Princess Monster Truck

2013Celebrity animal / viral photosemi-active

Also known as: Monster · PMT

Princess Monster Truck is a black Persian cat with a severe underbite and visible fangs rescued by Brooklyn artists Tracy Timmons and Joseph Bryce, who became a viral sensation via Instagram in May 2013.

Princess Monster Truck is a black Persian cat with a severely deformed lower jaw that gives her a dramatic underbite and visible fangs. Found on the streets of Brooklyn in 2012 by artists Tracy Timmons and Joseph Bryce, the cat blew up on the internet in May 2013 after her dedicated Instagram account caught the attention of BuzzFeed, racking up hundreds of thousands of views in days. Her unusual appearance and heartwarming rescue story made her one of the breakout internet cats of 2013.

catsanimal memesaccidental fame memesrescue animal memesbuzzfeed memes

Overview

Princess Monster Truck is a female Persian cat born with a jaw deformity that causes a pronounced underbite, leaving two fangs permanently visible beneath her upper lip. Her all-black fur, wide eyes, and protruding teeth give her a look that's equal parts adorable and unsettling. Despite the fierce appearance, she's a timid indoor cat who, according to her owners, hates going outside and won't even set foot on the roof1.

The name "Princess Monster Truck" captures the cat's dual nature perfectly: a delicate rescue animal that looks like she could bite through sheet metal.

Tracy Timmons and Joseph Bryce, both New York City-based artists living in Brooklyn, found Princess Monster Truck by accident one night while walking home from dinner. The cat came tumbling out of a bush, matted, thin, and hungry1. Because she was all black and it was dark out, they didn't get a full look at her face right away. When the cat finally looked up and let out what Timmons described as "a really weird howl/meow," Timmons shrieked and asked "What is it?"1.

They decided to take her home. Timmons later brought the cat to a vet, who, after reportedly laughing at the sight of her, confirmed the jaw condition was a birth defect common in Persian breeds1. Timmons started posting photos to her personal Instagram account on December 12, 20123. On April 9, 2013, Timmons and Bryce launched a dedicated Instagram account at @princessmonstertruck3.

Origin & Background

Platform
Instagram (dedicated account), BuzzFeed (viral spread)
Key People
Tracy Timmons, Joseph Bryce
Date
2013

Tracy Timmons and Joseph Bryce, both New York City-based artists living in Brooklyn, found Princess Monster Truck by accident one night while walking home from dinner. The cat came tumbling out of a bush, matted, thin, and hungry. Because she was all black and it was dark out, they didn't get a full look at her face right away. When the cat finally looked up and let out what Timmons described as "a really weird howl/meow," Timmons shrieked and asked "What is it?".

They decided to take her home. Timmons later brought the cat to a vet, who, after reportedly laughing at the sight of her, confirmed the jaw condition was a birth defect common in Persian breeds. Timmons started posting photos to her personal Instagram account on December 12, 2012. On April 9, 2013, Timmons and Bryce launched a dedicated Instagram account at @princessmonstertruck.

How It Spread

The big break came on May 7, 2013, when BuzzFeed published a photo compilation of Princess Monster Truck on their animal vertical. The post hit 375,000 views and over 67,000 Facebook likes within a week. That same day, photos from the BuzzFeed piece were reposted to the Tumblr blog Pussykatzen, where they picked up more than 9,100 notes in the same timeframe.

Over the next three days, Princess Monster Truck was featured across a wave of sites including Pleated Jeans, Uproxx, Laughing Squid, People Pets, Buzz Patrol, AOL On, and Catster. Pleated Jeans called her "a Persian with an incredibly fierce underbite" and told readers to "bask in her glory". On May 9, a photo landed on Reddit's r/Pics subreddit, picking up over 300 upvotes. By May 13, 2013, the dedicated Instagram account had passed 8,100 followers.

How to Use This Meme

Princess Monster Truck isn't a meme template in the traditional sense. There's no exploitable format or fill-in-the-blank caption. Instead, her photos are shared as reaction images (usually to express a mix of confusion and delight), posted in "ugly cute" animal threads, or used in roundups of internet-famous cats. Fans typically share her images when they want to express that something is weird but lovable, or when a conversation calls for a cat that looks like a tiny vampire.

Cultural Impact

Princess Monster Truck's rise came during the golden era of internet-famous cats, alongside Grumpy Cat and Lil Bub. What set her apart was the rescue angle. According to Bored Panda, she later used her internet fame and "underdog status" to help promote the adoption of shelter and rescue animals. She had her own website at princessmonstertruck.com and built a following based not just on her strange looks but on the message that animals with deformities deserve loving homes.

Her story also tapped into a broader internet fascination with "ugly cute" animals, where the appeal comes specifically from the imperfection. The vet's quote to Timmons after spaying Princess Monster Truck, "It stops here!", became a funny footnote in the origin story that fans loved to share.

Fun Facts

Timmons had to carry Princess Monster Truck across streets when rescuing her, then put her down to let her follow on her own.

The vet staff reportedly couldn't stop laughing when they first saw her.

Despite her fearsome name, Princess Monster Truck refuses to go on the roof and prefers gazing out windows at "the land she will one day undoubtedly rule".

