Legends last longer than lives. That’s the reality that strikes us today on hearing the passing of Bento, the “Keyboard Cat,” one of the original viral YouTube sensations of the internet age. Bento was 9 years old.
Keyboard Cat was one of the most popular videos on YouTube during the site’s early days. To this day, the original video has racked up more than 50 million views. All it shows is a cat named Bento playing a jaunty, derpy, slightly trolling little tune on the keyboard. It makes you smile.
RIP Bento, the #KeyboardCat. You played the synth right into our hearts. pic.twitter.com/MmECyjicJi
— Nebraska Humane Cats (@NHSCats) March 19, 2018
Here’s to you, Bento. Hope they have a nice big keyboard in heaven. Don’t stop tickling them ivories.