1. Grumpy Cat

Formally known as Tardar Sauce, she earned the name Grumpy Cat after, you guessed it, her permanently grumpy face. After her photo was posted on Reddit by her owner Bryan Bundensen, Grumpy Cat went viral, becoming the most famous cat on the internet.

The undeniable Meme Queen, Grumpy Cat has since gone on to publish books, star in her own feature film Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever, voiced by actress Aubrey Plaza, a video game, and has a Friskies sponsorship. While there’s no official report, it’s estimated that the displeased purrer makes a pretty penny, anywhere from $1,000,000 – 100,000,000. Grumpy Cat, what’s there to be grumpy about?

2. Lil’ Bub

Lil Bub may have been the runt of the litter, but she’s top cat now! After being taken in as a rescue by Mike Bridavsky, Lil Bub has gone on to become a not-so-lil’ star. Despite her feline dwarfism, Lil Bub isn’t just a famous author and talk show host, she’s a humanitarian too.

After garnering immense success with the publication of her first book Lil Bub’s Lil Book: The Extraordinary Life of the Most Amazing Cat on the Planet and her award-winning documentary Lil Bub & Friendz, Lil Bub used her celebrity for good and partnered with the ASPCA to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for animals in need.

3. Keyboard Cat

Before there was Grumpy Cat and Lil Bub, there was Keyboard Cat, the internet’s original favorite feline. In 2007, Charlie Schmidt of Spokane Washington, posted a posthumous video from 1984 of his feline, Fatso, playing the keyboard and Fatso quickly gained global fame.

While the original Keyboard Cat was just a silly video of Fatso playing a jaunty 80s ditty, Keyboard Cat really took off after being turned into a meme by Brad O’Farrell. O’Farrell launched Fatso to fame by using the clip to “play off” particularly funny fails caught on video. After going viral, Schmidt adopted another orange tabby, Bento, who took on the mantle of Keyboard Cat. Now, play us off Keyboard Cat!

4. Hamilton the Hipster Cat

If you thought mustaches were only for human Hipsters, you don’t know Hamilton the Hipster Cat. Sporting a super slick white mustache, Hamilton rose to fame on Instagram, but like the hipster he is, he gave it up. Hamilton the Hipster Cat is just too cool for fame.

Since Hamilton had been a rescue, his owner Jay Stowe, decided to use his Hipster cat’s hot account to do some good. After holding a contest between a few different charities, Adopt-a-Pet came out as the coolest cats in town, taking over Hamilton’s Instagram to spread their adopt-don’t-shop message. Hamilton has a new Instagram, where he’s sure to let his fans know what’s hip in the ‘hood.

5. Colonel Meow

Of all the famous cats the world has known, perhaps none has struck fearful respect in the hearts of so many, as Colonel Meow, the internet’s most “adorable fearsome dictator.” Colonel Meow didn’t just rule over his empire (the house of his human owners) but his legion of faithful followers, otherwise known as his minions.

Like every decorated military man before him, Colonel Meow had an award to his name too. The Colonel holds the Guinness World Record for “Cat with the Longest Fur.” A truly regal ruler, the great dictator Colonel Meow had a soft side too, especially for his best friend, a golden retriever named boots. All hail Colonel Meow!

6. Honey Bee

Should you ever find yourself in Seattle, Washington, might we recommend a nice trip to the mountains around Mason Lake, where you will most likely run into Honey Bee, the blind cat who loves hiking. This gamine gal loves long walks in the great outdoors.

Originally hailing from Fiji, Honey Bee was adopted by a loving family of human parents and four cat siblings. These days, Honey Bee enjoys hiking in the Pacific Northwest with her humans, whether on a leash or riding atop her parent’s shoulders. Despite being blind, Honey Bee loves the smells along the trail, and listening to the water.

7. Venus

Venus the Two Faced Cat may have two faces, but don’t you dare call her a two faced faker, her unique fur is all natural! Venus is a sweet blue-eyed red head on one side of her face, and a green-eyed raven hair siren on the other.

