In honor of Hello Kitty's 50th birthday, here are fun facts about the beloved Sanrio character who, turns out, is not a cat.

Sanrio, the Japanese entertainment company that created Hello Kitty in 1974, said the iconic character is 'not a cat,' but rather a 'little girl.' Story by Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY • 6mo ...

Japanese company Sanrio is setting the record straight about their beloved character, Hello Kitty — and no, it is not a cat. Sanrio’s senior vice president of marketing and brand management ...

She said: "So Hello Kitty is not a cat, she's actually a little girl. Born and raised in the suburbs of London, she has a mum and dad and a twin sister Mimmy who's also her best friend.

She wears a big red bow on her cat-shaped head, her face has whiskers, and her name is Hello Kitty. But once again the iconic character’s parent company is saying she’s no feline.

Hello Kitty creators reveal the beloved character is not a cat.. On 18 July, Sanrio, the Japanese entertainment company that created Hello Kitty, made an astounding revelation for the iconic ...

According to Cook, although many are shocked to learn that Hello Kitty is not a cat, her message stays the same. “Her core message is friendship, kindness and inclusivity,” Cook said.

She does have a pet cat of her own, however, and it’s called Charmmy Kitty.” As for the character’s London roots, Yano explained: “Hello Kitty emerged in the 1970s, when the Japanese and ...