I just love when cats fit their names to a T, like The Oreo Cat. This black-and-white, fluffy cat is just as sweet and beloved as his namesake. But there is goodness on the inside, too.
Oreo’s Brush With Bullying
When his human, Tina Modugno, started sharing Oreo on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Musical.ly and Live.ly, she noticed that — in sharp contrast to receiving many positive reactions — Oreo received tons of negative comments, too. “You would not believe the number of people I’ve had to block on various platforms for hateful and sometimes even violent comments,” Tina tells us. “I am an adult, and reading those things really hurts me, so for a young child it has to be tenfold.”
Oreo Teams With Atchoum to Address Bullying Through a Book
Thus, Oreo took the issue of bullying head on with a book, Atchoum and Oreo: First Day of School (featuring Atchoum, another celebricat who has experienced cyber bullying), and throughout his daily interactions. According to Tina, Oreo receives direct messages every day about online bullying. “I often spoke out about the issue on Musical.ly, as well as through our live streams on the Live.ly app,” Tina says. “Kids felt comforted to know that we’ve been through similar issues, and they began to come to me with their own issues.”
Even More Oreo
Currently, Tina is working on Oreo’s line of cat accessories, like feline-friendly bandanas and bow ties, and creating content for a few new apps. Oreo and Tina also have a live streaming show every Monday on the Live.ly app and on Mondays at 2 p.m. EST, they do The PET.ly Show to discuss DIY projects for pets and pet issues.
The duo also works with PEP! The Pet Education Project. Tina says, “I really don’t know what else lies ahead for Oreo and me, but I know we still have lots of work to do! As long as we are able to continue entertaining people and making people laugh, we will keep pushing ahead!”
Editor’s note: This article appeared in Catster magazine. Have you seen the new Catster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Catster magazine delivered straight to you!
Read more cat news on Catster.com:
5 thoughts on “The Oreo Cat Uses His Social Following to Fight Bullying”
I realized a long time ago that human beings are the worst species ever created. We are awful creatures. The only difference between us an a cat or dog or wolf is the level of intelligence (in OUR temrs, not theirs!). And it is that intelligence that has gotten humans into being the worst species.
Animals know things we do not, and we cannot know, given our limited senses. For example: My cat, Bear, most obviously and definitely chose ME to be his human being. And he was right. He also knows which of my friends and neighbors are “Cat People” and who is not. He makes this quite plain. I do wonder HOW he knows this….is it something he smells, sees,…..?? I trust his judgement.
Bear and Annie, sweating in Florida
The nasty people who type negative comments are definitely not happy human beings. Happy people don’t spread negativity and hate. Oreo’s beautiful, keep up,the sharing it’s heart warming.
There are petty people everywhere. The same Being that created humans created Oreo and Atchoum as well, and endowed them with certain gifts. They are empathic animals, highly intelligent, and they DO have feelings and CAN feel affection for their owners, for those who love them. To attack them for behaving as they do under certain circumstances, which they can not help, is approaching blasphemy.
I simply cannot imagine how anyone could come up with a negative comment about Oreo, or any cat, for that matter. Some people have entirely too much free time.
i follew pep and oreo on music.ly