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In 2000, an abandoned litter of kittens was found on the side of the road. The sole survivor was offered to Brian, a known cat-lover. Brian took the kitten in and nursed him to health. Little did he know that his cat would later become “Facebook famous” after inspiring him to start The Ginger Cat Gang.
Brian named the cat “Murphy.” He picked the name because the cat’s ginger fur (orange coat) and green eyes reminded him of Irish features.
Murphy and Brian soon became best friends. In fact, the two were inseparable. Anywhere that Brian sat, Murphy found his lap. Where Brian went, Murphy follow.
Although the cat tolerated other people, he only showed true love and affection for Brian. Murphy also became known for his big appetite. Although he wasn’t a “chonk” (a chubby cat), he would never let a crumb go to waste.
The Ginger Cat Gang
Fast forward to 2009.
Brian made Murphy his own Facebook page under the name: Murphy McCat. The only Facebook friends he had to start with were family members and friends. Soon after, all sorts of people started sending Murphy friend requests too, which grew his list. Funny enough, when guests would visit Brian’s home, they would often ask to meet Murphy McCat.
Eventually, a handful of other Facebook accounts dedicated to ginger cats friended Murphy. How cute is that?
Since the ginger cat friends loved sharing photos with each other, in 2015, Brian made a Facebook group called: The Ginger Cat Gang. He wanted the group to be a place for people to share photos and videos of their gingers, and also serve as a place to talk about cat-related topics.
The group started with people who were invited from Murphy friend list. But as those friends invited their friends, and so on, membership slowly climbed by the hundreds. To Brian’s surprise, the numbers eventually increased by the thousands.
Members of the group became well acquainted with Murphy McCat, the cat who started it all. As a result, Murphy started to become “Facebook famous.”
Crossing the Rainbow Bridge
Sadly, Murphy started having daily seizures which resulted in a poor quality of life. Brian then had to make the most difficult decision of his life: to euthanize the cat. After examining Murphy, the vet assured him that this selfless act of love was the best thing to do. During the procedure, Brian was with Murphy until his last breath.
Murphy crossed the rainbow bridge in 2017. He was 17-years-old.
However, Murphy’s Facebook success continues to grow.
At the time of writing this blog post in 2021, The Ginger Cat Gang has 75.4 thousand members. Brian says that new members join the group every day. In order to avoid spam and inappropriate content, Brian and his moderators screen through every submission before approving.
The group’s popularity even caught Facebook’s attention. In 2019, The Ginger Cat Gang was featured in a Facebook commercial called Cuddles and Conversation, which promoted the platform’s group feature.
Continued Success
Last year, Brian even launched a website geared towards Ginger Cat Gang fans. The Ginger Cat Gang Store sells cat “merch” including cat t-shirts, catnip, and toys. The store proudly states that all products are “Murphy McCat approved.”
Companies are even starting to take notice of The Ginger Cat Gang. This year, Brian recently became an affiliate for Litter-Robot. Anyone who uses The Ginger Cat Gang Store’s affiliate link gets $25 off their purchase.
Brian hopes to keep Murphy’s spirit alive by continuing to grow The Ginger Cat Gang’s presence. Just recently, he expanded the group to MeWe.com and Instagram. He hopes these additional platforms will give cat lovers more options to share their love for gingers.
Who would have known that a cat found on the side of the road would become Facebook famous?
If you like this story, check out our other post about The Ginger Cat Gang.
Do you have a cat story that should be featured on The Purring Journal? Message us on our contact form to be considered. We can’t wait to hear your story.
DISCLAIMER: I am a member of Murphy’s family, which means this story has a special place in my heart.
Disclaimer: The Purring Journal is not in the medical field. This post is made for entertainment purposes only. Use the information presented in this article at your own risk. Always seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
