Jared Leto channels Karl Lagerfeld's furry feline friend at Met Gala in life-size costume

Karl Lagerfeld's famous Birman cat Choupette may have declined to attend the Met Gala, even though the theme was set to honor her late paw-rent, but tributes to the cat were not limited.

Jared Leto dressed up in a full animal suit, appearing like a massive version of the cat before removing his oversize feline head and changing into a black, jewel-collared look featuring a cape.

As he changed, Leto wiped sweat from his brow before facing press. Leto has been known to don some pretty reaction-inspiring looks on the Met Gala's carpet in past years. In 2019, Leto brought an extra special accessory: A replica of his own head.

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Doja Cat also showed up in a purr-fect look, complete with prosthetics.

The “Planet Her” rapper, 27, stunned at the New York City fashion event Monday night with a look that seemed to honor the late designer's pet.

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And Janelle Monáe showed up with a bright white kitty purse in hand.

Choupette is a star in her own right — and still very much alive.

So, naturally, there was much chatter about whether the fashion designer’s muse would attend Monday’s Met Gala honoring him — but the cat took to Instagram to dispel rumors that she would be escorted up the stairs in New York.

“Many people invited me to walk the red carpet of the #METGALA2023 in tribute to Daddy, but we preferred to stay peacefully & cozy at home,” the Choupette Lagerfeld account said in an Instagram post on Monday. “We pay tribute to my Daddy every day since his parting and we are very moved to see one more day dedicated to him.”

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(Choupette is represented by a pet marketing agency, which likely penned the post on her behalf.)

The white Birmin with stunning blue eyes and creamy markings akin to baked Alaska was born Aug. 15, 2011. At 10 weeks or so, she was given to Baptiste Giabiconi, one of Lagerfeld’s model friends in Paris.

It was Giabiconi who named her Choupette, a nickname in French for “cute girl.” Giabiconi asked Lagerfeld to care for the cat for two weeks while he was on holiday. As Lagerfeld described to New York magazine in 2018: “When he came back, I told him that the cat was not returning to his house, and I kept it, this kind of genius creature.”

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Contributing: Charles Trepany, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who was in a cat suit at the Met Gala? It was actor Jared Leto