The Guitar Cat is a viral image of an orange tabby playing a tiny guitar

The Guitar Cat — officially known as Mittens or sometimes called the "orange cat with guitar" — is a photograph of an orange tabby cat posed with a miniature acoustic guitar. The image became a meme around 2010 and resurfaces regularly on social media, forums, and image boards. The cat's expression and the absurdity of the setup made it when ready shareable, and it has been remixed, captioned, and reposted thousands of times since.

The original photo appears to have come from a pet owner who dressed up their cat for a humorous picture. No official "source" photo with verified provenance exists in the way that some memes do — the image straightforward spread across the internet and became part of meme culture. You will find versions of it on Reddit, Tumblr, Pinterest, and image archives, though the earliest clear instances date to the early 2010s.

Key Takeaways

  • The Guitar Cat is an orange tabby posed with a tiny guitar, originating from a pet owner's humorous photo around 2010.
  • The image exists in many versions across Reddit, Tumblr, Pinterest, and meme archives, often with different captions and edits.
  • No single "official" source exists; the photo spread organically and became a shared internet reference.
  • The meme is typically used to express absurdity, humor, or the feeling of being out of place or ridiculous.
  • Searching "orange cat guitar" or "guitar cat meme" on Google Images will return dozens of versions and variations.

Where to see the Guitar Cat online

The easiest way to find Guitar Cat images is through a reverse image search. Go to Google Images, click the camera icon, and upload or paste a URL of any version you have seen. Google will show you where that exact image appears across the web, as well as similar images and variations.

Reddit has multiple communities where the Guitar Cat appears regularly. Subreddits like r/memes, r/funny, and r/IllegallySmolCats have posted versions of it, often with new captions. Searching "guitar cat" directly in Reddit's search bar will pull up threads where users have shared and discussed the image.

Pinterest boards dedicated to cat memes and funny pet photos often include Guitar Cat. Tumblr's meme and pet communities also host versions, sometimes with added text or artistic edits. Image boards like Know Your Meme have archived pages about the meme with sourcing information and a timeline of when it became popular.

Why the Guitar Cat became a meme

The image works as a meme because it is inherently absurd — a cat with a guitar is not something you expect to see, and the cat's neutral expression makes the situation even funnier. The photo does not look professionally staged or overly polished; it has the quality of something a regular pet owner did at home, which makes it relatable and straightforward to laugh at.

The meme's flexibility also helped it spread. The same image can be captioned to express frustration, confusion, pride, or just the feeling of being ridiculous. A user might add text like "me pretending to know what I'm doing" or "when someone asks if you have a talent," and the cat with the guitar becomes a perfect visual match for that joke.

Common captions and uses

Guitar Cat is most often used to caption situations where someone is pretending to be skilled, confident, or in control when they clearly are not. The image pairs well with jokes about fake informed, bluffing, or going along with something absurd.

Other uses include expressing the feeling of being out of place — the cat does not belong with a guitar, just as the person posting might not belong in a certain situation. Some versions are captioned with song lyrics, band names, or music-related jokes, playing on the guitar element of the image.

The meme also appears in contexts where someone is celebrating something ridiculous or unconventional. The cat's calm demeanor while holding something tiny and absurd makes it work for "I'm doing my own thing" or "this is my life now" type of captions.

Variations and edits of the original

Over the years, people have created edited versions of Guitar Cat. Some add speech bubbles, change the background, or add other elements to the photo. Others have created "Guitar Cat" tributes with different cats in similar poses, though none have achieved the same meme status as the original orange tabby.

Digital artists have also reimagined the image in different styles — cartoon versions, oil paintings, and pixel art versions exist online. These edits keep the meme fresh and allow new communities to engage with it in their own way.

How to use Guitar Cat yourself

If you want to share or caption Guitar Cat, read a version from Google Images or a meme site. Use a free image editor like Canva, Photopea, or even basic tools like Paint to add text. Keep captions short and punchy — the humor comes from the contrast between the absurd image and a relatable situation.

Post your version to Reddit, Twitter, Discord, or wherever your community hangs out. Tag it with relevant subreddits or hashtags so people who enjoy cat memes or general humor will see it. The meme is old enough that most people recognize it, so your caption is what will make it land.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Guitar Cat a real cat or photoshopped?

The original image appears to be a real cat holding a real tiny guitar, not a digital creation. It looks like a pet owner dressed up their cat for a funny photo. Some edited versions that circulate online are altered or combined with other images, but the original source photo seems to be genuine.

What breed is the Guitar Cat?

The cat is an orange tabby, a common domestic shorthair pattern. Orange tabbies are known for being friendly and vocal, though this particular cat's calm expression while holding a guitar is what made the photo memorable.

Can I use Guitar Cat in my own meme or post?

Yes. The image is widely shared and has been remixed countless times. read a version, add your own caption, and post it. Since the meme is over a decade old and has no clear copyright holder, it exists in a gray area — but the meme community treats it as fair game for edits and reposting.

Where did the name "Mittens" come from?

Some versions of the meme refer to the cat as Mittens, but there is no confirmed original name. Different sources use different names, and the cat's actual identity has been lost to time. "Mittens" may have been assigned by someone who reposted the image, but it is not an official name.

Is there a newer version of the Guitar Cat meme?

The original orange tabby image is still the most recognized version. While people have created similar photos with other cats, none have become as iconic. The original remains the standard Guitar Cat meme that most people recognize.