,500 likes within a month, showcasing the early appeal of the image. On August 5th, 2022, the same Instagram account posted[2] the first meme using this now-iconic bleh cat photograph. The caption read, “i can act rather silly at times,” and this meme quickly accumulated over 32,900 likes in a single month, indicating the meme’s growing popularity.
However, the bleh cat photograph didn’t truly take off as a meme format until August 23rd, 2022. It was then that Twitter user @vampiric_shirin posted[3] a stretched version of the image. The tweet featured a humorous dialogue where the cat refuses to do homework and mocks the teacher with a tongue-out “bleh.” This tweet went viral, amassing over 7,600 retweets and 48,700 likes within a week, marking the real beginning of the “I Am Not Doing That Cat” meme.
In the days that followed, numerous variations and jokes using the bleh cat meme emerged on Twitter. For instance, on August 26th, tweets by @iwuvboobsfr[4] and @el_Fars_[5] gained considerable traction. One example depicted a humorous exchange about refusing to eat something unpleasant, while another showed the FBI being met with the cat’s defiant “bleh.” These tweets collectively gathered over 3,200 retweets and 25,200 likes, and 7,400 retweets and 44,600 likes respectively in just one week, demonstrating the meme’s rapid spread and widespread appeal.
The bleh cat meme maintained its popularity throughout late August and beyond. Interestingly, the original photograph of the tongue-out cat has also been incorporated into other meme formats, further extending its reach and influence within internet culture.
Bleh Cat and the “Silly Cats” Trend
The Bleh Cat meme is closely linked to the “Silly Cats” trend that gained momentum in 2022. “Silly Cats” is an internet trend that playfully portrays cats as mischievous and goofy animals prone to silly antics. This trend often involves pairing cat images with captions that specifically use the word “silly.” Memes like “Me in My Silly Little Bed” and the Bleh Cat meme itself are considered foundational to this trend, forming part of the broader “Being Silly / Too Silly” meme archetype that celebrates lighthearted and whimsical humor.
The versatility of the Bleh Cat meme is showcased in its diverse applications. From humorous scenarios involving Walter White from Breaking Bad to relatable situations with psychologists or friends, the meme effectively conveys a sense of playful refusal or silly defiance. These various examples demonstrate the meme’s adaptability and its ability to resonate with a wide audience across different contexts.
For those looking to create their own iterations, the original bleh cat image serves as a readily available template. Its simple yet expressive nature makes it easy to incorporate into new memes and continue the trend.
In conclusion, the Bleh Cat meme, featuring a cat sticking its tongue out, has become a significant part of internet meme culture. Its humorous depiction of feline refusal and silliness has resonated with online audiences, contributing to both its viral spread and its connection to the broader “Silly Cats” trend. The meme’s enduring popularity is a testament to the internet’s love for cats and relatable, lighthearted humor.
External References
[1] Instagram – fatfatmillycat
[2] Instagram – fatfatmillycat
[3] Twitter – @vampiric_shirin
[4] Twitter – @iwuvboobsfr
[5] Twitter – @el_Fars_
