A tabby cat named Rigby has taken over people's timelines with a strange facial expression that is equal parts confused and delighted.

In one viral GIF, she stares into the camera, one eye twitching and her tongue poking out, while a suspicious stream of liquid sprays at the viewer.

The GIF has become a viral reaction meme online over the last two months, with Rigby winning hearts every time someone learns about her unique backstory. As it turns out, Rigby isn't just a strange-looking kitten, she has a rare neurological disorder that her owner hasn't let come in the way of her living her best life.

Here's the lore behind Rigby, the silly-looking cat.

Who is Rigby the Cat, and Why Does She Look Like That?

Rigby is a small tabby cat who constantly looks like she just got surprised mid-sneeze. Her viral fame began on her TikTok page @IamRigbyCat in October 2024, with a post showing her "increasingly derpy photos gaining 21,000 views in the last seven months. But it was a video from October 10th showing her getting pet while sticking her tongue out like a broken Pez dispenser that launched her into the limelight, racking up over 2 million views since being shared.

@iamrigbycat she kinda killed this ngl #fyp #catsoftiktok #meow #tabbycat #cute #funny ♬ Life We Live (feat. Namond Lumpkin & Edgar Fletcher) – Project Pat

The reason Rigby looks a little funny is due to a condition called myotonia congenita, also known as fainting goat syndrome. Rigby's owner explained that many vets initially classified the cat as "special needs," but one veterinarian referred Rigby to a neurologist.

The neurologist did several tests, including an EMG, where they sedate a cat and use probes to read muscle reactions. They discerned that Rigby likely had a condition called "myotonia congenita," a condition where a patient's muscles have a hard time relaxing, resulting in stiffness and a kind of paralysis.

@iamrigbycat long one today yall sorry #fyp #catsoftiktok #sillycat #blep ♬ original sound – iamrigbycat

What Is the Silly Cat Sticking Her Tongue Out GIF?

On March 31st, 2025, Rigby’s owner posted a TikTok skit where he asked his cat, "yo it looks like we’re out of hard treats… are squeezables okay?" Cue a smash cut to Rigby, one eye twitching, tongue lolling out of her mouth as a stream of liquid appears to squirt toward the camera.

The goofy video was part of a TikTok trend in which people "squirt" with excitement when their partner asks them if they look good, but Rigby's post blew them all out of the water, raking in 9 million views in two months.

An Instagram repost of the clip gathered over 12 million views and subsequently inspired people to make a "Rigby Peeing GIF."

On May 22nd, TikToker @IamRigbyCat posted just the clip of Rigby "peeing" with an accompanying water stream sound playing in the background. The post gathered over 19 million plays and 4.3 million likes in just five days.

@iamrigbycat Made this for a cameo and I couldn’t not post it #fyp #catsoftiktok #catcontent #rigbycat #sillycat ♬ original sound – iamrigbycat

The GIF went viral in comment sections across social media, prompting X user @miukabu to write, "WHAT IS THIS GIF CALLEDDD," on May 12th, 2025, as it continued garnering attention.

By late May 2025, internet users began aping the Rigby Cat GIF, as seen in a clip posted by YouTuber @drowsy.rbx where they made Gubby from Roblox imitate Rigby's "flow," gathering over 400,000 views in a few weeks.

What's The Rigby Cat GIF and What Are Some Examples Of It?

Rigby the Cat Template / GIF

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For the full history of Rigby the Cat, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.