Few images capture pure emotion like this one — a little white cat, eyes full of tears, staring into the camera with a face that says “I’ve seen too much.”
Meet the Crying Cat meme, also known as Sad Cat, Schmuserkadser, or simply the face of emotional damage.
This meme has been making the internet both laugh and cry for almost a decade — and somehow, it never gets old.
Where Did the Crying Cat Meme Come From?
The Crying Cat first appeared on Meme Generator back in June 2014, when an anonymous user uploaded a photoshopped image of the original Serious Cat meme.
By simply adding teary, glassy eyes and a shiny wet nose, the internet’s favorite sad kitty was born.
The edit was so believable that many thought it was a real photo.
In truth, it was a clever Photoshop job — merging two different cat images into one heart-wrenching masterpiece.
Within just a few years, thousands of variations appeared, featuring cats of all sizes and colors with the same trademark tears.
And the result? A universal reaction image for disappointment, regret, and quiet suffering.
How It Spread Across the Internet
After its Meme Generator debut, the Crying Cat quickly found new homes:
🐾 2014 – Shared on Ask.fm and the German image board pr0gramm, where it got the nickname “Schmuserkadser.”
🧵 2016 – 4chan users turned it into a running joke with captions like:
“First it’s smug, then it’s fat. It’s living my life.”
😂 2017 – It went mainstream on Facebook, with the viral post “Sad react only.”
💬 2018 and beyond – Reddit, Twitter, and TikTok transformed Crying Cat into a reaction template for every emotional situation imaginable.
Whether it’s heartbreak, losing a video game, or dropping your pizza slice face-down — Crying Cat understands.
Why the Meme Still Hits So Hard
The Crying Cat meme works because it’s instantly relatable.
It represents that tiny, silent sadness we all feel sometimes — but in the most adorably tragic way possible.
It’s funny and sad at the same time — the perfect mix of meme irony and genuine emotion.
That’s why it’s been around since 2014 and is still one of the most-used reaction images on the internet today.
The Sad Cat Goes Fashion: Wear Your Feelings!
At Funny Meme Retro Shirt, we turned the Crying Cat into something wearable — because honestly, who hasn’t felt like that cat at least once this week? 😿
Our Crying Cat T-Shirt is soft, comfy, and perfectly ironic — ideal for meme lovers, cat people, and anyone with a sense of dark humor.
➡️ Check it out here: www.funnymemeretrotshirt.com
Because sometimes… sadness looks better in vintage cotton 🕶️
Quick Meme Facts
Meme Name : Crying Cat / Sad Cat
Origin : Meme Generator (2014)
Type : Reaction, Photoshop, Exploitable
Viral Platforms : Reddit, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook
Mood : Sad. Cute. Forever relatable.
Status : Internet Classic