In 2014, anthropologist Christine R. Yano, who has studied Hello Kitty extensively, mentioned that Sanrio corrected her when she referred to Hello Kitty as a cat, according to the Los Angeles Times.

It was revealed this past week that Hello Kitty, the popular cartoon character with whiskers and triangular-shaped ears, is not a cat. Related: PHOTOS: Celebs as cartoon characters!

Fans of Hello Kitty might be drawn to the simple lines of the cartoon, or the “cute” style of Japanese culture. Leslie Bow takes the conversation much deeper. When Hello Kitty had her 50th birthday in ...