The internet sensation known as ‘Big Floppa’ has captured the hearts of many with his captivating green eyes, long nose, and tufted ears. This charming feline has become the subject of memes, T-shirts, and phone applications on various social media platforms. However, it may surprise you to learn that ‘Big Floppa’ is not your typical house cat and actually resides in Russia. The pet’s owner, Andrei Bondarev, shared an image of his beloved ‘Big Floppa’ having a meal on Instagram in April 2018. The image went viral and quickly gained popularity on sites like Reddit. Gosha, the cat’s real name, is part of the caracal species and resembles a lynx in appearance. Despite being native to Africa, Asia, and India, Gosha was born in a Ukrainian cattery specializing in wild cats on December 21, 2017. Gosha, along with his companions Matvei and Zhora, became bloggers under the name ‘Big Floppa’ or ‘Kot Shlyopa’ due to his unique ears and continue to captivate many on the internet.
After a few months had passed, in the month of April 2018 to be precise, he made a trip to Moscow and found a new abode with the Bondarev family. The household was made up of Andrei and his wife, Lena, who stumbled upon an unusual wildcat image on the internet and immediately became obsessed with the idea of owning one as a pet. It took them a year of research and consultation with experts before finally deciding to adopt a caracal and bring their long-held dream to fruition.
Georgy and his furry friends embarked on a grueling 24-hour minibus journey to reach Moscow. Upon arriving, Gosha, the newest cat addition, was a bit hesitant to explore the new surroundings. Thankfully, Matvei, an older cat adoptee, stepped in to help Gosha get comfortable in the new apartment. Initially, Zhora, the third cat in the family, was not too thrilled with Gosha’s arrival and ignored him and their owners for a few weeks. However, Zhora eventually warmed up to Gosha, and they are now inseparable friends. Although Gosha faced some struggles with litter box training, Yelena assured Georgy that it is typical feline behavior and easily manageable. Despite these minor hiccups, Gosha remains an active and playful kitten.
Yelena takes great care in ensuring her caracal, Gosha, receives a healthy and balanced diet consisting of turkey, rabbit, and other wholesome ingredients. She notes that Gosha has formed a strong attachment to her and views her as his primary caregiver. Interestingly, Gosha displays traits typically associated with dogs, such as a deep sense of loyalty towards Yelena. Nonetheless, Gosha is wary of strangers and prefers not to be left alone.
According to Andrei, Georgy has a habit of being aggressive in his actions. In his spare time, he often rips up cardboard pieces given to him by Andrei and Yelena. Unfortunately, this destructive behavior extends beyond just cardboard as he also causes damage to furniture and wallpaper.
According to Andrei, his cat Gosha is a handful as the mischievous feline has a habit of scratching through walls, leaving behind deep grooves that Andrei tried to repair but eventually gave up on due to the cat’s persistent behavior. Gosha even managed to scratch their TV while watching Animal Planet. Despite these destructive tendencies, Gosha became an internet sensation in early 2020 when a photo of him lying on a windowsill with Zhora went viral, resulting in a plethora of memes, demotivational posters, and manipulated images. These memes started circulating in Instagram meme communities before spreading to other social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit.
Yelena recounted the tale of how they learned about Gosha’s online fame through a friend of her husband who also owned a caracal. Initially, they were thrilled to see Gosha gaining popularity on the internet and eagerly posted pictures of him. Nevertheless, Yelena began to feel uneasy when she noticed Gosha appearing in memes that promoted controversial political views or contained offensive material related to Nazism, racism, or homophobia. Such use of Gosha is entirely unacceptable, and she vehemently denounces it.
A fresh app specifically designed for Big Floppa was launched on the Google Play App Store during the spring of 2021. The app features Gosha, also known as Gregory in English, in motion while you interact with him by tapping. Users have given it high acclaim, resulting in an abundance of positive feedback.
Someone commented on how much they love the game, praising its captivating content and even mentioning some spooky moments that made them jump. They were surprised when they clicked on Shlyopa (Floppa) and heard him growl. The game has a complete set of features that are satisfying without needing anything else. Yelena expressed some concerns about Gosha’s monthly expenses. Although some supporters contribute to help other cats, the amount is not enough to cover the essential expenses for food and litter that cost around 20-25,000 rubles ($270-$340).
In addition, the Bondarev household ensures that their cat, Gosha, receives regular check-ups and vaccinations from a specialist who deals with wild cats twice annually. Although Gosha has a distinctive background, the family treats him as they would any other house cat. Nonetheless, due to his size, they need to take extra precautions as injuries sustained during playtime can be more severe than those sustained by smaller cats. Additionally, larger cats tend to cause more destruction to household belongings. Nevertheless, Yelena stresses that irrespective of their size or origin, all cats are cherished feline companions.
