# Disgruntled Cat Appearances Grumpy Cat's Owner Opens Up About Her Cat's New Found Fame By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2014-07-14 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grumpy-cat-owner References: [fastcompany](http://www.fastcompany.com/3032922/the-recommender/what-its-like-to-own-grumpy-cat-the-most-famous-cat-on-the-internet?partner=rss) & [grumpycats](http://www.grumpycats.com/) If you've ever wondered what it would be like to be Grumpy Cat's owner, we now have some insight. Owner Tabatha Bundesen made an appearance at VidCon with her meme-famous feline, where she clarified, “I am Grumpy Cat’s human. She owns me.” Well, glad that's settled! Bundesen's story begins humbly: she was a waitress at Red Lobster, when her brother posted a photograph of her cat (whose real name is Tarder Sauce) on [Reddit](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whiskas-purrcast). The rest, as they say, was history. Tarder Sauce was re-dubbed 'Grumpy Cat,' and what began as a series of hilarious memes of the disgruntled cat, turned into a [book deal](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tails-of-irresistibility), beverage brand and line of merchandise for Bundesen. The duo's appearance at VidCon was to promote the annual Cat video contest, hosted by Friskies, a brand which Grumpy Cat is the spokescat for. The brand also awarded the feline with a Lifetime Achievement award. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.8/10 - Popularity: 37% | Activity: 38% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Internet](https://www.trendhunter.com/internet) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Celebrity Pets:** The rise of social media and memes have given pets a new kind of celebrity status, presenting opportunities for pet-centric industries to capitalize on this trend. - **Viral Marketing:** The power of humorous and shareable content should not be underestimated, and can be utilized by brands looking to create buzz and establish viral marketing campaigns. - **Influencer Merchandising:** Grumpy Cat's successful merchandise line highlights the trend for brands to build upon personal brands of influencers, and create a diversified portfolio of branded products. ### Where This Applies - **Pet Accessories:** There is an increasing demand for trendy and unique pet accessories, including fashion, food, toys, and wellness products. - **Food and Beverage:** Creating licensed cat (or pet) food and beverages inspired by popular memes and internet culture could become a more significant industry as consumers become more connected to their pets. - **Brand Licensing:** Collaborating with influencers to create branded merchandise can lead to increased revenue streams and a diversified product portfolio. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Humorous Cat Collectables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tired-cats-gachapon.md) - [YouTuber-Made Cat Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/catcrazy.md) - [Personalized Pet Stories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/4am-stories.md) - [Feline-Themed Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gatto-bianco.md) - [Feline-Hosted Podcasts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whiskas-purrcast.md) - [Feline-Focused Dating Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cat-lovers-dating.md) - [70s-Style Cat Snack Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creamy-purrrre.md) - [Glam Pet Adoption Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uber-showcats.md) - [Feline Meme Makers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cat-meme-material-download.md)