These days it’s not just influencers and celebs that enjoy internet fame; some pets do, too! One such pet was Pot Roast, the TikTok Cat. If you’re unfamiliar with this viral kitty, Pot Roast was an adorable black and white feline with a plethora of fans that was best known for its messy eating and extensive hat collection.
But whatever happened to Pot Roast? What is Pot Roast up to now? Unfortunately, Pot Roast passed away on February 16, 2022. This resulted in a devastated internet fanbase and some negative attention toward Pot Roast’s mom. Here’s what happened.
Why Happened to Pot Roast?
Pot Roast wasn’t in the best health for most of her life. Apparently, she had several health issues as a kitten that she managed to survive, but she wasn’t so lucky later on. On February 8, 2022, Pot Roast’s mom posted a video telling the world that Pot Roast had been diagnosed with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
What is FIV? This is an extremely common infection in cats that attacks the immune system, which, in turn, leaves kitty vulnerable to other kinds of infections. Eventually, FIV leads to immune deficiency, meaning all sorts of bacteria and viruses found throughout our environment that wouldn’t normally cause many issues can attack and make the cat quite ill.
In Pot Roast’s case, Pot Roast’s mom was caught entirely by surprise to discover this was the reason the cat hadn’t been feeling well, as Pot Roast had tested negative for the disease as a kitten.
@potroastsmom The most jarring part of this whole situation was the livestrong bracelet #potroasttok
Fans’ Reactions
While there were many, many fans of Pot Roast saddened by the news of her passing who offered condolences, there also ended up being a lot of backlash. But why? Some so-called fans felt that Pot Roast’s mom wasn’t grieving correctly in the way she talked about the cat’s passing. Others felt that she hadn’t handled the entire situation of Pot Roast’s health well, in general.
Then there were the fans of Pot Roast who confused the disease the feline had with FIP (or the feline coronavirus). As a result of this confusion, some people sent emails harassing Pot Roast’s mom, saying that the cat’s passing could have been prevented and asking why she hadn’t had the cat in treatment.
Overall, there were a lot of negative reactions to Pot Roast’s passing, with many people saying some fairly cruel and unhelpful things. However, there was also an outpouring of love and support for Pot Roast and her mom, and Pot Roast’s mom said she wouldn’t have changed the way she shared Pot Roast’s illness and passing.
Final Thoughts
It’s always difficult when a pet passes on, but it can be even more difficult if this occurs when the animal (and pet parent) is in the public eye. Pot Roast was a feline beloved by many, and the internet grieved when she passed from FIV. But some so-called fans of this kitty also lashed out by saying harmful things to and about Pot Roast’s mom. Though Pot Roast’s mom said that she wouldn’t have changed how she handled the situation, it’s still advisable to remember that losing a pet is horrible, whether that pet is famous or not.
Featured Image Credit: Maria Wan, Shutterstock
