Tsim Tung Brother Cream

Tsim Tung Brother Cream (also known as "Cream Aberdeen" or Brother Cream for short; 2005–2020)[1] was a male British Shorthair cat who lived at a convenience store in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong.[2] After disappearing in 2012, he became one of the most famous cats in Hong Kong. He died of stomach cancer on 24 May 2020.

Tsim Tung Brother Cream
Brother Cream in 2012
Chinese尖東忌廉哥
Literal meaningTsim Sha Tsui East Brother Cream

Career edit

Tsim Tung Brother Cream was born in 2005 and lived at a convenience store in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong, owned by Ko Chee-shing, his owner.[2]

On 10 July 2012, Brother Cream disappeared,[1] allegedly stolen.[3] Fans of the feline helped to post notices alerting area people about the lost cat.[1] He was allegedly released 20 days later. He was found 26 days later[1][4] in an alleyway and was returned to his owner. The cat had lost 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) while he was away.[5] The incident was published on the front page of local Hong Kong newspapers,[6] and Brother Cream became one of the most famous cats in Hong Kong. A little over two months after the incident, the cat's Facebook page had over 26,000 "likes".[4] On 31 March 2013, the South China Morning Post reported that Brother Cream had over 108,000 followers on Facebook.[7] As of May 2014, Brother Cream had over 160,000 likes on Facebook.[8] As of January 2015 he had more than 170,000 Facebook "likes".[9]

Brother Cream had a partner named Sister Cream, a female, Scottish Fold cat with black and white colouring.[7]

In May 2016 Brother Cream retired as "manager" of the store when it closed.[10][11] Living at home with Ko, he lost some weight; he appeared at a book fair in July 2016 to promote his biography.[11][12]

Brother Cream died of stomach cancer at his home on 24 May 2020.[13]

Books edit

In 2012 Ichiban Publishing published Brother Cream in East TST about Brother Cream.[7] On 30 March 2013, Brother Cream was present at a book-signing event for the book at Mikiki mall in San Po Kong, in which hundreds of people showed up to see the cat; the cat's paws were scanned and stamps were created to act as a signature from the cat.[7] As of July 2013 the book had sold more than 20,000 copies.[14] His second book, Cream Chicken Soup, was published in 2013.[14]

Advertising, television and merchandise edit

Brother Cream has received coverage on television shows.[7] Due to his popularity, Brother Cream appeared in two television advertisement contracts in 2013, for Nikon and Wing On Travel.[2] Brother Cream was also involved in the filming of a television series to be aired on Citybus,[2] one of the major bus operators in Hong Kong. He (and his owner) were interviewed on CNN News in 2015.[15]

Postcards were created that feature Brother Cream.[2]

Filmography edit

Television edit

  • Big Boys Club (TVB) (interview)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d (in Chinese) (18 August 2012.) 尖東忌廉哥搵番啦! 全城尋貓26天 - Yahoo! 新聞香港 Ming Pao Daily News.
  2. ^ a b c d e Yuen, Mark (28 March 2013). "Tsim Tung Brother Cream". HK Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  3. ^ (in Chinese) (15 July 2012.) 尖東貓王「忌廉哥」失蹤 - 太陽報. Oriental Press Group,
  4. ^ a b (in Chinese) 狂吸粉絲偶像寵物——油尖旺Style! - root - 新聞頻道 - 新浪網 Archived 2013-01-07 at archive.today
  5. ^ (in Chinese) (30 August 2012.) 尖東忌廉哥重振雄風 - root - 新聞頻道 - 新浪網 Archived 2012-08-31 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ (in Chinese) (28 September 2012.) ŠúłřOLşô 大姐大手記﹕鮑美麗夠紅 忌廉哥巴閉 舒淇最愛「契仔」朱古力]《明報》2012年9月28日. Ming Pao Daily News.
  7. ^ a b c d e Choi, Christy (31 March 2013). "Top cat Brother Creamy meets fans in Mikiki mall, San Po Kong". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Brother Cream". Facebook.com. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  9. ^ Chan, Yannie (29 January 2015). "Furry Minutes of Fame". HK magazine.
  10. ^ "Goodbye, Brother Cream". China Daily. 25 May 2016.
  11. ^ a b "The politics of a martial arts book fair in Hong Kong". BBC News. 26 July 2016.
  12. ^ Central Station (25 July 2016). "Brother Cream cuts the fat". The Standard. Hong Kong.
  13. ^ Aildasani, Dannie (27 May 2020). "Beloved Hong Kong icon Brother Cream dies". Young Post.
  14. ^ a b Tam, Johnny (22 July 2013). "Brother Cream's 'Cream Chicken Soup' a bestseller at Book Fair". South China Morning Post.
  15. ^ "Hong Kong's answer to Grumpy Cat". CNN. 7 May 2015.

Further reading edit

External links edit