15 Best Cat Memes Ever [MEOW]

1. Nyan Cat

The most acclaimed web cat is Nyan Cat, an 8-bit animated feline, who won Meme of the Year at the Webby Awards in May.

The Pop Tart-shaped viral sensation stormed onto the Internet in April 2011 when illustrator Chris Torres introduced Nyan Cat to the masses via YouTube.

Since then, Nyan Cat's fame has spawned a frequently updated website, video games, a soundtrack and many cute accessories.

"Nyan Cat has transformed into this viral entity that has surpassed not only everything I originally expected for my art but for memes in general," Torres recently told Mashable. "Its gained its own amazing subculture with incredibly creative fans."

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Celebrated cats of the past have been pushed aside and replaced by their Internet-famous brethren.

Remember Copy Cat, the first cloned cat? Orangey, the cat from Breakfast at Tiffany's and other movies? Oscar, the cat with bionic legs? Yeah, didn't think so.

SEE ALSO: Dead Cat Comes Back to Life as Morbid Helicopter | 25 Outstanding Kitty-Themed Tumblrs

In the past few years, web felines have risen from the kitty litter, pouncing onto your screens to steal your productivity. We've rounded up the 15 best cat memes ever in the gallery above. Enjoy! Don't get clawed.

More About: animals, cats, features, GIFs, humor, memes, trending, Video, viral