Mar 17, 2025

Ethel the OIIA Cat: From Shelter Cat to Internet Sensation

Ethel’s mom Donna on how she became a meme (before the meme), why sharing her joy with the world matters, and more.

Before Ethel became the OIIA Cat，or even the face of the “I wake up and there is …” meme，she was just another overlooked shelter cat: blind, chubby, and waiting for a home. Now, she’s a meme, internet phenomenon, and an obsession. But what happens when a pet goes viral? In conversation with her mom, Donna, we dive into the strange reality of meme fame, the chaos of internet culture, and why, despite everything, sharing Ethel’s joy means so much.

Bringing Ethel home

I was just going to visit the Cat Welfare Association to pet some cats. But then I saw Ethel, and I thought she was the cutest cat I had ever seen. She was so sweet - with her short little legs and big, round body. I just thought she was adorable, and I wanted to adopt her right away.

I knew from the start that she was blind and had some broken teeth. One of the reasons she wasn’t getting adopted was that she needed her bottom wiped because she was so overweight. When I went home and told my husband about her, he could see how excited I was. He said, "How could I say no?" So we adopted Ethel.

Ethel's name

The Cat Welfare Association had already named her Ethel, and I thought it fit her personality perfectly. I imagine a cranky old lady with a broom standing on her porch, yelling, “Get off my lawn!” She’s feisty.

A day in the life of Ethel

Milo and Ethel wake me up anywhere between 4:00 and 4:30 in the morning because they want breakfast. After eating, they just hang out and relax. Ethel is very easygoing and laid-back. She spends most of the day napping, but sometimes she gets playful in the evening. She gets a little feisty at night - that’s usually when I can get her to play.

The viral memes

The first meme we saw was "Ai Dise Gratis" I thought it was cool - kind of weird - but I didn’t really think much of it. Then we saw her again in the “I wake up and there is...” meme. We would jokingly tell our friends, “Our cat’s famous.” And that was even before the OIIA meme happened.

I remember getting a message from someone in Latin America on Instagram. I don’t remember her name, but I remember what she said: “I don’t think you know how famous your cat is.”

People always ask, "Which came first? Did the meme happen, and then she started spinning? Or did she spin first, and that’s why the meme was created?" The truth is, she’s always done the thing where she walks in circles before mealtime. It’s funny that someone made a meme of her spinning - without even knowing that she actually does it in real life!

From memes to fame

There are so many things I never thought I’d have to learn or deal with. There have been stressful aspects to it. I don’t mind people making memes for fun if it brings a smile to their face. But when I started hearing about big corporations making a lot of money off of it, I thought, well, can I have some help?

I went and got her officially registered for copyright. Now I have the registration number. I’ve seen some videos that I felt were offensive or distasteful, so I reported them for copyright infringement, and they were taken down.

There are also so many fake accounts trying to imitate and cash in on her fame, claiming to be the official Ethel. The copyright helps with that too - I have the paperwork to prove she’s mine.

The secret formula for going viral

I honestly don’t know. It just happened to me!

” I don’t think there’s a secret formula, but it does take a lot of hard work. It’s way more work than you’d think.

If I see a video of Ethel and notice the same person posting a lot, I try to interact with them. I love seeing fan art of Ethel - if I see it, I always comment on it.

"It’s about making someone’s day."

The GoFundMe is helping me until I can start earning income from brand deals and collaborations.

The cat community has been so wonderful and kind. I’ve been talking with the owners of the Huh Cat Ben’s family, and they’ve been amazing, helping me navigate the chaos and confusion.

At the end of the day, I just want to share my cat. She’s adorable. She makes people happy. She makes people smile. That’s what matters. It’s about making someone’s day - just enjoying how cute she is.

We thank Donna for sharing Ethel’s story with us. A group of creators co-created a short film, Movie Night with Ethel and Furrends, to celebrate her. You can collect the video - 100% of mint proceeds go directly to Ethel’s family.

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