She is one of the most recognizable and iconic Internet cats of all time. As she nears her 10th Purrthday, Venus takes the time to talk about fame, furtune and family.

KATNISS: As a famous supermeowdel, What is one of the big misspurrceptions about your life?

VENUS: That my face has been Photoshopped! Even after all these years, people still think that!

KATNISS: Well, you are very mewnique. I can’t decide which is your better side. Both purrofiles are surpurrising. But enough about your looks – you are so much meowr than that.

VENUS: Thank mew.

KATNISS: You are one of the OG, or original, Internet cats. One of the trailblazers. Any advice for up-and-coming Internet cats?

Artwork by Imagine By Day

VENUS: Be yourself. If your Human is demanding a lot of photographs, you need to be paid in treats. And lap time. You’ve earned it!

KATNISS: You’re not kitten, my furiend. Now tell me about your family – you’re not the only one on social media.

Me and Roo

VENUS: I have two special needs cat siblings, Roo and Tater, who both have Radial Hypoplasia, which means Tater’s front legs are bent and Roo’s are twisted and bent and he can’t put weight on one of his paws. I also have a sister named Ginger who, like yourself, is a female orange tabby, which is uncommon since most gingers are male. There’s also Halo, my dog sister who lost both her eyes to glaucoma. So everyone in our fur family has something special or mewnique about them. Also, Meowmy has done a lot of TNR and fostering over the years, so there have been lots of kittens around. Someday we even hope to have a Foster Room in our basement. So there’s never a dull meowment!

Me and Tater

KATNISS: This summer, you are doing meet and greets at VidCon in California and Meowfest in Toronto. How do you feel about meeting people in purrson?

VENUS: As long as I am in a quiet area, I am comfurtable. I don’t mind traveling and meeting fans, but Meowmy limits my travel because she’s always got my best interests in mind. Even if there’s purrtential big money, if she thinks I won’t be at ease, she’ll turn it down. She understands that like most cats, I prefur to be curled up at home on a soft bed… or lap.