The jaw deformity is a known issue in Persian cat breeds and was present from birth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Princess Monster Truck

2013Celebrity animal / viral photosemi-active

Also known as: Monster · PMT

Princess Monster Truck is a black Persian cat with a severe underbite and visible fangs rescued by Brooklyn artists Tracy Timmons and Joseph Bryce, who became a viral sensation via Instagram in May 2013.

Princess Monster Truck is a black Persian cat with a severely deformed lower jaw that gives her a dramatic underbite and visible fangs. Found on the streets of Brooklyn in 2012 by artists Tracy Timmons and Joseph Bryce, the cat blew up on the internet in May 2013 after her dedicated Instagram account caught the attention of BuzzFeed, racking up hundreds of thousands of views in days. Her unusual appearance and heartwarming rescue story made her one of the breakout internet cats of 2013.

cats animal memes accidental fame memes rescue animal memes buzzfeed memes

Overview

Princess Monster Truck is a female Persian cat born with a jaw deformity that causes a pronounced underbite, leaving two fangs permanently visible beneath her upper lip. Her all-black fur, wide eyes, and protruding teeth give her a look that's equal parts adorable and unsettling. Despite the fierce appearance, she's a timid indoor cat who, according to her owners, hates going outside and won't even set foot on the roof.

The name "Princess Monster Truck" captures the cat's dual nature perfectly: a delicate rescue animal that looks like she could bite through sheet metal.

Tracy Timmons and Joseph Bryce, both New York City-based artists living in Brooklyn, found Princess Monster Truck by accident one night while walking home from dinner. The cat came tumbling out of a bush, matted, thin, and hungry. Because she was all black and it was dark out, they didn't get a full look at her face right away. When the cat finally looked up and let out what Timmons described as "a really weird howl/meow," Timmons shrieked and asked "What is it?".

They decided to take her home. Timmons later brought the cat to a vet, who, after reportedly laughing at the sight of her, confirmed the jaw condition was a birth defect common in Persian breeds. Timmons started posting photos to her personal Instagram account on December 12, 2012. On April 9, 2013, Timmons and Bryce launched a dedicated Instagram account at @princessmonstertruck.

Origin & Background

Platform
Instagram (dedicated account), BuzzFeed (viral spread)
Key People
Tracy Timmons, Joseph Bryce
Date
2013

Tracy Timmons and Joseph Bryce, both New York City-based artists living in Brooklyn, found Princess Monster Truck by accident one night while walking home from dinner. The cat came tumbling out of a bush, matted, thin, and hungry. Because she was all black and it was dark out, they didn't get a full look at her face right away. When the cat finally looked up and let out what Timmons described as "a really weird howl/meow," Timmons shrieked and asked "What is it?".

They decided to take her home. Timmons later brought the cat to a vet, who, after reportedly laughing at the sight of her, confirmed the jaw condition was a birth defect common in Persian breeds. Timmons started posting photos to her personal Instagram account on December 12, 2012. On April 9, 2013, Timmons and Bryce launched a dedicated Instagram account at @princessmonstertruck.

How It Spread

The big break came on May 7, 2013, when BuzzFeed published a photo compilation of Princess Monster Truck on their animal vertical. The post hit 375,000 views and over 67,000 Facebook likes within a week. That same day, photos from the BuzzFeed piece were reposted to the Tumblr blog Pussykatzen, where they picked up more than 9,100 notes in the same timeframe.

Over the next three days, Princess Monster Truck was featured across a wave of sites including Pleated Jeans, Uproxx, Laughing Squid, People Pets, Buzz Patrol, AOL On, and Catster. Pleated Jeans called her "a Persian with an incredibly fierce underbite" and told readers to "bask in her glory". On May 9, a photo landed on Reddit's r/Pics subreddit, picking up over 300 upvotes. By May 13, 2013, the dedicated Instagram account had passed 8,100 followers.

How to Use This Meme

Princess Monster Truck isn't a meme template in the traditional sense. There's no exploitable format or fill-in-the-blank caption. Instead, her photos are shared as reaction images (usually to express a mix of confusion and delight), posted in "ugly cute" animal threads, or used in roundups of internet-famous cats. Fans typically share her images when they want to express that something is weird but lovable, or when a conversation calls for a cat that looks like a tiny vampire.

Cultural Impact

Princess Monster Truck's rise came during the golden era of internet-famous cats, alongside Grumpy Cat and Lil Bub. What set her apart was the rescue angle. According to Bored Panda, she later used her internet fame and "underdog status" to help promote the adoption of shelter and rescue animals. She had her own website at princessmonstertruck.com and built a following based not just on her strange looks but on the message that animals with deformities deserve loving homes.

Her story also tapped into a broader internet fascination with "ugly cute" animals, where the appeal comes specifically from the imperfection. The vet's quote to Timmons after spaying Princess Monster Truck, "It stops here!", became a funny footnote in the origin story that fans loved to share.

Fun Facts

Timmons had to carry Princess Monster Truck across streets when rescuing her, then put her down to let her follow on her own.

The vet staff reportedly couldn't stop laughing when they first saw her.

Despite her fearsome name, Princess Monster Truck refuses to go on the roof and prefers gazing out windows at "the land she will one day undoubtedly rule".

The jaw deformity is a known issue in Persian cat breeds and was present from birth.

Frequently Asked Questions