‘Big Floppa’ has taken the internet by storm with his stunning green eyes, tufted ears, and elongated nose. This charming cat has become a sensation on social media platforms such as Reddit, where his image has been used to create memes, T-shirts, and phone applications. However, what may come as a surprise is that ‘Big Floppa’ is not your typical house cat and actually resides in Russia. The cat’s real name is Gosha and he belongs to the caracal species, which is similar in appearance to a lynx. Despite being native to Africa, Asia, and India, Gosha was born in a Ukrainian cattery specializing in wild cats on December 21, 2017. In April 2018, Andrei Bondarev, a videographer from Moscow, shared an image of his “pet” having a meal on Instagram, which instantly went viral and turned Gosha and his two companions, Matvei and Zhora, into bloggers. Since then, ‘Big Floppa’ or ‘Kot Shlyopa’ has gained even more popularity due to his striking ears.
In April 2018, he embarked on a journey to Moscow and found solace with the Bondarev family. The folks, Andrei and Lena, were fascinated with a rare breed of wildcat they saw online and yearned to have one as a pet. After a thorough consultation with experts and a year of preparations, they finally fulfilled their dream of adopting a caracal.
Georgy and his furry pals embarked on a lengthy minibus journey lasting over 24 hours to reach Moscow. Upon arrival, the latest addition to the feline clan, Gosha, felt hesitant to explore his new surroundings. However, with the aid of Matvei, an older cat formerly from an animal shelter, Gosha gradually grew comfortable in his new abode. Zhora, the third cat in the household, was initially displeased with Gosha’s appearance and disregarded both him and their owners for several weeks. Nevertheless, Zhora eventually warmed up to Gosha, and the pair are now close friends. While litter box training posed some difficulties for Gosha, Yelena assured Georgy that this is common feline behavior and can be quickly remedied. Despite these obstacles, Gosha remains an energetic and playful kitten.
Yelena takes great care in ensuring that her caracal, named Gosha, is well-fed with a nutritious meal consisting of turkey, rabbit, and other healthy ingredients. According to Yelena, Gosha has developed a strong attachment to her and considers her as his human. It is surprising to note that Gosha exhibits behaviors typically seen in dogs, like being fiercely loyal to Yelena. Nonetheless, Gosha dislikes being left alone and is wary of strangers.
According to Andrei, Georgy has a bit of a problem with aggression. When he’s not busy, he tends to rip up the cardboard pieces given to him by his friends. Unfortunately, this destructive behavior isn’t just limited to cardboard – he also damages furniture and wallpaper.
According to Andrei, his feline companion named Gosha can be quite a handful. The amusing cat has an inclination to scratch through walls, leaving deep grooves down to the concrete. Despite Andrei’s attempts at repairing the damage, he eventually gave up as Gosha’s persistent behavior makes it difficult to prevent further damage. To add to the mischief, Gosha once managed to scratch Andrei’s TV while watching Animal Planet. Nonetheless, the internet couldn’t resist Gosha’s charm in early 2020 when a photo of him lying on a windowsill with Zhora went viral. This led to the creation of numerous memes, demotivational posters, and edited images, which started circulating on meme communities on Instagram before spreading to other social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit.
Yelena recounted how they learned about Gosha’s internet fame through a friend of her husband who also owned a caracal. Initially, they were thrilled to see the attention their beloved pet was receiving and happily shared pictures of him online. However, Yelena became increasingly uncomfortable when she came across Gosha being featured in memes that promoted divisive political agendas or offensive content related to Nazism, racism, or homophobia. She strongly disagrees with such inappropriate use of Gosha and firmly denounces it.
A brand-new app exclusively featuring Big Floppa was launched in the Google Play App Store during the spring of 2021. The app displays Gosha, also known as Gregory, in motion when you tap on him. It has garnered lots of positive feedback from its users and boasts an impressive range of upbeat reviews.
Someone left a comment sharing their love for the game, praising its captivating content and even recounting some spine-chilling moments that gave them a scare. They were surprised when they clicked on Shlyopa (Floppa) and heard his menacing growl. The game offers a well-rounded experience without any need for extra features. Yelena expressed worries about Gosha’s monthly expenses, explaining that although some supporters donate to help other cats, it’s not enough to provide for basic needs such as food and litter, which can cost around 20-25,000 rubles ($270-$340).
In addition, the Bondarev household ensures that their beloved cat Gosha undergoes regular check-ups and gets vaccinations twice a year from a specialist who deals with wild cats. Although he has a different ancestry, the family treats him like any other domestic cat. Nonetheless, his size requires more care and attention as injuries obtained during play can be more serious compared to smaller felines. Additionally, bigger cats tend to cause more damage within homes. Nevertheless, Yelena highlights that no matter their background or size, every cat is still a cherished feline companion.
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