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Rich and Emma from Yorkshire, England, saw a photo of Ikiru on a cat breeder's website and immediately fell in love with the adorable cat. They were certain he was the kitty for them after the first visit and four weeks later took him home.
Eventually, they created an Instagram account to document Ikiru's daily life and he has become quite Internet famous. No wonder. Ikiru is the absolute king of blep, and some of the faces this fluffy cat makes are so wacky, many people even often ask his owners whether everything's all right with him.
"Ikiru is really healthy and our vet told us he has some of the best teeth she has ever seen," Rich and Emma explained to Bored Panda. "Exotic shorthairs have a slightly pudgy face but he’s very energetic and in great shape. Believe it or not, he doesn’t always have his tongue out, but it seems to be a quirk of his, leading to some amusing facial expressions."
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The cute cat is named after one of his owner's favorite Akira Kurosawa films, and 'ikiru' means 'to live' or 'living' in Japanese. "He's loving, affectionate, and grumpy in the best way. Ikiru is also playful and endlessly amusing. One particular quirk is he loves tunneling and hiding underneath things like blankets or sheets of paper, or staring at you upside down from the corner of a room."
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Rich and Emma said that their silly cat constantly makes them laugh with his antics and facial expressions, and they find it wonderful that they're able to share him with the rest of the world via social media. "We get messages from all around the world saying his silly faces, cuteness, and personality brightens their day. He even inspires fan art, people have some fantastic illustrations which really capture his cheeky character."
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KombatBunni 4 years ago
Nah, he's not upside down enough to be one of ours! :P
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Isaac Harvey 4 years ago
Or he could be saying "scratch my tummy and die."
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What do you think ?
Julia Daxenbichler 4 years ago
No. This is not f*****g cute. They actually BOUGHT this cat off a breeder because of his looks. They basically PAID the breeder a lot of money to breed cats with noses so short that they can't comfortably hold in their tongues. Just imagine what breathing must be like for this poor cat.
Random Internet Person 4 years ago
I'm sad that Bored Panda decided to show this poorly bred cat that someone probably paid way too much for. That is not cute. That is sad that the poor thing is so deformed that he can't comfortably hold his tongue in his mouth. Do better Bored Panda!
AK Gibson 4 years ago
The owners literally said that he doesn't look that way all the time. And that particular cat breed has cheeeecks for days, so it makes for some entertaining expressions. Did you read the article or just look at the cat and decide to be judgemental, off top?
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Elizabeth 4 years ago
Is this the result of in-breeding? He's cute but looks like there's a lot wrong with him. I can appreciate an animal that makes funny faces but not when there are underlying medical conditions that cause it. He looks Siamese and they are definitely bred too much
Samantha Lomb 4 years ago
It says he is an "exotic shorthair" which may be some kind of Persian cross. But I agree. He's ug eyed and wall eyed and has no snout. That can't be normal or healthy
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Dorothy Parker 4 years ago (edited)
STOP PROMOTING ANIMALS BRED OUT OF GREED RATHER THAN TO IMPROVE THE BREED. MOST HURT ALL THE TIME. GASPING FOR AIR IS BAD FOR ITS HEART. I CALL BULL$HITE THAT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE ITS TONGUE HANGING OUT; IT'S PANTING. GRUMPY CAT'S OWNER CLEANED UP. THESE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY CASHING IN! GRUMPY CAT DIED YOUNG, SEVEN YEARS OLD. MY RESCUE CAT DIED AT 19.
i0ana 4 years ago
my rescued cat died at 5...so,its not some sort of rule!
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Patty Bourne 4 years ago
And the animal breeders produce another malformed animal for the almighty dollar! Shame Shame Shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Living_Shadow 4 years ago (edited)
It looks like someone took their thumbs are pressed the nose of this poor kitty up and in. His nose shouldn't be exactly in the middle of his eyes, it should be lower. And his face is unnaturally flat. I doubt he's 100% healthy and that the tongue sticking out is a "quirk". He's probably doing it out of discomfort. Like, IMAGINE what the poor cat's skull and internal head organs must look like. Everything's squished together or smaller than normal. This is not okay
Firework 4 years ago
Everybody's saying that it was done on purpose and he is unhealthy, but it says at the top that he is really healthy and it says NOWHERE that it was done on purpose. Would you rather they killed him? Some people assume that everyone except them is evil, they're called a******s.
