Keyboard Cat became widely known from the viral video of Fatso, a cat shown playing a keyboard in footage originally recorded by Charlie Schmidt in 1984. The clip spread online in the late 2000s, especially through “Play him off, Keyboard Cat” edits that ended fail videos with the tune. Its staying power comes from how quickly the melody communicates irony, light embarrassment and classic internet humor. It remains a recognizable reference point in meme culture, particularly for throwback edits and comedic sendoffs.