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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Cat Face :3” is a rare card of the Memes World series 75, number 22466 of the collection, and the 45th best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Cat Face :3” meme mean?
Read :3 as a cat’s smile: happy, cuddly and a little mischievous. It stands in for tone of voice in writing and tells the reader that everything is meant lightly. It fits a thank-you, a gentle tease, a reply to a kind word or a burst of childlike joy. In anime circles it often goes with so-called moe characters, whose innocence is meant to charm. Depending on the context it can also hint at harmless mischief, like a cat that knows exactly what it just knocked off the shelf. In short, it is the text version of a purr.
Where does the “Cat Face :3” meme come from?
The :3 face is a rotated cousin of the Japanese emoticon (ω), which pictures a cat’s muzzle from the front. That one took off on Japanese forums and imageboards, especially 2channel, and reached other online communities in the early 2000s. English-language records back this up: an Urban Dictionary definition dates from September 28, 2003, and an entry for the =3 variant followed in 2005. A 2006 definition spells it out as “colon three”. On April 17, 2009, YouTuber Ray William Johnson launched a web series titled “=3”, which brought it to a wider audience. By June 2010 someone was asking Quora what it meant, a sign it had left anime fandom behind. No single inventor is known; it grew out of shared habits.
- September 28, 2003First English definition of :3 as a Japanese cat-face emoticon appears on Urban Dictionary.
- April 17, 2009Ray William Johnson starts his YouTube series named “=3”.
- June 14, 2010A Quora question asks what :3 means.
How to use the “Cat Face :3” meme
- Ending a thank-you message with :3 to make it warmer.
- Replying :3 to a compliment when words fail.
- Teasing a friend with a cheeky line followed by a mischievous :3.
- Commenting on a cat photo, plush toy or kawaii drawing with a lone :3.
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The “Cat Face :3” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 22466 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Rare |
| Collection | Memes World series 75 |
| Fame | 73/100 · #45 of 300 |
| Recycle value | 10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Cat Face :3” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Cat Face :3 comes out of the Memes World series 75 as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Cat Face :3”
More cards of the Memes World series 75
Frequently asked questions
What does :3 mean?
It is a stylized cat mouth. It shows affection, happiness or cute innocence in a written message.
Where does the :3 emoticon come from?
It descends from the Japanese emoticon (ω), common on boards like 2channel, and spread through English-speaking communities in the 2000s.
How do you pronounce :3?
Most people say “colon three”. Many also just call it the cat face.
Is :3 always sweet?
Usually, yes, but it can also suggest a bit of mischief. The sentence before it sets the tone.
How do I get the Cat Face :3 meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Cat Face :3” is a rare card of the Memes World series 75. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Cat Face :3 card?
It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Know Your Meme — :3 / Cat Face · checked on October 18, 2026.
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