Yume Nikki is a 2004 Japanese freeware exploration game by Kikiyama in which players wander Madotsuki's dreams and collect effects that change her form and abilities. The Cat Effect is one of those transformations, and its associated sound has travelled beyond the game through fan soundboards, retro gaming clips and short-form edits. Because the game has no dialogue and relies on atmosphere, even a brief effect sound is instantly recognisable to fans. It remains popular as a compact nod to indie horror history and to the game's strange, dreamlike world.