Whmeow has circulated online as a tiny meme reaction clip rather than as a line from a known show or film, with no clear original source attached to the short recording. Its appeal comes from its brevity and recognisable cat-like shape, which makes it easy to drop into short videos, memes and reaction edits without explanation. It is often grouped with other meow sounds on soundboards, where listeners look for a quick cute noise, and unlike a longer sad meow song, it works best as a single, sudden interjection that keeps the focus on the visual joke.