TOKYO, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A captioned picture book about Maru, the chubby Japanese feline that became an Internet sensation, hit the stores Tuesday, Maru's "roommate" said.
The 4-year-old, 12-pound, male Scottish Fold -- whose name means "round" in Japanese -- has attracted more than 100 million views on YouTube since its "Mugumogu," or roommate, began posting videos of its hijinks Oct. 25, 2008, USA Today reported Tuesday.
The full-color book comes with captions in Japanese and English and features the cat frozen in time with various toys, in varying sleeping spots and in poses evidently designed to end debate concerning who is in charge of the domain, the report said. After all, the book is titled, "I Am Maru," not "I Am Mugumogu."
There is no mention of "pet" or "owner" in the book, the newspaper said.
The woman behind the camera maintains her privacy and will reveal neither her name nor the city where she and Maru live. She will reveal Maru's favorite treats include tuna and chicken breast tenders and his favorite resting place is on the bathroom sink.
She said after Japan's earthquake and tsunami in March, people were so concerned about Maru that e-mails flooded in from around the world expressing concern, USA Today said.
Unfortunately Maru will not make any celebrity appearances in the United States any time soon, Mugumogu said.
"As Maru does not own a private jet, he is not planning to do a U.S. tour, unfortunately."
