Shironeko, otherwise known as Shiro the cat, has died. Shiro's death was announced earlier this week on a popular fan page dedicated to the Internet-famous feline, an 18-year-old Turkish Van cat who hailed from Japan. “Our beloved Shironeko,” read the post. “March 8th, 2002 – March 2nd, 2020.”

Is Shironeko dead?

Shironeko, an internet celebrity cat from Japan, who was famous for his relaxed demeanor and uncanny ability to balance different items on his head, passed away on March 2, 2020 at the age of 17, according to an announcement on the cat's blog on March 8, the day Shironeko would have turned 18.

Is Tama a cats name?

The name Tama is a cat name with a long history in Japan, much as the name Socks is thought of as a traditional cat name in some English speaking countries. As a name it doesn't carry any special meaning, its popularity is mainly due to the way it sounds-short, easy to say and somehow endearing.