Her fabulous split fur face is the result of being a “chimera” kitty, meaning the fur color of each of her parents developed on her face, before merging on her marbled body. Venus uses her fame to promote self-love, “Our differences are what makes us unique,” adding, “Hold your head high, be the best at being yourself, give it all you got and you won’t go wrong!” Sing it mister sister!

8. Snoopybabe

His full name is Snoopybabe, but we’re all friends here, so you can call him Snoopy. Snoopy lives with his mom, Miss Ning, in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, where he spends his time being pretty dang cute, and a meme muse.

Snoopy is the child of an American short-hair cat and a Persian cat, and the result is this wide-eyed ball of fluff. According to mama Miss Ning, (who is obviously biased, as all mothers are, but still) Snoopy’s international fame is all because of his perfect “pie-face.” With eyes the size of saucers, we’d take a serving of Snoopy any day.

9. Monty

Meet Monty. Monty calls Copenhagen home, where he lives with his two cat siblings. Monty’s Mom and Dad adopted him from an animal shelter at 3-years-old, and they knew they had a special furbaby right away. And not just because of Monty’s unique condition.

Monty has a chromosomal abnormality, which caused him to be born without a nasal passage. But this furry fighter doesn’t let his condition affect his frisky personality. Aside from being a scooch sneezier than a regular cat, Monty is still as sweet as can be. As an ambassador for “crooked cats,” or kitties with genetic quirks, Monty wants you to know that looks don’t matter – you can still be fluffy and fierce.

10. I Can Has Cheezburger?

One of the original cats to rise to fame as a meme, Happy Cat, or the “I Can Has Cheezburger” cat is a bit more complicated than his carefree face would have you believe. The story behind this famous furry face isn’t quite so black and white, but like his fur, Happy Cat is happy to live in a gray area.

This international furry feline of mystery is reported to have first been spotted in a Russian cat food ad. Since then, rumors have swirled that Happy Cat’s real name is Frank. All we know for sure is that no cat has ever seemed so excited, and is there anything more exciting than an excited cat?

11. Zarathustra

The mystery of Mona Lisa’s smile has been solved, thanks to artist Svetlana Petrova and her orange tabby Zarathustra. Creative cat genius, Zarathustra, has been a source of inspiration, or a mews, if you will, for Petrova, who has been using a flurry of different mediums including, painting, photography and Photoshop, to make all your favorite paintings just a little furrier.

Petrova gives her mews Zarathustra all the credit, saying, “I am just a humble assistant to His Furry Majesty.”  If you’re a fan, be sure to check out his first book, “Fat Cat Art: Famous Masterpieces Improved by a Ginger Cat with Attitude.” This fluffy fat feline is a fine art fantasy come true.

12. Choupette Lagerfeld

Easily the most fashionable feline on the planet, Choupette Lagerfeld will never go out of style in the eyes of her human, Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel’s head designer and creative director. Lagerfeld loves Choupette so much, that he that he has said he wants to marry his petit chou, Choupette.

In an interview with CNN Lagerfeld announced, “There is no marriage, yet, for human being and animals…I never thought that I would fall in love like this with a cat.” While we assume the A-list fashion icon is joking, one thing that’s no joke? Choupette’s lavish lifestyle. This feline fashionista is reported to have three loves other than Lagerfeld: Colette bags, Goyard, and antique lace.

13. Maru

Worldwide Youtube sensation Maru is giving Grumpy Cat a run for his money, as the internet’s favorite feline. Broadcasting from his home in Japan, Maru, the Scottish Fold feline uploads videos to his Youtube channel regularly, with each one garnering an average of 800,000 views each!

Maru has an unquenchable cat-like curiosity for the world around him, and can be seen furrily facing down his greatest fascination – boxes. The same fixation Maru has with boxes, people have with Maru, viewing his videos over 325 million times, and making him a Guinness World Record holder for the most Youtube video views one animal has received. We’re sure the mesmerizing Maru will be keep the quality content coming – stay tuned!

