THE SPPINNING CAT
THE BIRTH OF THE O-II-AI CAT MEME
Apurrently … the “Oo Ee A E A Cat” meme, also known as the “Oiiai Cat,” originated from a remix of a sound effect posted on Bilibili in April 2023. The video featured a spinning cat and quickly gained traction, amassing millions of views. It later spread to YouTube, where it continued to grow in popularity. However, the real explosion happened when the meme reached TikTok, where users began creating remixes and recording their cats’ hilarious reactions to the sound.
The cat in the meme, named Ethel, is a rescued blind munchkin cat who was adopted in 2018. Originally posted in a Facebook cat group, Ethel’s image was later used in memes, ultimately leading to her viral fame.
HOW THE MEME CAME TO BE
In late 2024, the meme experienced a resurgence on TikTok, with users remixing it with popular songs like Travis Scott’s FE!N and Bruno Mars & Rosé’s APT. These videos garnered millions of views, further fueling the meme’s popularity
It is a perfect representation of the chaotic, unpredictable, and sometimes nonsensical nature of cat behavior. The meme gained traction as people began noticing how their own cats reacted to the spinning cat video and its strange, repetitive sound. The way cats either stare, attack the screen, or act completely unbothered reflects their often bizarre and inconsistent responses to stimuli—something every cat owner can relate to.
WHY IT'S CALLED A CAT'S "BRAIN ROT"
The meme can be considered a form of “cat brainrot” content, a term used to describe hyperfixation on absurd and repetitive cat videos that captivate both humans and felines. This brainrot phenomenon is common in internet culture, where surreal and oddly specific content becomes widely popular because of its absurdity. The “Oiiai Cat” perfectly encapsulates this trend by combining a simple yet hypnotic visual with a nonsensical sound, creating something that is both hilarious and strangely compelling.
Additionally, the popularity of this meme speaks to how the internet thrives on cat-related content. Cats have long been a cornerstone of meme culture, from Nyan Cat to Grumpy Cat, and now the “Oiiai Cat” joins the ranks as another viral feline sensation
It is a perfect representation of the chaotic, unpredictable, and sometimes nonsensical nature of cat behavior. The meme gained traction as people began noticing how their own cats reacted to the spinning cat video and its strange, repetitive sound. The way cats either stare, attack the screen, or act completely unbothered reflects their often bizarre and inconsistent responses to stimuli—something every cat owner can relate to.