The Truth About Grumpy Cat's Real Name

Oh, Grumpy Cat may your memory live on in the memes you inspired. This famous feline ruled the entertainment world, showing up in films, videos and all over the internet with her resting cat face.

Alas, our five-pound furry friend left us in 2019 at the age of 7 after dying from complications of a urinary tract infection. But we still celebrate the animal that started its place in the world with the unremarkable name of Tardar Sauce, according to The Telegraph, inspired, in part, by Grumpy Cat's orange-ish coloring, similar to the actual condiment. 

Arizona native Tabatha Bundesen, Grumpy Cat's owner, was a struggling waitress at Red Lobster until her brother, Bryan, posted her pet's scrunched up face on Reddit in 2012. When Grumpy Cat, the kitten, first arrived, though, Bundesen's daughter, Crystal, who had just tried the garnish, thought the cat looked like the popular seafood dip ... and Grumpy Cat began her journey as Tardar Sauce.

After becoming the cat's meow, Grumpy Cat earned her human millions of dollars. There were two books: Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book, which made the New York Times Best Seller list, and The Grumpy Guide to Life: Observations of a Grumpy Cat. In 2014, Lifetime debuted Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever. The kitty pushed products like Cheerios. She even become the official spokescat of Friskies Party Mix, according to Business Wire, and led a marketing campaign.

While some thought the cat's unique looks were Photoshopped, according to People Magazine, Grumpy Cat's was all fur and frowns naturally — feline dwarfism combined with an underbite made her look so adorably disgruntled. 

Despite the grim demeanor, Mental Floss pointed out that "she's pretty lovable." She often played and especially liked to hide behind curtains and wrestle with bags and string. Her owner said that Grumpy Cat was so relatable because, as she told USA Today, "Misery loves company. People feel if Grumpy's having a bad day, too, they can use her as a way to communicate their negative feelings." We miss you, Grumpy Cat!