Tormund, the viral South Philly orange cat best known for standing, has died

Pet loss is a painful and often isolating experience. But for one South Philadelphia family, the end of their cat Tormund’s life is being grieved by thousands of strangers across the internet.

Tormund, best known as Standing Orange Cat, has died of medical complications, his humans said in a social media post. He amassed nearly 300,000 fans across his dedicated social media platforms because of, well, the funny way he would stand.

The bulbous orange tabby, with white whiskers, freckles on his lips, and green eyes, was a rescue from the streets — so his exact age was unclear. His owners, Alex and Jeff Holden, began posting photos of Tormund online in 2020.

In hundreds of photos and videos posted of the chunky feline since, Tormund could be seen perched on his short hind legs, belly protruding, and front arms awkwardly flapping in the front.

Quickly, the followers came. Comments on social media would call him “rare,” “aloof,” “hilarious,” and “adorable.”

“We don’t know why he started standing,” the Holdens wrote on Tormund’s website, orangecatstanding.com, which they used to sell stickers and other merch. “We’re just glad he did.”

His charming standing pose became fodder online for memes, even inspiring a birthday cake carved in the shape of a standing orange cat for Alex Holden’s birthday celebration last year.

Despite his online virality, Tormund’s owners say he was a sweet, affectionate boy behind the scenes.

“He would jump on the bed and force me to cuddle,” Alex Holden wrote on social media. “He slept on Jeff’s sweatpants, beside his side of the bed almost every night.”

And, Garfield-esque appearances aside, Tormund had never tried lasagna. His favorite human foods were popcorn and turkey. The Holdens said he was on an exercise and diet regimen under their care and that the way Tormund stood made him appear larger than he was.

Last week, the Holdens posted that Tormund’s health appeared to be declining quickly. Veterinarians said he likely had a mass on his spleen, and the cat’s family needed to weigh options fast.

Within about 72 hours, fans raised nearly $5,000 to go toward Tormund’s ultrasounds, scans, and veterinary care.

In a Facebook post, Alex Holden wrote that fans’ quick mobilizing efforts gave her family the ability to make decisions without finances being a factor.

Monday night, she posted the update all pet owners dread.

“We took Tormund to the vet and it was determined it was time to let him go,” she wrote, explaining that a prolonged vet stay had no guarantees and would be traumatic on the cat who famously already hated going to the vet. “We are absolutely heartbroken and feel his loss around us every minute.”

Alex Holden added that leftover funds raised for Tormund would go to Jeff Holden’s cousin, Linday Gaspari, who is credited as “Tormund’s original fan” and the woman who encouraged Alex Holden to post photos of Tormund standing online.

Gaspari was diagnosed with an inoperable cancerous brain tumor last year. She has undergone radiation and chemotherapy to slow the cancer’s growth. The Holdens have directed Tormund’s fans to Gaspari’s GoFundMe if they feel compelled to support.

Alex Holden says she plans to continue posting to Tormund’s various Orange Cat Standing social media profiles in time — “when I can look at pics without crying” and plans to do a run of holiday-themed merch.

“Thank you all for loving him and the community we have created,” she wrote.

Tormund is survived by “his humans,” Alex and Jeff Holden, their son (known as his “human brother,” Oliver), his cat brother Gandalf, and his dog brother George Costanza.