Side eye cat meme, also known as Mr. Fresh

Cat with a side eyeAlso known as Mr. Fresh, he is an orange cat who appears on live broadcasts on the Chinese app Hello Street Cat. The cat’s expressive face has made him a fan favorite on the app, resulting in many viral videos.

What is Hello Street Cat?

Hello Street Cat is a Chinese app that was launched in April 2023. The app allows users to observe stray cats in different parts of China enjoying their habitat. The app claims that there are over 400,000 stray cats in Shanghai alone. Through cameras on feeders and other locations, users can follow the adventures of various stray cats in the catch-spay-release (TNR) style.

Who is Mr. Fresh?

Mr. Fresh the Side Eye Cat is one of the cats featured on the Hello Street Cat app. The orange feline has quickly become a fan favorite because he seems to enjoy looking at the camera, unlike many of the other cats that appear. His facial expressions have spawned many memes.

The side-eye cat first became popular on TikTok in October 2023. That’s when a video of the cat suspiciously looking at its food quickly went viral.

Next video eexplains that The orange cat has been nicknamed “Mr. Fresh” because he will only go near fresh–supplemented food for consumption.

Several of Mr. Fresh’s faces, including the sideways eye, have gone viral because they are applied to other topics. His online popularity has inspired donations to the TNR program.

Mr. Fresh Controversy

Unfortunately, Mr. Fresh’s fame has a dark side. In early 2024, screenshots of threats against Mr. Fresh appeared online. Social media was in an uproar when screenshots of a bounty for Mr. Fresh appeared. A gang of trolls known among Chinese social media users offered USD in exchange for killing a cat on a live camera.

As it happens, rescuers noticed that Mr. Fresh had an eye infection around the time the post started going viral. The cat was hospitalized for several days, requiring treatment and care. In February 2024, the decision was made to find a suitable home for Mr. Fresh.

Rescuers made the decision after threats against the cat made it too dangerous for him to live in the wild. In other words, the cat with the side eye is no longer homeless. While many are happy that this means Mr. Fresh is safe, they are worried that they will not see the cat again.

Examples of memes

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