Yuantou Maodie (Round-Headed Feral Cat)

Yuantou Maodie (simplified Chinese: 圆头耄耋; pinyin: Yuántóu Màodié), also known as Yuantou Maodie or Round-Headed Cat Dad, is a Chinese internet meme originating from Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok). It refers to a round-headed, aggressive, and untamable stray orange tabby cat that became an online sensation.
Name Meaning

The name is a homophonic pun. "耄耋" (mào dié) traditionally means "an elderly person in their 80s or 90s," but here it is used as a playful homophone for "猫爹" (māo diē, literally "Cat Daddy"). The nickname humorously portrays the cat as an arrogant, hard-to-please "living dad" figure — stubborn, aloof, and impossible to domesticate.
Background

The cat first appeared in 2020 in the home of a Douyin user known as "White Gloves & Malinois Wangcai" (白手套&马犬旺财).

It went viral in September 2024 after a video showed the cat — which had been fed by the owner for four years but never tamed — forcibly breaking into the house, attacking the owner's resident cat, and stealing food. When the owner tried to shoo it away, the cat reacted with extreme aggression, hissing and swiping for hours, even refusing to leave while the door stood wide open. The owner documented the standoff and uploaded it, and the clip quickly exploded across Chinese social media.
Meme Evolution

Since then, "Yuantou Maodie" has become one of the most influential memes in Chinese internet culture, spawning a wide range of derivative works:

Sticker/Emoji Culture: Countless reaction images and sticker packs have been created, with the most iconic being its classic "shocked round-head" expression.

Character "Evolutions": Fans have reimagined the cat in various forms, including a popular "Spider Maodie" variant.

Crossover Pairings: It has been paired with another well-known meme character, "Doro," forming an unexpected internet couple (CP).

"Resurrection" Meme: In early 2025, after rumors of its death circulated, a user filmed a similarly fierce-looking stray cat, sparking a "I came back from hell" revival meme, often cross-referenced with JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and other anime.

Cross-media Appearances: Its influence has even reached gaming; for example, a mod featuring Maodie as a playable character appeared in Slay the Spire 2.

Controversy

Due to its frequent association with aggression and violence, "Yuantou Maodie" has also drawn criticism. Some have accused it of promoting "animal cruelty humor" or trivializing animal abuse. In one incident, a commercial brand's marketing video featuring Maodie-related content was removed after public backlash and an apology.