The
biggest line on North Congress Avenue—one of the main arteries of
Austin's SXSW festival—wasn't for a band or rockstar techie. No, it was
for Grumpy Cat, the Internet's most famous feline.
As fan after fan snapped a picture with Grumpy
Saturday afternoon at Haus of Bacon (don't ask, it's SXSW), a plane
flew overhead dragging a banner bearing her face. It's been three years
since the cat first blew up on Reddit, and sometimes it feels like the
whole world is hers. Memes, commercials and brand-emblazoned
products—she has done them all.
At Haus of Bacon,
artist Jason Mecier was hard at work crafting a bust of Grumpy out of
bacon. Portraits of the whole group of Internet-famous cats making
appearances at SXSW lined the walls -- some made from bits of bacon, and
others from more traditional mediums.
Upstairs, Waffles
the Scottish fold cat was prepping for his appearance. He circled the
room cautiously, sniffing at the bacon and stranger-scented air.
Waffles'
owner Laine Lee said she thinks people flock to meet cats because even
online, they appear to have unique personalities. Fans feel they know
them. Grumpy Cat's human Tabatha Bundesen said she has seen people cry
tears of joy upon finally meeting her. Its a scene that invokes a
frenzied boy band concert more than the solitary aloofness cat people
have been ascribed for so long.
Just blocks from Haus of Bacon, I asked a few
people on the street if they had heard of Grumpy Cat. They said no. I
don't know how that's possible if you have ever been on the Internet, or
even looked up at the sky in Austin this week. But at least the people
in line to meet Grumpy won't have to wait that extra hour.
Photos by Signe Brewster for ReadWrite
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