Haydn Shurville 4 years ago
It does look quite cute and funny but the root of the issue very much isn’t. Is it just the results of inbreeding and shouldn’t be glorified.
MacDudu 4 years ago (edited)
Procuring a zany looking animal with the sole purpose of creating a following via various social media platforms is big business now. I believe there's something cynical about buying the strangest looking animals deliberately. It's the modern version of the freak show and just like the freak shows of old, it's venturing into a form of exploitation.
Bettina Jansen 4 years ago
Please stop promoting deformed cat breeds Bored Panda. The breeding is deeply unfair to those cats who have to live with uncomfortable physical defects because some ethics-lacking humans find them cute. (Not just the nose, but als his poor, teary, pug like eyes)
Keira McNary 4 years ago
Did anyone here--ANYONE--read the top? It says, Exotic shorthairs have a slightly pudgy face but he’s very energetic and in great shape. Believe it or not, he doesn’t always have his tongue hanging out, but it seems to be a quirk of his, leading to some amusing facial expressions." See? He isn't panting for breath, he isn't the result of horrible breeding, and he is in perfect health. WILL YOU ALL STOP BEING STUPID AND READ INSTEAD OF JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS?!
Keira McNary 4 years ago
Just so everyone here knows, the cat is NOT a result of "poor breeding" or "inbreeding for greed." He is an exotic, a Persian-like cat with a flat face and short hair. Ikiru is not a mixbreed. Exotics are an actual kind of cat; you can Google it if you think I'm wrong. Just like certain breeds of cats (i.e, Maine Coons, American shorthairs) have liver problems, this certain breed of cat may or may not come with problems because of their flat faces, such as an inability to put their tongue fully in their mouth. This...doesn't mean they can't breathe. Think about it. If you can breathe with your tongue hanging out, so can this cat. Just because his face is flat and he doesn't have a muzzle doesn't mean he can't breathe; he still has a normal-sized mouth and normal lungs like other cats. PLEASE stop saying this is a result of filthy inbreeding and c**p like that. HE. IS. A. PUREBRED. EXOTIC.
Asia Hall 4 years ago
Also, if you actually did your research, you would have learned that the exotic shorthair was literally created by cross-breeding a Persian with an American Shorthair. The very definition of this pure breed is that it's a cross breed, as all breeds ultimately are because that's how a genetic trait is introduced in the first place. In your own words, WILL YOU STOP BEING STUPID AND READ INSTEAD OF JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS?! Also, as an after-note to anyone saying that the owners claim this cat is perfectly healthy: Of COURSE they would say that! If I spent $1k plus on a derpy animal just to get instagram likes I'd lie about his health too because I wouldn't want anyone to think of me as the twat that I am for advertising the deliberate and unhealthy mutation of animals for my personal amusement. Please folks, as adorable as this is, the practice needs to die. Adopt, don't shop. Kitties missing one eye and considered unadoptable or special needs are even cuter, and shame on Panda.
Load More Replies... Keira McNary 4 years ago
For everyone who's talking about the inbreeding thing and that he's a mix of a Persian and something else, he's an exotic. Yes, an exotic shorthair. It's a real breed, not a mix; a sort of short-haired Persian. Though they do sometimes have complications caused by their flat faces, this doesn't mean that they were "bred for greed" or "poorly bred." Most exotics don't have a tongue problem like this, and I'm sure (though I'm not a professional) that he can breathe fine. Think about it. His face is flat---that doesn't mean he can't breathe or that he's panting. If you Google exotics, you can see they're an actual breed. STOP SAYING THAT THIS IS A DEFORMITY OR A RESULT OF INBREEDING. IT'S NOT.
