Oh, I’m sure you remember it! I still chuckle when I think about the first time I saw that video, it was absolutely hilarious! The “Oh, Long Johnson” video of a domestic cat went viral as soon as it hit YouTube. 

However, what many people did not know was that this unnamed cat was actually growling at another cat at the time. You can watch it here:

What made the video even funnier, and why it gained millions of views, was how the cat’s growling sounded like English gibberish. Among the jumbled words, “Oh Long Johnson” stood out and became the catchphrase we all associate with the cat.

Who Was This Cat?

As for the cat’s identity, it remained unnamed. But we do know it was a house cat and a beloved family pet. 

The video first appeared in 1998 as part of a compilation of “talking cats”, but it gained even more popularity when it was uploaded to YouTube it gained over 6 million views in no time.

The video was also remixed and edited countless times, making it even more widespread. People had a blast adding subtitles to the video, as you can see in the previous video.

The cat’s popular phrases, like Oh Long Johnson and Oh Don Piano, became a source of entertainment worldwide. Merchandise even followed the cat’s success, with T-shirts and more featuring its famous lines.

The phrase even got its own explanation in the Urban Dictionary:

The cat’s fame reached its peak when it was featured in an episode of South Park in 2012 titled “Faith Hilling.” In the episode, the cat was portrayed as the originator of the “Oh Long Johnson” meme, resulting in dangerous outcomes by people mimicking it.

Looking back, I now realize the cat’s growling was likely a sign of fear, anger, or stress. However, it’s worth noting that the cat was doing ok, as the video was even featured on America’s Funniest Home Videos.

I hope reminiscing about this gem from the past brought a smile to your face. If you’re interested in more interesting cat content, be sure to visit our website.