OMG Cat

2010reaction imageclassic

Published September 18, 2026

OMG Cat is the nickname for Chocolate, a Japanese kitten whose slackjawed expression appeared on 2channel in March 2010 after her caretaker asked readers for help with her dislocated jaw. The photos and video jumped from 2channel to YouTube and Nico Nico Douga within hours, then broke into mainstream attention two weeks later when Justin Bieber restaged the clip in an April Fools' Day prank on Funny or Die.

catsreaction memesjapanese internet memescaptioned animal memesearly 2010s memes

Overview

OMG Cat is a reaction image and short clip of Chocolate, a small kitten photographed with her mouth hanging open in a stunned, wide-eyed pose3. The picture is used as a reply to shocking, unbelievable or scandalous news, since the cat looks like she just overheard something outrageous, even though the expression was actually caused by a dislocated jaw at the time of the shoot3.

On YouTube the joke lived less as a static image macro and more as short video edits, with the original clip getting mirrored, slowed down and cut into mashups in the same style as Keyboard Cat2. Fans typically pair the still frame with captions expressing disbelief, or drop the video as a punchline reply after an absurd claim.

Origin & Background

Platform
2channel (source) / YouTube (viral spread)
Date
2010

At around 9:22 pm on March 17, 2010, an anonymous user posted a thread on 2channel's /news4vip/ (Breaking news: VIP) board attaching photos of a slackjawed kitten named Chocolate and asking readers for advice on how to handle her dislocated jaw3. Commenters were sympathetic but pointed out that the cat's stunned expression looked funny in stills.

The same day, the poster uploaded a matching video of Chocolate to Nico Nico Douga and to YouTube, where it was quickly picked up outside Japan2. A follow-up thread appeared on 2channel around 1:11 pm on March 19, 2010, with an update on the kitten3.

How It Spread

How to Use This Meme

OMG Cat is typically used as a reaction to jaw-dropping news, gossip or plot twists, either as the still image of Chocolate's open-mouthed face or as a short video reply. A common convention is to pair the picture with captions like "OMG" or "wait, what" to mimic the cat's stunned look.

Frequently Asked Questions