Asia Hall 4 years ago
Actually Kiera, the entire concept of a breed, especially a “pure “ breed, is that they are not natural. Every single breed of cat or dog was created entirely by humans mating animals to isolate specific genetic traits, either for utility or aesthetics. Every. Single. Breed. Is. A. Human. Creation. And the VAST majority of purebreds ARE indeed inbred because that’s the only way to ensure the continuation of the desired. Your defense of the breed as being pure is only driving home the point that everyone else is trying to make.
Load More Replies...
Meeow 4 years ago
Look at that tongue and his big eyes, Ikiru is so darn cute but they have create these poor breed that have so much breathing problems and other illness, poor thing!!
Keira McNary 4 years ago
JUST BECAUSE HIS FACE IS FLAT DOES NOT MEAN HE CAN'T BREATHE!!
Load More Replies...
Tineke Ruijmschoot 4 years ago
it wasn't the people who bought the cat's fault. it was the breeder. dogs and cats are being bred so they look 'cute'. this is however causing a lot of breathing problems for the animals. please stop over breeding animals so they look 'cute'. please stop docking dogs and horses' tails. stop cropping their ears. how'd you like it if someone cut off parts of your ears because they thought they were too big? just because animals can't talk, doesnt mean they dont have feelings too. my cat might not have a flat face, his face looks like a lion face, but he's a happy cat, and that's what's most important. he's still beautiful. his fur is long and fluffy, and his eyes are bright green. in my eyes, thats what makes a cat beautiful. if they look happy and healthy.
Maria Rohlen 4 years ago
Poor cat, what a horrific breed and what are people thinking giving thumbs up? Awful!
Vickie Reynolds 4 years ago
I have never seen a cat like this, but he is so cute and what aclown.....
M Wayne 4 years ago
WTF is wrong with humans? You would do this to an animal and then laugh about how 'cute' it is? No wonder times seem so dark.
Keira McNary 4 years ago
exotics are an actual breed idiot and they don't have breathing problems. IT SAYS AT THE TOP THAT HE IS HEALTHY
Load More Replies...
Barbara Baldwin 4 years ago
Whew! I couldn't look at that breeder 's horror. I came here to rant at the people calling that poor mangled cat cute. Thank goodness I didn't have to
Keira McNary 4 years ago
And I came here to rant about idiots who don't know calico cats from tortoiseshells. Exotics are an actual breed of cat. THEY DON'T HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS JUST BECAUSE OF A FLAT FACE!
Load More Replies...
Samantha Lomb 4 years ago
There is a difference between breeding purposely breeding deformed animals because people think they are cute and choosing a cute cat from a shelter. A BIG DIFFERENCE
Load More Replies...
Julia Daxenbichler 4 years ago
No. This is not f*****g cute. They actually BOUGHT this cat off a breeder because of his looks. They basically PAID the breeder a lot of money to breed cats with noses so short that they can't comfortably hold in their tongues. Just imagine what breathing must be like for this poor cat.
Random Internet Person 4 years ago
I'm sad that Bored Panda decided to show this poorly bred cat that someone probably paid way too much for. That is not cute. That is sad that the poor thing is so deformed that he can't comfortably hold his tongue in his mouth. Do better Bored Panda!
AK Gibson 4 years ago
The owners literally said that he doesn't look that way all the time. And that particular cat breed has cheeeecks for days, so it makes for some entertaining expressions. Did you read the article or just look at the cat and decide to be judgemental, off top?
