Gary is SpongeBob SquarePants' pet snail in the long-running Nickelodeon cartoon, and although he is a snail, he communicates with a cat-like meow instead of speaking. That simple gag has been part of the show since its early episodes, making Gary instantly recognisable to viewers who grew up with the series. Online, short clips of his meow are reused as a quick reaction sound for pets and cute moments, because the sound is short, clear, and carries the warmth of a familiar cartoon character.