Introduction to Big Floppa
Big Floppa is an internet-famous cat that has become a popular meme. He is a caracal named Gregory who first gained attention on social media in 2020 for his distinctive floppy ears and expressive face. Big Floppa’s popularity stems from ironic and absurdist memes created using his image, often portraying him as a chill cat with a laidback personality. While he is not a breed, Big Floppa has become synonymous with gray medium-sized cats with pointy ears, spawning an entire subculture surrounding floppa memes. His recognizable features and easy meme-abilty skyrocketed Big Floppa to stardom well beyond most famous felines on the internet.
See more: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/big-floppa
Breed of Big Floppa
Big Floppa is a Caracal cat. Caracals are medium-sized wild cats native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of Asia. They are characterized by distinctive long, black tufted ears and reddish tan fur. Caracals are sometimes referred to as desert lynx or African lynx, however they are not part of the Lynx genus. The name “caracal” comes from the Turkish words “kara kulak,” meaning “black ear.”
Caracals are slender, athletic cats with long legs and a short tail. They typically weigh between 13-18 kg (29-40 lb) and stand 38–50 cm (15–20 in) tall at the shoulder. Their fur ranges in color from reddish tan to sandy, and is marked with small reddish brown spots and black stripes on the face. The backs of their ears are black with long tassels at the tips. Caracals are agile predators known for their remarkable leaping ability, able to jump 3 meters (9.8 ft) or more into the air to catch birds in flight.
While they may resemble the more familiar domestic cat, caracals are wild animals not suited for domestication or being kept as pets. In the wild, caracals inhabit arid regions and grasslands. They are mainly found throughout Africa but also parts of the Middle East, Central Asia, and Asia. The caracal is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Physical Characteristics
The caracal cat is a medium-sized wild cat known for its distinct features. It has a short, smooth coat that varies from reddish-brown to brick-red in color with a white underbelly and insides of legs. The caracal’s most striking feature are its long, black tufted ears which can grow over 4 inches long. These tufted ears are thought to enhance the cat’s hearing when hunting prey. Other notable physical features include long legs, a short face, and a long tail with a black tip.
Adult caracals typically weigh between 13-35 pounds. Males are generally larger than females. Their bodies are around 16-20 inches high at the shoulder. From head to the base of the tail, caracals measure approximately 28-31 inches with a tail length of 10-13 inches.[1]
The caracal is often confused with the African lynx due to similarities in appearance. However, the caracal can be distinguished by its longer ears and lack of spotted fur patterns.
Native Habitat
Caracals are found in most regions of Africa and from the Arabian Peninsula through northwest India (Caracal Lynx). They inhabit forests, woodlands, savannas, grasslands, semi-deserts, and scrub forests, but prefer dry areas with low rainfall and availability of cover (Caracal – Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio). The caracal ranges across Africa and the Middle East to India. It is keenly adapted to the potentially harsh environments of savanna, semi-desert, dry woodland, and scrub forest (Caracal).
In summary, caracals are found throughout Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. They thrive in dry, arid habitats like grasslands, scrublands, and semi-deserts. Their range covers diverse environments, reflecting their adaptability, but they prefer areas with cover to hunt and low rainfall.
Diet
Caracals are strictly carnivorous and survive on a diet consisting primarily of small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Their favorite prey includes rodents like mice, rats, squirrels, and porcupines; small antelopes like duikers; hyraxes; rabbits and hares; and various bird species like guinea fowl, francolins, doves, and pigeons. They will also hunt reptiles such as lizards and snakes when the opportunity arises.
Caracals are adept hunters and use stealth and speed to catch their prey. They stalk their target carefully, approaching within several meters before chasing at high speeds and leaping to catch and kill the animal with a bite to the throat or back of the neck. An adult caracal needs about 3 pounds of meat per day to survive.
Though caracals prefer live prey, they are opportunistic and will scavenge carrion when available. Their need for water is satisfied through the moisture content of their prey.
Caracals play an important role in their ecosystem by helping control populations of small mammals and birds that might otherwise become agricultural pests without natural predators like the caracal to keep their numbers in check.