Load More Replies... Elizabeth 4 years ago
Is this the result of in-breeding? He's cute but looks like there's a lot wrong with him. I can appreciate an animal that makes funny faces but not when there are underlying medical conditions that cause it. He looks Siamese and they are definitely bred too much
Samantha Lomb 4 years ago
It says he is an "exotic shorthair" which may be some kind of Persian cross. But I agree. He's ug eyed and wall eyed and has no snout. That can't be normal or healthy
Load More Replies... Dorothy Parker 4 years ago (edited)
STOP PROMOTING ANIMALS BRED OUT OF GREED RATHER THAN TO IMPROVE THE BREED. MOST HURT ALL THE TIME. GASPING FOR AIR IS BAD FOR ITS HEART. I CALL BULL$HITE THAT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE ITS TONGUE HANGING OUT; IT'S PANTING. GRUMPY CAT'S OWNER CLEANED UP. THESE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY CASHING IN! GRUMPY CAT DIED YOUNG, SEVEN YEARS OLD. MY RESCUE CAT DIED AT 19.
i0ana 4 years ago
my rescued cat died at 5...so,its not some sort of rule!
Load More Replies... Patty Bourne 4 years ago
And the animal breeders produce another malformed animal for the almighty dollar! Shame Shame Shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Living_Shadow 4 years ago (edited)
It looks like someone took their thumbs are pressed the nose of this poor kitty up and in. His nose shouldn't be exactly in the middle of his eyes, it should be lower. And his face is unnaturally flat. I doubt he's 100% healthy and that the tongue sticking out is a "quirk". He's probably doing it out of discomfort. Like, IMAGINE what the poor cat's skull and internal head organs must look like. Everything's squished together or smaller than normal. This is not okay
Firework 4 years ago
Everybody's saying that it was done on purpose and he is unhealthy, but it says at the top that he is really healthy and it says NOWHERE that it was done on purpose. Would you rather they killed him? Some people assume that everyone except them is evil, they're called a******s.
Haydn Shurville 4 years ago
It does look quite cute and funny but the root of the issue very much isn’t. Is it just the results of inbreeding and shouldn’t be glorified.
MacDudu 4 years ago (edited)
Procuring a zany looking animal with the sole purpose of creating a following via various social media platforms is big business now. I believe there's something cynical about buying the strangest looking animals deliberately. It's the modern version of the freak show and just like the freak shows of old, it's venturing into a form of exploitation.
Bettina Jansen 4 years ago
Please stop promoting deformed cat breeds Bored Panda. The breeding is deeply unfair to those cats who have to live with uncomfortable physical defects because some ethics-lacking humans find them cute. (Not just the nose, but als his poor, teary, pug like eyes)
Keira McNary 4 years ago
Did anyone here--ANYONE--read the top? It says, Exotic shorthairs have a slightly pudgy face but he’s very energetic and in great shape. Believe it or not, he doesn’t always have his tongue hanging out, but it seems to be a quirk of his, leading to some amusing facial expressions." See? He isn't panting for breath, he isn't the result of horrible breeding, and he is in perfect health. WILL YOU ALL STOP BEING STUPID AND READ INSTEAD OF JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS?!
Keira McNary 4 years ago
Just so everyone here knows, the cat is NOT a result of "poor breeding" or "inbreeding for greed." He is an exotic, a Persian-like cat with a flat face and short hair. Ikiru is not a mixbreed. Exotics are an actual kind of cat; you can Google it if you think I'm wrong. Just like certain breeds of cats (i.e, Maine Coons, American shorthairs) have liver problems, this certain breed of cat may or may not come with problems because of their flat faces, such as an inability to put their tongue fully in their mouth. This...doesn't mean they can't breathe. Think about it. If you can breathe with your tongue hanging out, so can this cat. Just because his face is flat and he doesn't have a muzzle doesn't mean he can't breathe; he still has a normal-sized mouth and normal lungs like other cats. PLEASE stop saying this is a result of filthy inbreeding and c**p like that. HE. IS. A. PUREBRED. EXOTIC.
Asia Hall 4 years ago
Also, if you actually did your research, you would have learned that the exotic shorthair was literally created by cross-breeding a Persian with an American Shorthair. The very definition of this pure breed is that it's a cross breed, as all breeds ultimately are because that's how a genetic trait is introduced in the first place. In your own words, WILL YOU STOP BEING STUPID AND READ INSTEAD OF JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS?! Also, as an after-note to anyone saying that the owners claim this cat is perfectly healthy: Of COURSE they would say that! If I spent $1k plus on a derpy animal just to get instagram likes I'd lie about his health too because I wouldn't want anyone to think of me as the twat that I am for advertising the deliberate and unhealthy mutation of animals for my personal amusement. Please folks, as adorable as this is, the practice needs to die. Adopt, don't shop. Kitties missing one eye and considered unadoptable or special needs are even cuter, and shame on Panda.
