Does This Cat Really Resemble Adam Driver (Kylo Ren)?
A photo of a cat posted Monday morning has gone viral, thanks to the feline’s resemblance to actor Adam Driver. Driver, whom many know as Kylo Ren — the popular, yet emotional, villain of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed — has been trending this week after his appearance on Saturday Night Live this weekend.
The photo, which was uploaded to the social media site Imgur, has surpassed over a million views to become a viral hit on the Internet. The feline has also been given the nickname “Kitty Ren.” The tabby colored, big-eared feline with a small black spot on its lip and emerald green eyes, managed to garner over 1 million views in a short amount of time.
In recent years, it’s common to find social media posts of cats that end up going viral, with “Grumpy Cat” and “Keyboard Cat” being prime examples. Grumpy Cat went on to superstardom, earning an endorsement deal from Friskies, while Keyboard Cat and creator Charlie Schmidt, also known for his zany humor and “nose dancing” routine, have been busy keeping up appearances around the world and online.
It’s very unlikely the Sith Lord will have any furry friends in future installments of the Star Wars franchise like that of Salacious B. Crumb, the Kowakian monkey-lizard-like creature who sat next to villain and crime lord Jabba The Hutt in Return of the Jedi. Crumb acted as a court jester of sorts, laughing at the misfortunes of anyone Jabba had killed.
A post on Metro.us provides more detail.
“It’s not clear whether The Force is with this cat, but he garnered more than half a million views on Imgur within five hours of the photo being posted.”
Many commenters have mixed feelings on the resemblance, with one person stating the cat looked more like Dobby from the Harry Potter series. Another reader compared the cat to Jedi master Yoda.
“I see Dobby” – OctopussSevenTwo
“Yoda Cat” – Lockstocks
The cat’s breed, on the other hand, has many confused. Though it’s speculated the breed could be that of an Oriental Shorthair due to its striking features found in the breed (large ears, slim body). The Oriental Shorthair, or Oriental for short has ties to the popular Siamese breed due to crossbreeding. The Oriental is also known for being very vocal and requires non-stop attention from its owners.
The Cat Fanciers Association had this to say.
“The Oriental has an equally colorful personality. They are closely linked to the people they claim as their own and desperately want to share their lives with you. In the busiest moments, your Oriental will find a way to interrupt your activities – a little nudge while you eat, a close examination of your tooth brush prior to use, or some help tying your shoes before you leave in the morning.”
This comparison to Kitty Ren is just part of the recognition that Driver has had since his successful year coming off his Star Wars role. Recently, he received praise for his SNL sketch, spoofing the hit reality show Undercover Boss as Kylo Ren, going undercover to determine what his staff is up to while at work. Driver will also appear on the fourth season of the hit HBO series Girls, in which he plays Lena Dunham’s polarizing love interest, Adam, a role he’s held since the show’s debut in 2012.
Though it’s impossible to predict if “Kitty Ren” will become a viral trend in the future like that of Grumpy Cat, it would be interesting to see where the cat’s loyalties lay — with the Jedi or the Sith.
[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]