Behavior
Caracals are known for their remarkable agility and athleticism. They can leap vertically over 10 feet to catch birds in flight. Their powerful hind legs allow them to sprint at speeds over 50 mph to chase prey across the savanna. Though primarily solitary, caracals will occasionally form pairs during mating season. They are territorial and mark their range by spraying urine. Interestingly, caracals make a range of vocalizations including growls, hisses, purrs, and the distinctive “raa-raa” call that gives them their name. When threatened, caracals may spit and make their fur stand on end to appear larger. Despite their fierce hunting abilities, caracals raised in captivity can be quite docile and affectionate with their owners.
Source: http://www.urbancaracal.org/caracal-basics
Lifespan
The lifespan of the Caracal cat in the wild is around 12-16 years on average. According to the Caracal Life Cycle article by Cats for Africa, “The average lifespan in the wild is estimated at twelve years and Caracals in captivity have been reported living up to nineteen years.”
Caracals kept in captivity or as pets tend to live longer than those in the wild, with an average lifespan of nearly 16 years according to Wikipedia’s Caracal article. The article states, “The average lifespan of the caracal in captivity is nearly 16 years.”
Female Caracals may have a slightly longer average lifespan than males. Factors impacting lifespan in the wild include availability of prey, habitat loss, and conflicts with humans or other predators.
Conservation Status
Caracals are classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://wildcatconservation.org/wild-cats/africa/caracal/. This means that caracal populations are stable and not currently at risk of extinction. Caracals are one of the most widespread and common wild cats in Africa and parts of Asia. Their high reproduction rate and ability to adapt to various habitats have prevented any major population decline.
While not endangered overall, caracal populations in some areas are threatened by habitat loss and hunting. However, on the whole, caracal populations remain healthy due to their ability to thrive in dry areas that are not suitable for human agriculture. Conservation efforts have focused on reducing hunting and protecting key habitats to ensure caracals remain at Least Concern status globally.
Big Floppa’s Story
The original Big Floppa that sparked internet fame is a male caracal named Gregory. Gregory first gained attention in 2020 after videos and photos of him from the Instagram account @420dogface208 went viral on Reddit and other social media sites.
Gregory is owned by Natalia Zhdanova and lives in Russia. According to the YouTube video “The Story Behind BIG FLOPPA, The Cutest Caracal” [1], Natalia adopted Gregory from a petting zoo when he was just a couple months old. Gregory quickly bonded with Natalia and became a beloved house pet known for his calm, friendly demeanor.
As videos and photos of Gregory lounging around the house with his signature relaxed posture and large ears spread across social media, he garnered a devoted fanbase charmed by his cute yet silly appearance. His nonchalant vibe inspired the nickname “Big Floppa” along with viral memes and songs praising the chilled-out King Floppa.
While other caracals have been featured in Big Floppa memes, Gregory remains the original internet celebrity cat who launched thousands of Floppa fan accounts and artistic interpretations across the web. His viral popularity led to an entire Floppa meme universe with deep lore, elevating an ordinary house cat into an iconic pop culture figure.
Legacy of Big Floppa
Big Floppa has had a profound cultural impact as an internet meme sensation. The images and videos of this caracal cat have spread far and wide across social media platforms, inspiring endless memes, jokes, and fan art.
It all started in 2020 when photos of a caracal named Floppa started circulating online. Floppa’s adorably large ears, expressive eyes, and fuzzy fur made him an instant hit. The name “Big Floppa” was coined by fans, referring to Floppa’s oversized ears that flop down. Soon Big Floppa became a meme template on sites like Reddit and Instagram, with people editing the images to add funny captions or photoshop Floppa into various scenarios.
The Big Floppa meme really took off in early 2021, when a popular animated GIF of Floppa walking was widely shared and remixed. This brought Big Floppa to new heights of meme fame, cementing his status as an icon of internet culture. Fan communities like the r/bigfloppa subreddit boomed, gaining over 200,000 members. As one Redditor declared, “This caracal had a huge impact on my life. Big Floppa memes gave me joy when I was feeling down.”
Beyond just memes, Big Floppa has inspired fan art, music remixes, merchandise, and more. His unique aesthetic and uplifting sillyness have connected with millions. For many, Big Floppa represents wholesomeness, positivity, and lighthearted fun online. Even major brands like Wendy’s have tweeted Big Floppa memes. It’s clear this meme has left a big imprint on internet culture.
As one popular meme generator proclaimed, “Big Floppa memes provide insanely fast, mobile-friendly meme generation.” The meme template of Big Floppa staring, walking or sitting in silly poses continues to spawn new viral jokes online. Years later, Big Floppa still flops on as a beloved icon of meme culture.
