Adorable Cat Is Perpetually Tired
Fat Xiang has the kind of sleepy cat energy that can stop a scroll in its tracks. The chunky ginger cat has built a loyal following thanks to his perpetually tired look, his easygoing personality, and the steady stream of photos that make him look like he just woke up from another nap.
Behind the viral fame is Jessie, a dentist in Taiwan who first planned to help Fat Xiang as a trap, neuter, release cat. After a vet visit changed those plans, Jessie brought the cat home, where Xiang now lives with another cat named Shuai and keeps winning over fans one drowsy photo at a time.
His story gets even better once you see how this sleepy little celebrity spends his days.
Jessie is a dentist from Taiwan who has been lucky enough to cross paths with Fat Xiang.
Way back in 2016, Fat Xiang was a stray who had been injured in a fight with other stray cats.
Jessie took Fat Xiang in and brought him to the vet; the news wasn't great. He had FIV.
Feline immunodeficiency virus is closely related to HIV in humans.
Fat Xiang was originally supposed to be a TNR cat (trap, neuter, release), but because of his FIV diagnosis, Jessie changed his mind.
In an interview with Bored Panda, Jessie said:
“I adopted Xiang in 2016. He was a stray cat, and all of the neighbors liked him. Sadly, he would often get hurt by other stray cats who fought with him, and he was small and not strong enough to defend himself. So, I adopted him.”
With TNR cats, the idea is to reduce the growing stray and feral population without harming the cats. Most feral cats should stay in feral colonies and are not suited to living with humans.
Jessie described Fat Xiang as “not a very kissy cat,” meaning he would keep to himself or fight with other strays.
Jessie was surprised to realize that Fat Xiang was actually pretty laid-back and calm about domesticated life.
Jessie says when he calls out for Fat Xiang, the chonky cat comes stomping his way with delight.
Still, Fat Xiang seemed to sleep a lot, even for a cat.
That is when the rescue plan started to change.
So, Jessie took him back to the vet. He said:
“He sleeps about 16-20 hours per day. I was worried that he was sick and took him to the clinic. The vet checked his blood and X-ray and said everything is normal, apart from his FIV. He suspects that Xiang now sleeps a lot more because he was constantly nervous on the street.”
Xiang is living a good life, but things aren't always easy. Jessie explained:
“Xiang gets things like the flu, rhinitis, and eye inflammation easily due to FIV. But he’s still enjoying his life with Shuai and us.”
“He’s always playing with Shuai—since Xiang’s legs are shorter, it’s funny to see him fight with Shuai.”
Also, despite his namesake "Fat" Xiang, he is not actually fat.
His short, munchkin legs simply give off the appearance that he is a chonky boy.
“Their fan page is called “Run! Xiang” because I hope he is happy and vibrant. Fans always joke that I’m a liar because Xiang’s always sleeping [and not actually running].”
Xiang sleeps a lot, mostly on his back, and his love of sleep seems to resonate with humans these days. As Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist, notes, "The comfort of a sleeping pet can bring joy and a sense of calm to our hectic lives," which has undoubtedly contributed to his growing following. You can learn more about her insights on mental well-being at Dr. Ramani's website!
![“Their fan page is called “Run! Xiang” because I hope he is happy and vibrant. Fans always joke that I’m a liar because Xiang’s always sleeping [and not actually running].”](https://static.pupperish.com/images/qrFnMwdNBuWU_9317_700.jpg)
Jessie, Xiang, and Shuai (whose name means "handsome") are living together in Taiwan.
Shuai is also a ginger cat and joined the family in 2019 after his owner unexpectedly passed away.
Fans clearly cannot get enough of the sleepy-cat routine.
It’s a similar emotional turnaround to Fishtopher the cat’s shift from mourning to merriment after losing his family.
Xiang's page gets a lot of questions, with curious followers wondering why Jessie doesn't adopt more cats. They often wonder if Xiang's FIV diagnosis is an issue.
In a post on her professional website, happiness researcher Gretchen Rubin explained:
“The best way to deal with loss is to cherish the memories and ensure that our loved ones, including pets, experience love and comfort in their final moments.”
He continued:
“The big difference between humans and other animals is that, whether it be financial or emotional frustration, there will always be opportunities and choices, and it will slowly get better for us humans. But for the animal, the owner is their entire world.”
Of course, like many social media influencers who have taken in special needs cats, Jessie is also dedicated to doing his part.
In the last year, Jessie has raised funds through calendar sales for other cats with FIV.
It is a small setup, but it has clearly found its audience.
His posts about Fat Xiang continue to delight a growing number of fans, and while there is a lot of sleep (and cattitude), no one shows any signs of stopping.
Everyone involved just has the right personalities to be cut out for this job!
Fat Xiang may be tired, but his fan base is wide awake.
Jessie’s FIV choice is intense, but wait until you see what happened with the woman who rescued a possum that turned into an affectionate lap cat.
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