14. Nora the Piano Cat

First there was Mozart, then Beethoven, Debussy, Gershwin, and now, Nora, the piano prodigy. Adopted by artists and musicians Burnell Yow! And Betsy Alexander, Nora, as a kitten, skittered across the piano bench, and like the musical geniuses before her, pawed out a meowlody.

Nora has the picky preferences of a true piano perfectionist, showing a strong favoritism toward Bach, and her signature piano, a Yamaha Disklavier. In a review of her music, The Times of London described Nora’s fantastic feline feat as “something halfway between Philip Glass and free jazz.” Scientists have tried to understand this feline’s fascinating gift, but all we know is Nora’s purrfect piano pieces are music to our ears!

15. Mayor Stubbs

In a moment of political harmony in this partisan political climate, the people of Talkeetna, Alaksa could all agree that there was one top cat they wanted representing them – Stubbs. Cat of the people, Stubbs, served as honorary mayor of Talkeetna from 1997-2017.

Adopted by Nagley General Store owner, Lauri Stec, Stubbs was elected after a write-in campaign by the people of Talkeetna. Beloved by all, Mayor Stubbs served his tenure in office from the Nagley General Store. While Talkeenta is actually a historic district and not a town, Stubbs was technically not mayor, still, he took his position as honorary mayor very seriously – a purrfect politician through and through.

16. Nala

If we’ve learned anything, it’s that Instagram is the place for cats to find fame, and that’s true for Nala too, one of Instagram’s most famous felines, with 3.7 million followers! So what makes Nala such a special celebrity sensation? You’ll be surprised!

No really, it’s her permanently surprised face that has made her a surprising celebrity cat. Nala is cross-eyed, which can often make her seem bewildered at the wild world around her. It should come as no surprise that while Nala is as sweet as can be, she has her sassy moments too. According to her owner, “I cannot just hug her, she has to come to me,” adding, “She’s a queen.”

17. Dr. Meredith Grey and Detective Olivia Benson

Taylor Swift is famous for her entourage of It Girls, but her squad MVPs? Dr. Meredith Grey and Detective Olivia Benson, Swift’s Scottish Folds. The fancy felines have become quite famous over the last few years, with Swift even accusing the two of some diva-like behavior.

Named after two strong female TV characters, Dr. Meredith Grey of Grey’s Anatomy and Detective Olivia Benson of Law And Order: SVU, the pair often appear in the singing superstar’s Instagram, albeit often looking a less excited than Swift herself. But the Swift sisters will surely cut out all the catty behavior, and support Taylor as she prepares for her role in the big screen adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s classical musical Cats.

18. Orangey Cat

Orangey Cat is not your average orange cat, this famous feline is the one and only “Cat” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, a role which won Orangey his second Patsy Award! What’s a Patsy you ask? A Patsy is the American Humane Association’s answer to the Academy Awards, animals are actors too!

Orangey’s Patsy for his role as Holly Golightly’s feline friend “Cat” make him the only cat in history to win twice. In the film’s final moments, Holly Golightly tosses Cat from a taxi window and out into the rain – a scene Hepburn has described as the worst thing she’s ever done on film. But these award-winning actors were willing to do whatever it takes for the right take.

19. Little Nicky

Sure, Little Nicky may look like a regular Maine Coon, but this cat is actually…a clone! Litte Nicky is the first commercially cloned cat, and while reactions within the scientific community were a little less favorable of the feline Little Nicky’s owner, Julie, was thrilled by the results.

Julie, a cat lover from Texas, had her recently deceased 19-year-old pet cat Nicky cloned in 2004. Little Nicky is, (surprise!) just like Nicky, with Julie telling the associated press, “He is identical. His personality is the same.” But before pet owners start getting excited by the prospect of cloning their beloved furbabies, cloning a pet that’s passed costs a pretty penny, $50,000 to be precise.

