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| Foto:Scp 040 |
VISTORBELITUNG.COM,SCP-040-JP, titled "There was a cat" (ねこがいました), is a unique anomaly originating from the Japanese branch of the SCP Foundation. While often depicted in fan-art as a powerful "cat-girl," the official entry describes an object with potent memetic properties related to the concept of a cat.
Anomalous Capabilities
The primary abilities of SCP-040-JP center around a dangerous cognitive and memetic effect:
Initial Exposure: SCP-040-JP is contained within an old hut. When a subject looks directly into the cabin with the naked eye, they begin to shake and report that "there was a cat." This effect does not occur when viewing images or camera feeds of the interior.
Cognitive Distortion and Obsession: Following initial exposure, the subject becomes obsessed with the idea that "the cat is here." Furthermore, their perception of all ordinary domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) is permanently altered. To an exposed subject, any domestic cat appears as a hairless animal with two human eyes on its face, which stare directly at the subject regardless of the viewing angle. Subjects also report the cat constantly appearing in the darkness to observe them.
Memetic Contagion: The most concerning ability is the object's memetic (mind-affecting) transfer. Subjects exposed to SCP-040-JP will actively tell others about the idea that "there is a cat." Individuals who comprehend this idea to some extent suffer the same cognitive anomaly as the initially exposed subject.
Broad Transmission: The effect can be transmitted through all media—speech, writing, images, and paintings. This suggests the anomaly is not tied to a specific trigger word but rather the idea itself, acting as a dangerous conceptual and cognitive virus. The Foundation speculates that the subjects themselves become carriers of the memetic anomaly.
Background and Formation
The available documentation on the formation of SCP-040-JP is sparse, fitting the mysterious nature of the anomaly.Containment: SCP-040-JP was placed into Foundation containment following Incident [REDACTED] in 1967. This suggests the anomaly has been active for several decades.
Physical Object: The anomaly is physically housed within an old, dilapidated hut that was originally secured with multiple chains and padlocks, which have since broken due to deterioration. The object's anomalous effects are intrinsically linked to viewing the inside of this hut. The 'Cat' Identity: The origin and true nature of "the cat" remain unknown. It is unclear if the object is the source of the idea, a gateway for an extradimensional entity, or simply a vessel that initiates the memetic spread. The power-scaling discussions and fan theories about SCP-040-JP being an Elder God or a Supreme Being that can affect the Alpha Layer (reality baseline) often refer to interpretations or non-canon jokes, especially concerning its popularity in certain online communities. The core canonical anomaly is the memetic infection tied to the initial viewing of the hut's interior.
The origin and formation of the anomaly are therefore best summarized as a pre-existing anomalous object discovered in 1967 that instigates a dangerous, perception-altering memetic agent associated with the unsettling concept of "a cat."