Load More Replies... Keira McNary 4 years ago
For everyone who's talking about the inbreeding thing and that he's a mix of a Persian and something else, he's an exotic. Yes, an exotic shorthair. It's a real breed, not a mix; a sort of short-haired Persian. Though they do sometimes have complications caused by their flat faces, this doesn't mean that they were "bred for greed" or "poorly bred." Most exotics don't have a tongue problem like this, and I'm sure (though I'm not a professional) that he can breathe fine. Think about it. His face is flat---that doesn't mean he can't breathe or that he's panting. If you Google exotics, you can see they're an actual breed. STOP SAYING THAT THIS IS A DEFORMITY OR A RESULT OF INBREEDING. IT'S NOT.
Asia Hall 4 years ago
Actually Kiera, the entire concept of a breed, especially a “pure “ breed, is that they are not natural. Every single breed of cat or dog was created entirely by humans mating animals to isolate specific genetic traits, either for utility or aesthetics. Every. Single. Breed. Is. A. Human. Creation. And the VAST majority of purebreds ARE indeed inbred because that’s the only way to ensure the continuation of the desired. Your defense of the breed as being pure is only driving home the point that everyone else is trying to make.
Load More Replies... Meeow 4 years ago
Look at that tongue and his big eyes, Ikiru is so darn cute but they have create these poor breed that have so much breathing problems and other illness, poor thing!!
Keira McNary 4 years ago
JUST BECAUSE HIS FACE IS FLAT DOES NOT MEAN HE CAN'T BREATHE!!
Load More Replies... Tineke Ruijmschoot 4 years ago
it wasn't the people who bought the cat's fault. it was the breeder. dogs and cats are being bred so they look 'cute'. this is however causing a lot of breathing problems for the animals. please stop over breeding animals so they look 'cute'. please stop docking dogs and horses' tails. stop cropping their ears. how'd you like it if someone cut off parts of your ears because they thought they were too big? just because animals can't talk, doesnt mean they dont have feelings too. my cat might not have a flat face, his face looks like a lion face, but he's a happy cat, and that's what's most important. he's still beautiful. his fur is long and fluffy, and his eyes are bright green. in my eyes, thats what makes a cat beautiful. if they look happy and healthy.
Maria Rohlen 4 years ago
Poor cat, what a horrific breed and what are people thinking giving thumbs up? Awful!
Vickie Reynolds 4 years ago
I have never seen a cat like this, but he is so cute and what aclown.....
M Wayne 4 years ago
WTF is wrong with humans? You would do this to an animal and then laugh about how 'cute' it is? No wonder times seem so dark.
Keira McNary 4 years ago
exotics are an actual breed idiot and they don't have breathing problems. IT SAYS AT THE TOP THAT HE IS HEALTHY
Load More Replies... Barbara Baldwin 4 years ago
Whew! I couldn't look at that breeder 's horror. I came here to rant at the people calling that poor mangled cat cute. Thank goodness I didn't have to
Keira McNary 4 years ago
And I came here to rant about idiots who don't know calico cats from tortoiseshells. Exotics are an actual breed of cat. THEY DON'T HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS JUST BECAUSE OF A FLAT FACE!
Load More Replies... Samantha Lomb 4 years ago
There is a difference between breeding purposely breeding deformed animals because people think they are cute and choosing a cute cat from a shelter. A BIG DIFFERENCE
Load More Replies... You May Like Funny Cats Sleeping In Weirdest Positions Ever Meet Sphynx Cats - The Most Adorable Hairless Felines This Local Donut Shop Waiting Line Always Starts Behind A Cat Who’s Obsessed With Sweet Treats
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