Cats are one of the internet’s favourite creatures and you can’t scroll through social media these days without seeing a whiskered face looking back at you. But this love of felines isn’t just a new fad - prior to the internet craze there were (and still are!) a number of famous cartoon cats that stole the show.
Here’s the list of our 14 favourite famous cartoon cats from comic books, films and TV shows. We’re sure you’ll recognise a face or two!
14 famous cartoon cats
From the original famous cartoon cat, Felix the Cat, to everyone’s favourite lasagne-loving moggie, Garfield, here’s our favourite animated kitties:
1. Garfield – Garfield and Friends
A list of famous cartoon cats wouldn’t be complete without mentioning this orange tabby with attitude. Known for his lazy, lasagne-loving persona, Garfield loves to tease his dog Odie and antagonise his owner Jon. He started off his career as a comic strip, but he’s become so popular he’s even had his own animated show and movies too.
2. Tom – The Tom and Jerry Show
Tom and his rivalry with Jerry the mouse is infamous, particularly his setting of traps that always seem to backfire. The grey and white cat rarely speaks (other than the odd yelp here and there) and it’s a common misbelief that Tom wants to eat Jerry - he actually just wants to compete with him!
3. Felix – Felix the Cat
Originally a silent film star, Felix the Cat took to the TV screen in the 1950s, making him one of the oldest cartoon cats! He’s known for his magic bag of tricks - a satchel that can change into any shape and possess the characteristics of anything he wants. Felix was so popular that another TV series was created in the mid to late 90s.
4. Sylvester – Looney Tunes
You have probably heard the line “I tawt I taw a puddy tat.” The source of this famous catchprase? Tweety, the cute yellow canary who is forever chased by Sylvester. This famous cartoon cat talks with a lisp and one of his most famous catchphrases is “sufferin’ succotash”.
5. Top Cat – Top Cat
Top Cat is a well-loved famous cartoon cat, but did you know that the animated TV show only ran from 1961–1962? The show followed the gang The Manhattan Alley Cats and their yellow tabby leader, Top Cat, whilst they carried out frequent get-rich-quick schemes. They were experts at evading Officer Charlie Dibble, a cop that tried to evict them from the alley. Interestingly, the show was inspired by The Phil Silvers Show and Top Cat himself was loosely based on Sergeant Bilko, a crafty con man from the show.
6. The Cat in the Hat – Dr. Seuss
The Cat in the Hat is a 6ft tall anthropomorphic cat from the book and film of the same name. He’s known for donning his red and white striped hat and red bow tie and for his quick-witted humour. In both the book and film, The Cat in the Hat turns up at Sally and her brother’s house and enacts chaos with Thing One and Thing Two. Before he leaves, he uses a magical machine to clean up and disappears just before mum gets home.
7. The Cheshire Cat – Alice in Wonderland
The Cheshire Cat is perhaps one of the most famous cartoon cats in the world and everyone knows of its nonsensical advice and wide, toothy grin. There have been many versions of The Cheshire Cat over the years. In the book it is a standard tabby cat whilst in the Disney film, it is a pink and purple striped feisty feline!
8. Hello Kitty – Sanrio
Hello Kitty is a feline that’s loved all over the world. Her face appears on lots of merchandise including clothes, accessories, toys, games and books, and she has even had her own TV series. Always seen with her signature cute red bow, she’s said to be a Japanese Bobtail cat, a breed that’s a symbol of good fortune in Japan, which seems appropriate considering Hello Kitty is now one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time!
9. Penelope Pussycat – Looney Tunes
Although Pepe le Pew often mistakes Penelope for a skunk, she is in fact a famous cartoon cat. The black and white kitty is Pepe’s reluctant love interest and has made numerous appearances in comics, TV and films. In all her roles she’s only ever had one speaking part which was in the 1995 short, Carrotblanca.
10. Pink Panther – The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther began as an animated character in the opening and closing credit sequences of The Pink Panther films, but he became so popular he got his own spin offs. Now seen in theatrical shorts, cartoons, films, TV shows and with a range of merchandise including games, The Pink Panther is one of the most famous cartoon cats in the world.
11. Puss in Boots – Shrek
Puss in Boots is probably best known as the charismatic ginger tabby voiced by Antonia Banderas in the Shrek films, but his story actually dates back far earlier. Beginning as an Italian fairy tale, the original Puss in Boots was known for using trickery and deceit to gain money, power and the hand of a princess for his poor master. Today, Puss in Boots is seen in many different media from films, TV shows, the ballet ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ and the ever-popular UK pantomime of the same name.
12. Figaro – Pinocchio
Figaro is the adorable pet cat of Geppetto and Pinocchio, but did you know he was also Walt Disney’s favourite ever character? After creating him for the film, Disney wanted him to appear as much as possible, so he later became the pet of Minnie Mouse. He went on to star in his own, and Pluto’s cartoon shorts and appeared in House of Mouse too.
13. Duchess – The Aristocats
From Disney’s The Aristocats, Duchess is an elegant, ladylike cat who is owned by an aristocrat (hence the name of the film). She’s not the only famous cartoon cat from the movie though, there’s also the streetwise Thomas O’Malley and Duchess’s adorable kittens Toulouse, Marie and Berlioz.
14. Meowth - Pokémon
Meowth is a small feline Pokémon from the Pokémon franchise. It has cream fur and later evolves into a Persian. It has a capacity for human-like intelligence, even learning to speak and is a member of the villainous Team Rocket. The character is a tribute to how mischievous and intelligent our own furry friends are.
That’s our list of the top 14 famous cartoon cats! Want to find out about more felines that have captured the hearts of many? Read our article on the most famous cats in history, next.
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