Tater Tot (cat)
| Other name(s) | The Spud, Angry Potato, Peanut Cheese, Mango Chupado |
|---|---|
| 🐈 🐕 🐎 Species | Domestic cat |
| 🐶 🐺 Breed | Mixed |
| 🚻 Sex | Male |
| 📆 🐤 Born | June 16, 2023 Centerville, Utah, U.S. |
| 💀 Died | August 2, 2023 Centerville, Utah, U.S. |
| Years active | 2023 (1 month and 17 days) |
| Known for | Being an Internet meme |
| 👨 Owner | Ash Houghton |
| Named after | Tater Tots |
Tater Tot (June 16, 2023 – August 2, 2023) was an American orange tabby kitten from Centerville, Utah who became a global internet celebrity. His fame stemmed from his grumpy, ruffled features contrasted with his cheerful disposition despite his special needs. His gradual progress over his physical struggles was considered to be inspiring.[1][2]
Early life[edit]
Tater Tot was born with a cleft palate and all four limbs deformed, making feeding and movement difficult.[1][3] Tater Tot (and a male sibling who died shortly after being found) was discovered outdoors when only a few days old by a rescue volunteer's dog, BeBe.[4][5] He was fostered by Ash Houghton, co-director of Kitty CrusAIDe, a small non-profit animal rescue group. Tater Tot died suddenly and unexpectedly on August 2, 2023, resulting in an outpouring of sympathy and tributes from across the world.[3][6]
Appearance and health[edit]
Tater Tot was born with severe physical deformities. Houghton discovered his cleft palate when investigating why he was unable to latch on to a feeding bottle.[3] Because of the cleft palate he would not have been able to nurse and would not have survived on his own.[7] This necessitated the need for him to be fed using a tube.[6] His forelimbs were bent at 90°, and his hindlimbs were "completely curly".[3] Tater Tot's forelimbs were braced with brightly colored casts which Houghton and fans referred to as his bonkers. The casts were used in an effort to correct the limb deformities without the need for surgery. On July 19th the front casts were removed having accomplished their goal and allowing him to walk.[2] The addition of casts to his hindlimbs on July 27th were referred to as his badonkabonks, a play on the term badonkadonk.[3][8]
Internet fame[edit]
Houghton originally posted photos of the newborn kitten to Instagram and instituted an informal contest to select a name for the kitten. On June 24th after having received 116 entries Houghton chose the name "Tater Tot" submitted by one of her followers.[9]
Pictures of Tater Tot were posted on the Facebook group "THIS CAT IS G R O M P Y" by Houghton with the intention of using them to raise awareness of cats with special needs. Tater Tot quickly gained internet fame. His Instagram photos gained thousands of likes and his videos garnered nearly forty million views on TikTok.[3][10] A separate Facebook group called "Tater Tot and His Spudbuds" was formed by Houghton as a fan page for Tater Tot, quickly gaining tens of thousands of members.[11]
Tater Tot's death prompted an outpouring of mourning and tributes. Several animal rescue groups across the United States have reported an increase in donations inspired by Tater Tot's untimely death.[12]
Tater Tot inspired people to create fan art, including some who tattooed themselves with his likeness.[6][13] Thousands of fans on TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube posted videos of their reactions and tributes, as well as fan art.[14]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fox, Derick (July 28, 2023). "'Bad to da bonkers:' Viral Utah kitten takes the internet by storm". ABC4. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jaworski, Michelle (August 3, 2023). "'IM SO DEVASTATED': The internet mourns the death of Tater Tot the kitten". Daily Dot. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Beresford, Jack (July 19, 2023). "Brave stray kitten born with four malformed limbs is "tiny inspiration"". Newsweek. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ Chavez, Paloma (July 25, 2023). "Teacup sized cat with 'bent and twisty legs' steals hearts on TikTok. Meet Tater Tot". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ Gilbert, Amanda; Jacobson, Matthew (July 25, 2023). "Utah rescue kitty Tater Tot becomes internet superstar while on road to recovery". KUTV. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Rousselle, Christine (August 3, 2023). "Inspirational kitten Tater Tot dies after charming thousands of fans worldwide". Fox News. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ Adams, Andrew (July 26, 2023). "Viral Utah kitten 'Tater Tot' continues healthy progress". KSL TV5. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ Jennings, Aubree B. (August 3, 2023). "Utah-based viral kitten 'Tater Tot' dies suddenly". ABC4. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct5OfRJR_Cz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- ↑ Van de Riet, Emily (August 7, 2023). "Tater Tot, the kitten in splints that went viral, leaves lasting impact after his passing". NBC15. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ↑ Rousselle, Christine (July 19, 2023). "Utah kitten wearing tiny splints takes internet by storm: 'People love an underdog'". Fox News. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1632107600534136/posts/1661473637597532/
- ↑ Upadhayay, Prapti (August 3, 2023). "Internet's beloved cat Tater Tot passes away, 'your life changed the world,' netizens pay tribute". Hindustan Times. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ↑ Press-Reynolds, Kieran (August 4, 2023). "The internet is mourning Tater Tot, a tiny beloved kitten who was found with four deformed legs and a cleft jaw: 'Tater Tot is a symbol for courage and strength'". Insider. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
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