20. All Ball

Koko the Gorilla only wanted one thing for Christmas, a cat companion. Researchers at The Gorilla Foundation gave Koko a stuffed animal, but Koko was having none of it. Using sign language, she told her human friends, “sad.” Finally for her birthday in July 1984, Koko got to pick a furry friend, a male Manx – she named him All Ball (awwwing forever).

Koko and All Ball were the best of friends, with Koko caring for her cute cat as if it was her own baby gorilla. Koko would go on to adopt four more kittens over the years, but All Ball will always be the kitten king of Koko’s heart.

21. Tommaso

Tommaso the cat is a real “rags to riches” story, having once been homeless on the Roman streets, to one day inheriting $13 million from his beloved owner Maria Assunta. Yup, you read that correctly, Tommaso is the world’s wealthiest feline.

Maria Assunta took Tommaso in, and it was love at first purr. To be sure her beloved cat companion would be cared for after her passing, Assunta, a widow, wrote a will ensuring all her riches (mostly real estate holdings) would go to Tommaso. Under Italian law, cats can’t inherit, but a trustee has been named, and so Tommaso continues to live in the lap of luxury.

22. Socks Clinton

When Socks first jumped into the arms of Chelsea Clinton, he had no way of knowing the future that awaited him. Two years later, when Bill Clinton was elected president, Socks became the First Cat, and his political popularity took off.

Socks was brought along with his dad Bill Clinton, The President of the United States to schools, hospitals, and other White House happenings. Socks enjoyed his time in the White House, and all the publicity that came with the highest pet position in the land as First Cat. Socks has featured in an episode of Murphy Brown, a Violent Femmes music video, books, and comic strips. Not too shabby for a stray!

23. Snowball, The Cat Crime Fighter

When Shirley Ann Duguay went missing and was eventually found by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police there was one piece of evidence, forensic fur, that would help solve this hairy situation. Shirley’s jacket was found, and it was covered in white feline hair. This is where Snowball saves the day.

Investigators remembered that Shirley Ann’s estranged husband, Douglas Beamish had a white cat named Snowball, and conducted forensics on the cat DNA. It was a purrfect match(!) and Beamish was found guilty. The case started the practice of testing animal hairs to help solve crimes, and for that we can all thank Snowball, cat crime fighter extraordinaire!

24. Ted Nude-Gent (a.k.a Mr. Bigglesworth)

Most recognizable for his star turn in the Austin Powers franchise, Ted Nude-Gent played the pet cat of Mike Myers’ Dr. Evil, otherwise known as Mr. Bigglesworth. While Sphinxes are considered some of the easiest cats to train, Ted Nude-Gent still engaged in some finicky feline antics on set.

Ted Nude-Gent did cause a few feline-related filming delays, oftentimes for taking a cat nap on Mike Myers’ lap during a take. Still, Ted Nude-Gent was more professional than his younger costars, Mel Gibskin, Paul Nudeman and Skindiana Jones, who were cast as Mini-Mr. Bigglesworth (Mini-Me’s mini cat companion). The Sphynx stole the show, and now we’re wondering, where’s Ted’s Patsy?

25. Unsinkable Sam

Also known as Oskar (or Oscar), this seafaring feline survived not one, not two, but three(!) sunken ships! Unsinkable Sam was first pulled from Poseidon’s waves by the crew of the British destroyer HMS Cossack from the sinking German ship Bismarck.

Oscar sailed aboard the Cossack until the ship was sunk off the coast of Gibraltar, and brought aboard aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. Earning the nickname Unsinkable Sam, Oscar would cheat death a third time, when the Ark Royal was torpedoed by a U-81. This time, Sam said goodbye to his seafaring career, and put in a transfer to dry land. Unsinkable or not, we would’ve done the same Sam!

Sources: boredpanda.com, cutestpaw.com, earthporm.com