The Oatmeal

Inman has produced a series of Oatmeal books with content from the webcomic and previously unpublished material, related board games, and other merchandise.

In 2019, Inman announced plans to step back from The Oatmeal for a while to concentrate on other work including the "Exploding Kittens" television series.

He added that he enjoys making people laugh, and although he can't actually see the reaction of others to his work, he still appreciates seeing the high number of page views that his website receives.

[7] In response Inman made a second post going through the Forbes article, acknowledging some good points but picking apart others, including calling multiple sections "bullshit" and defending his work as "a comedian [who speaks] in hyperbole.

[9][10] In June 2019, just after the release of The Secret Life of Pets 2 – a feature animated film in which Inman was credited as creative consultant – Inman told the Washington Post that he "won't be regularly creating the Oatmeal much longer" and was planning a hiatus of around two years.

How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You spent at least 20 weeks on the NYT bestseller list "Paperback Advice & Misc.

[30][31] Revenue from The Oatmeal includes the sale of wall posters, greeting cards, calendars, clothing, coffee cups, signed prints, stickers, magnets, and badges.

[15] The success of the game prompted Lee and Inman to found a company in 2015, also named Exploding Kittens.

[16][17][18] At the same time as announcing his fifth book, The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons I Run Long Distances, Inman announced "Beat the Blerch", an organized running race in 10 kilometer, half, and full marathon formats which was held in Carnation, Washington, on September 20 and 21, 2014.

Burning Cat was to feature appearances from guest speakers alongside a series of gaming and networking activities.

[45] In August 2012, Inman launched a fundraising campaign on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo to support a nonprofit organization offering to purchase Wardenclyffe Tower in Shoreham on Long Island, New York.

[47] Inman, a fan of Tesla, promoted the fundraiser with a blog post on The Oatmeal calling for people and companies to donate.

[47][49] The fundraiser raised $1,370,461 from over 33,000 backers,[50] including Joseph Sikorski, director of the Tesla film Fragments From Olympus,[51][52] and Elon Musk.

[65] Infuriated by the demand, Inman set up a Indiegogo fundraiser to raise $20,000, but to give the money to the National Wildlife Federation and the American Cancer Society.

FunnyJunk's lawyer, Charles Carreon, attempted to shut the campaign down, alleging it violated Indiegogo's terms and conditions.

[70] Carreon also filed a pro se lawsuit Carreon v. Inman et al in United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Inman, Indiegogo, the American Cancer Society, and the National Wildlife Federation in response.

[78][79] On August 28, 2013, a Stipulation of Dismissal with prejudice was filed by Excelsior Printing Company, the litigants in the lawsuit, meaning that the two parties had settled the dispute.

[1][2] Born in Chino, California, he moved with his family to the small, rural town of Hayden, Idaho, when he was in grade school.

He said that while the act would have afforded him more rights, he disliked like the way that SOPA would have put the onus on sites to prove their innocence.

portrait of Matthew Inman, the creator of The Oatmeal comic
Matthew Inman, creator of The Oatmeal
An example of Inman's artwork, the Tumbeasts were used by Tumblr.