Internet cat stars scratch the surface for fame

• Story
• Comments
• Image (6)

Previous Next

mugumogu

Maru

In this June 2011 photo provided by mugumogu, Scottish fold Maru rests in a cardboard box in Japan. After years of viral YouTube viewing and millions of shares, the cat stars of the Internet are coming into their own in lucrative and altruistic ways. Roly poly Maru, the megastar in Japan with millions of views for nearly 300 videos since 2007, has three books and a calendar, among other swag for sale. (AP Photo/mugumogu)

William Braden

Pets-Internet Cat Stars

This undated publicity photo provided by William Braden shows the cat, Henri, le Chat Noir, in a scene from the video, "Henri 2, Paw de Deux," by William Braden. The cat video won the Golden Kitty Award at the Walker Art Center's Internet Cat Video Festival on August 30, 2012, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/William Braden)

mugumogu

Maru

In this April 2008 photo provided by mugumogu, Scottish fold Maru lies down as he dives in a cardboard box in Japan. After years of viral YouTube viewing and millions of shares, the cat stars of the Internet are coming into their own in lucrative and altruistic ways. Roly poly Maru, the megastar in Japan with millions of views for nearly 300 videos since 2007, has three books and a calendar, among other swag for sale. (AP Photo/mugumogu)

mugumogu

Maru

In this May 2011 photo provided by mugumogu, Scottish fold Maru rests in a cardboard box in Japan. After years of viral YouTube viewing and millions of shares, the cat stars of the Internet are coming into their own in lucrative and altruistic ways. Roly poly Maru, the megastar in Japan with millions of views for nearly 300 videos since 2007, has three books and a calendar, among other swag for sale. (AP Photo/mugumogu)

Kristine Oakhurst

Pets-Internet Cat Stars

This publicity photo provided by I Can Has Cheezburger shows an image of a cat by Kristine Oakhurst using LOLcat speak, "I said i needs a drink....not a metal bowl wif water." Ben Huh, was key in launching the cat meme when he and a group of investors bought the I Can Has Cheezburger site in September 2007. The site, now an empire of sites for Huh, allows users to generate captions on cat photos using LOLcat speak, a language with spelling and syntax all its own. (AP Photo/I Can Has Cheezburger, Kristine Oakhurst)

Jim Mone

Cat videos

Katie Hill, a program associate with the Walker Art Center, shows a frame from a cat video of a cat playing the piano Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, in Minneapolis. The Walker will present its first "Internet Cat Video Film Festival" to showcase the best in filmed feline hijinks. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)