About
The Knife Cat Meme is a popular internet phenomenon that combines the instantly recognizable face of Smug Cat with an image of a cat in a less-than-enviable situation – being threatened with a knife. This humorous juxtaposition has made “Knife Cat” a versatile subject for photoshops, artwork, and general online amusement. The meme’s core appeal lies in the unexpected contrast between the cat’s self-satisfied expression and the impending comical danger.
Origin
The foundation of the Knife Cat meme is twofold. Firstly, it utilizes the image of Smug Cat, also known as “Pusheen Smug,” a meme in itself depicting a white cat with a distinctly self-satisfied and knowing smirk. Secondly, it incorporates a picture of a genuinely frightened cat facing the threat of a knife. This original image of the scared cat originated from a post on the Russian social media site Pikabu. Uploaded on July 9th, 2014, by the user kimax06, the post, captioned “threats will not work,” showcased the now-iconic image and garnered over a thousand likes, demonstrating its initial appeal.
The crucial moment of meme creation occurred when these two images were merged. The earliest documented instance of this combination appeared in an Imgur gallery titled “Scaredy cat,” posted on March 12th, 2015, by Imgur user SnapTucker. The gallery’s first image was the now-famous “Knife Cat” – Smug Cat’s face expertly photoshopped onto the body of the threatened cat. The gallery even included the original scared cat image with an added second knife, further amplifying the comedic threat.
Knife Cat Meme: A smug-faced cat photoshopped onto a scared cat being threatened with a knife.
Spread
The Knife Cat meme truly began its spread across the internet in late 2015. A significant moment in its virality was a Tumblr post on November 29th, 2015, by the blog Animal Music Themes. Titled “knife cat theme,” the post paired the Smug Knife Cat image with the iconic song “Megalovania” from the video game Undertale. This combination resonated widely, amassing over 50,000 notes within just four months, showcasing the meme’s growing popularity and association with internet humor trends.
On the same day, Tumblr user gayvoid contributed to the meme’s spread by posting the original Smug Cat image with the hashtags “#knife cat” and “the truth revealed,” further solidifying the “Knife Cat” terminology. The meme’s adaptability and humorous nature were quickly recognized, leading to various creative iterations. One notable example is a photoshop posted on January 6th, 2016, by Tumblr user Novactis, which placed the knife threat upon the Osomatsu-san character Tomodatsu. This demonstrated the meme’s versatility and its ability to be incorporated into different fandoms and contexts.
Knife Cat Meme variation featuring the Osomatsu-san character Tomodatsu being threatened with a knife.
Various Examples
The enduring appeal of the Knife Cat meme is evident in the sheer variety of examples that have emerged online. From fan art to further photoshopped images, the meme has proven to be a flexible template for creative expression. Its humor translates across different artistic styles and comedic sensibilities, ensuring its continued presence in internet culture. The meme’s simplicity – a smug cat and a knife – is arguably key to its widespread adoption and adaptation.
A humorous Knife Cat Meme image showcasing the meme's absurd and comedic nature.
External References
[1] Pikabu – threats will not work
[2] Imgur – Scaredy cat
[3] tumblr – knife cat theme
[4] tumblr – norvics
[5] Tumblr – gayvoid
[6] Tumblr – #knifecat?
