Maru (cat) facts for kids
Maru on the cover of his book from 2009
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| Other name(s) | Round |
|---|---|
| Species | Felis catus |
| Breed | Scottish straight |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 24 May 2007 Japan |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Known for | Internet celebrity cat |
Maru (pronounced "mah-roo") is a famous male Scottish Straight cat from Japan. He was born on May 24, 2007. Maru became super popular on YouTube because of his funny videos. His videos have been watched more than 535 million times! At one point, he even held a Guinness World Record for being the most-viewed animal on YouTube. Many people call Maru "the most famous cat on the internet."
Contents
Maru's Online Adventures
Maru's videos are posted on YouTube under the account name "mugumogu." His owner usually stays behind the camera, so you don't often see them in the videos.
What Makes Maru Special?
Maru's videos often start with simple title cards. These cards are in both English and Japanese. They help explain what Maru is doing in each clip. A common theme in his videos is his love for cardboard boxes. In fact, his very first video famously said, "I love a box!"
Maru's videos are usually short clips, about 3 to 7 minutes long. They show him doing all sorts of things. You'll often see his amazing fascination with boxes. He also has a very calm and gentle personality. Maru's funny actions and clever ways of playing make his videos very entertaining.
Maru's Family
In June 2013, Maru's owner brought home a new friend for him. This was a kitten named Hana. Hana came from a veterinarian's office. Maru and Hana quickly became good friends. Soon, Hana started appearing in videos on the mugumogu channel too.
Later, in November 2020, Maru's owner adopted another kitten. This kitten was named Miri. Miri was rescued from a storm drain by a neighbor.
Maru's Fame and Recognition
Maru is not just popular with everyday viewers. He has also been mentioned in big publications.
Media Appearances
Entertainment Weekly magazine once wrote about Maru. They included him in an article about famous cat videos, alongside other internet stars like Keyboard Cat and Nora. The New York Times also featured Maru. They wrote about how cats and dogs become famous in the media.
Maru's videos have even been used in commercials. For example, he appeared in an advertisement for Fresh Step cat litter on their YouTube channel. He has also been in various advertisements within Japan for different products.
YouTube Milestones
As of December 2011, Maru's YouTube channel was one of the top 10 most subscribed channels in Japan. His popularity continued to grow.
In March 2017, Maru officially received a certificate. This confirmed him as the most-viewed animal on YouTube. By July 3, 2023, his videos had been watched a total of 535,935,278 times.
Maru's Books
Maru's fame led to him becoming a published author, sort of!
In September 2009, a book and DVD were released in Japan. The title was I am Maru (Maru Desu). A second book, called More Maru, came out on August 31, 2011. This book was also only available in Japanese.
See also
In Spanish: Maru para niños
- List of individual cats
- Grumpy Cat
- Lil Bub
- Nora (cat)
- Keyboard Cat
