Today, netizens from far and wide took to social media with their eulogies for one of Thailand’s first celebrity cats, who they thought had died of chronic kidney disease last night.
Seemingly commemorated by one last final live stream from his deathbed — via Kingdom Of Tigers, the Facebook page that shot the kitty to internet stardom — “Asoke Cat” appeared to take his last breath around 9pm on Wednesday. The caption on the video made almost everybody assume that the famous feline had used up all of his nine lives.
“Sleep well, you orange legend,” wrote one mourner on Twitter.
However, the latest post from the Kingdom of Tigers Facebook page revealed that Asoke Cat did not pass away last night as previously assumed, stumping numerous netizens and local media (us, admittedly, included).
“He was in tortuous pain for two full nights…we didn’t think he was going to make it… but when we got to the vet, he had good vital signs, pulse, and blood pressure. Oh you kitty, social media has already said goodbye to you,“ the page wrote.
“Okay we’ll keep fighting, my boy who never gives up.”
Before he became the kingdom’s fairest and chillest feline of internet virality, he spent his days beneath the Asoke BTS platform enjoying the heavy petting of strangers.
Asoke Cat was adopted by Nutch Prasopsin in 2013 after he lost a cat fight and needed immediate medical assistance. Through her page, King of Tigers, Nutch quickly made him one of the most famous internet cats in Thailand with a whopping 3 million followers and likes.
RELATED READ: Catnapped or rescued? Asoke Cat vanishes from his throne
After that, Asoke began living the high life, with unlimited access to food and toys. He even landed a magazine cover with Thai superstar Araya Hargate.
In 2017, Asoke Cat launched a lingerie line along with ten of his cat celeb friends, in collaboration with Thai lingerie brand Sabina.
Asoke Cat’s phenomenal fame raised helped awareness about homeless animal issues in Thai society and spurred people to help out other animals in need.
Although pets have become more popular in Thailand, many seek to buy kennel-farmed creature from places like Chatuchak instead of adopting one of the hundreds of thousands of strays living on the streets.
Few organizations exist to help these animals, apart from the HCHC and Pet Animal Welfare Society. (PAWS) To give support visitors can buy merchandise, donate money or adopt one of the kitties at their events.
For more information about the Homeless Cat Helper Club visit their website.
On behalf of all of us here at Coconuts, keep fighting Asoke Cat!
Correction: In a bizarre turn of events, the Kingdom of Tigers Facebook page just revealed that Asoke Cat did not die last night, as we had originally reported. We apologize for the misunderstanding.
Related:
Curtain falls on Asoke Cat as adopter pulls plug on social media after criticism
Asoke Cat playful and popular in his very own fan meeting
Catnapped or rescued? Asoke Cat vanishes from his throne
Asoke celebrity kitty loses cat fight
Asoke Cat to have his own lingerie line
Asoke Cat in magazine spread with nearly-as-famous human
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