The Cat Kaomoji (=^･ω･^=)—often referred to as Neko (the Japanese word for cat)—is the quintessential cute animal emoticon. While Western internet culture loves the “Smiley Face” :), Japanese internet culture is obsessed with the “Cat Face.”
These emoticons are instantly recognizable by their whiskers, pointy ears, and the signature “w” shaped mouth. You can find hundreds of variations of these feline faces in the “Animals” section of our Kaomoji Picker.
Quick Kaomoji Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
| Kaomoji | (=^･ω･^=) |
| Name | Cat / Neko (猫) |
| Vibe | Playful, mischievous, hungry, cute |
| Key Character | Uses the Greek letter Omega ω for the mouth |
| Variations | Hundreds (Long cat, happy cat, angry cat) |
| Category | Animals / Cute |
What does (=^･ω･^=) mean?
The Cat Kaomoji is versatile, but it almost always conveys playfulness or wanting attention.
- “Feed Me / Pay Attention”: Just like a real cat, this emoticon is often used to demand attention in a chat.
- Mischief: If you said something slightly cheeky or teasing, adding a cat face softens the blow (similar to the Lenny Face, but cuter).
- Anime Culture: It is heavily associated with “Cat girls” or “Neko” characters in anime, often accompanied by the sound effect text “Nyaa~” (Meow).
How to Type the Cat Face?
The defining feature of most cat kaomojis is the mouth. It isn’t a “w” from the English keyboard; it is usually the Greek Small Letter Omega ω.
- The Mouth: ω (Omega) — Looks like a cat’s cleft lip.
- The Whiskers: = (Equals sign) — Represents the whiskers extending from the cheeks.
- The Ears: ^ (Caret) — Represents perky ears.
Option 1: The Instant Copy
Because typing Greek letters and formatting whiskers is tedious, the best method is to use the Copy Button on this page (or the sidebar).
Option 2: The “Nyaa” Shortcut
If you want to summon a cat instantly in your messages:
- Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacement.
- Phrase: (=^･ω･^=)
- Shortcut: &cat or &meow
Popular Variations
Cats are liquid, and so are their text representations. The internet has created a cat for every mood. You can copy all of these from our Kaomoji Picker tool:
- The Happy Cat: (=^ ◡ ^=) (Smiling eyes)
- The Excited Cat: (≧◡≦) (While not strictly a cat, often grouped here)
- The Scared Cat: (=T__T=) (Crying whiskers)
- The Long Cat: (=^･ω･^=)丿 (Waving paw)
- The Complex Cat: (Φ ω Φ) (Big round eyes, often used for staring)
Conclusion
Whether you are a discord moderator, an anime fan, or just a cat lover, the Neko Kaomoji (=^･ω･^=) is an essential tool for your digital vocabulary. It adds a touch of personality that standard emojis 🐱 simply cannot match.
If you prefer dogs, bears, or rabbits, don’t worry—we have a massive zoo of text faces waiting for you. Check out the Bear Kaomoji guide or browse the full collection at the main Kaomoji Picker.