‘Big Floppa’, a notable feline with captivating green eyes, a lengthy nose, and furry ears, has taken the internet by storm, with numerous memes, T-shirts, and phone applications featuring his image circulating on social media platforms. Surprisingly, ‘Big Floppa’ is not your average house cat but instead resides in Russia. Andrei Bondarev, a videographer from Moscow, posted a picture of his “pet” having a meal on Instagram in April 2018. This gigantic short-haired cat with an elongated nose, striking green eyes, and lengthy tufted ears rapidly went viral and became a sensation on Reddit and other social media sites. Alongside his two companions, Matvei and Zhora, the cat earned celebrity status in 2020 under the name ‘Big Floppa’ or ‘Kot Shlyopa’ due to his impressive ears. However, the cat’s real name is Gosha, and he hails from the caracal species, similar in appearance to a lynx. Despite being indigenous to Africa, Asia, and India, Gosha was born on December 21, 2017, in a Ukrainian breeding establishment specializing in wild cats.
After a few months, in April 2018, he visited Moscow and found a new residence with the Bondarev family. The family included Andrei and his wife Yelena, who came across an image of an extraordinary wildcat on the internet. They were keen to have one as a pet, and after a year of research and consultation, the couple finally decided to adopt a caracal, making their dream a reality.
Georgy and his furry companions embarked on a lengthy minibus journey that spanned over 24 hours to reach Moscow. Upon arrival, Gosha, the newest addition to the family, was hesitant to explore their new apartment. Fortunately, with the help of Matvei, an older cat adopted from an animal shelter, Gosha slowly but surely became more at ease in his unfamiliar surroundings. Initially, Zhora, the third cat in the household, was not thrilled about Gosha’s arrival and kept his distance from both the new kitten and their owners for several weeks. However, over time, Zhora warmed up to Gosha, and they are now the best of friends. Though litter box training proved to be a bit of a challenge for Gosha, Yelena reassured Georgy that this is a normal part of feline behavior and can be easily addressed. Despite these minor setbacks, Gosha remains an enthusiastic and playful kitten.
Yelena loves to make sure her caracal, Gosha, is well-nourished with a delicious meal consisting of turkey, rabbit, and other wholesome elements. She mentions that Gosha is incredibly fond of her and regards her as his human, exhibiting dog-like traits such as intense loyalty towards her. Despite this, Gosha is not comfortable with solitude and is wary of unfamiliar individuals.
According to Andrei, Georgy has a habit of exhibiting aggression. During his leisure time, he often rips apart the cardboard pieces given to him by Andrei and Yelena. However, this destructive behavior is not only limited to cardboard as he also damages furniture and wallpaper.
Andrei has revealed that his cat, Gosha, can be quite a handful. This mischievous feline has a habit of scratching through walls, leaving deep grooves down to the concrete. Andrei attempted to fix the damage, but ultimately gave up due to the cat’s persistent behavior. To add to his troubles, Gosha also managed to scratch their TV while they were watching Animal Planet. However, despite his destructive tendencies, this furry troublemaker became an internet sensation in early 2020. A photo of Gosha lying on a windowsill with Zhora went viral, resulting in a plethora of memes, demotivational posters, and manipulated images. These memes started circulating in various communities on Instagram before spreading to other popular social media platforms such as Twitter and Reddit.
Yelena recounted how they got wind of Gosha’s online fame through a mutual friend of her husband, who also happens to own a caracal. Initially, they were thrilled about the attention that Gosha was getting on the internet, and they eagerly shared pictures of him. Unfortunately, Yelena soon became troubled when she came across memes that used Gosha to promote intolerant political ideologies or offensive content associated with Nazism, racism, or homophobia. She finds such exploitation of Gosha to be utterly unacceptable and strongly denounces it.
A fresh app exclusively featuring Big Floppa has recently made its way to the Google Play App Store. This app enables users to see Gosha, also known as Gregory in English, in action when they tap on him. It has been receiving a great deal of acclaim from its users and boasts a variety of positive feedback.
Someone shared their appreciation for the game by leaving a comment in which they expressed their fascination with its captivating content and even recounted some spooky moments that startled them. However, they were surprised when they clicked on Shlyopa (Floppa) and heard him growl. The game’s content is extensive enough to not need any further additions. Yelena voiced her worries about Gosha’s monthly expenses, pointing out that the donations received from some supporters are not enough to cover the basic requirements such as food and litter, which cost approximately 20-25,000 rubles ($270-$340).
Additionally, Gosha, a wild cat raised by the Bondarev family, receives biannual check-ups and vaccinations from a specialist in wild cats. Although he has an unconventional upbringing, the family treats him no differently than any other household cat. However, due to his size, he requires extra attention and care as injuries sustained during playtime can be more severe than those of smaller felines. Additionally, bigger cats are known to cause more destruction inside homes. Nevertheless, Yelena emphasizes that all cats, regardless of their size or heritage, are cherished and loved as feline companions.
