All hail Miss Sauerkraut! As the most sour kitty on the scene, this Oklahoma-based cutester with the scowling face looks set to rocket to the very top tier of the Internet’s most adored cats. While it’s her disproving and judgmental face that catches the social media eye at first, the look — and her concomitant habit of dressing up in various outfits — is a consequence of Sauerkraut’s battle with feline hyperesthesia.
Taking a break from tracking Sauerkraut’s rise to the top, I spoke to her human, Amy Bender, about the origins of her perturbed look, her views on Grumpy Cat, and whether she’s actually a fan of the fermented cabbage dish she is named after.
Catster: What made you decide to keep Sauerkraut, as opposed to just fostering her?
Amy Bender: Her health issues made her less adoptable to the usual crowd. When you put so much care into a special needs kitty, you get attached and want the best for them.
Catster: Getting to the big question, what’s at the heart of Sauerkraut’s grumpiness?
Amy Bender: I think she’s very annoyed that she doesn’t have thumbs and a driver’s license.
Catster: So what one thing in the world would make Sauerkraut a little less grumpy?
Amy Bender: Becoming the next leader of North Korea.
Catster: How does she feel about Grumpy Cat, the world’s most notable crabby cat?
Amy Bender: Definitely a role model. Actually, Sauerkraut would love to meet her someday.
Catster: Sauerkraut’s Facebook page mentions that she has a plan for world domination. How is she going about achieving that?
Amy Bender: She has a secret war room where she has clandestine meetings with some minions, a devil bear, and Domo. I’m not allowed in. I think we are all in trouble, though. I’m working on a bunker.
Catster: What’s the story behind this Fort Kickass that Sauerkraut mentions so much?
Amy Bender: Fort Kickass is the Frankenstein’s monster of a cat tower in our living room. Sauerkraut hides in the tube and bats wildly at anyone — cat or person — who gets near. She actually wanted to install airhorns, but I put my foot down.
Catster: Sauerkraut is known for dressing up in outfits to help out with her hyperesthesia. What are her favorites?
Amy Bender: She seems to like sundresses and sleeveless hoodies the most, but she detests hats and hates sleeves. She is also not a fan of skirts that drag on the floor.
Catster: Her profile is really starting to take off. Why do you think people across the world are becoming so smitten with Sauerkraut?
Amy Bender: I think Sauerkraut is a really fun distraction. Some of her friends have said that on really rotten days, seeing her scowly little face really makes them smile.
Catster: If Sauerkraut could give a message to the world, what would it be?
Amy Bender: She would definitely say to foster or adopt shelter pets! She was rescued from a kill shelter by OK Humane. If you can’t foster or adopt — volunteer or donate!
Catster: Finally, does she show any interest in eating the food sauerkraut?
Amy Bender: Well, we let her sniff some sauerkraut once, and she wrinkled her nose and sneezed in it. I took that as a resounding no.
About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world’s foremost expert on rappers’ cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it’s not quite what you think it is.
