15 More Famous Cats
By John Platt Jr. February 23, 2019
Sure, you might think the world revolves around your cat, but there are plenty of other cats in the proverbial sea. In fact, some cats are so lovable and popular they’ve become household names. We already listed 10 of the most popular cats in a previous article, but we think there are plenty of other famous cats worth talking about. Here are 15 more you might or might not have heard of!
1. Cheshire Cat
The Cheshire Cat is a truly neutral presence in the story of Alice in Wonderland. He appears to Alice as an obese pink and purple striped cat that also possesses the ability to fade into invisibility. Although he often gives Alice advice on which direction to go, he provokes the Queen of Hearts into a rage directed at Alice because he is bored. Disney fans of all ages know and love his famous wide grin and creepy eyes.
2. Sylvester the Cat
Although we’re sure you recognize the fourth most frequent Loony Toon, Sylvester. Did you know his name is actually Sylvester James Pussycat, Sr.? He is frequently portrayed alongside Wile E. Coyote as they chase Road Runner and Speedy Gonzalez. He is also known for his shorts with Tweety Bird, which often parodied that of Tom & Jerry, another popular cartoon about a cat and its would-be prey.
3. Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat is Dr. Seuss’ signature character, his face adorning all of Dr. Seuss’ publications and films that were made following the book, The Cat in the Hat. We all love this cat for the ridiculous and zany antics he brought into the Walden household. Between the Cat, Thing 1, and Thing 2, Sally and her brother had an unbelievably extraordinary day that we were all jealous of as kids, as the mess was completely cleaned up before their mom came home. This classic character is certainly one we wanted to meet as kids.
4. Crookshanks
Hermione Granger bought Crookshanks from a witch, who claimed no one wanted him. In the Harry Potter series, Crookshanks is a half-Kneazle cat known for its good judgment of people. He can even tell when people are disguised as animals. Ron even asks Crookshanks to investigate if a gift owl from Sirius is, in fact, a real owl. We all love seeing this adorable fluffball on screen in the Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban.
5. Tom
Tom, from Tom and Jerry, is another cat you’ve likely heard of. This love-to-hate, hate-to-love furball is known for the extreme lengths he’d go to in order to catch his nemesis, Jerry the Mouse. Did you know in his first short he was called Jasper? But, in every following short he was known as Tom. His traps and plans aimed at capturing Jerry often backfire, severely and comedically injuring himself in the process. We all love Tom because of his tenacity and creativity when it comes to setting traps for Jerry.
6. Puss in Boots
What can be said about the Shrek franchise that hasn’t already been said? However, we often forget one of the best characters in the series, who premiered in Shrek 2 as a minor character, Puss in Boots. Puss is a smooth-talking, sword-hoisting mercenary who speaks in a recognizable Spanish accent. His tactic of overpowering his enemies by pretending to be an adorable fluffball is what made him popular amongst fans, earning him a spin-off film, a tv-series, a short-film, and another TBA film. This Puss sure has earned his spot on the list.
7. Richard Parker
In the movie the Life of Pi, Richard Parker is the name given to the four hundred and fifty pound tiger that is stranded on the lifeboat with Pi. Originally the tiger was named Thirsty by the hunter who brought him aboard the boat. However, a paperwork mishap led to the tiger to being called Richard Parker by Pi and his father as a joke. Once Pi and Richard Parker were stranded on a lifeboat together, they formed a relationship. Richard Parker survived off food and water provided by Pi. This famous cat isn’t one you’d want in your home, although we love him, nonetheless.
8. The Pink Panther
Did you know the Pink Panther is named after a pink diamond? In the original movie, there exists a pink diamond which is named for a flaw at its center, which was supposed to look like a springing panther. The character the Pink Panther was so popular that it spawned a series of cartoons, merchandise, and theatrical shorts featuring the character. This lovable character is so closely related to the Pink Panther theme song that it is hard to resist not humming the song to yourself every time you see the character. Or, at least that was happening to me while writing this article.
9. The Aristocats
Berliz, Marie, and Toulouse (or the Aristocats) are aristocratic kittens to Duchess that are kidnapped with their mother. They subsequently meet an alley cat, Thomas O’Malley who helps them get home. This classic Disney movie from 1970 holds a warm place in many people’s hearts as they grew up watching this romantic comedy. The movie features an amazingly warm and vibrant soundtrack that only enhances our memories of these adorable kittens.
10. Oliver
Oliver, from the Disney animated film Oliver & Company, is an orange Tabby cat. He is remembered for his ability to get along with a gang of dogs in this modern take on Oliver Twist. Oliver is a courageous and loyal cat that joins a group of kindhearted dogs on the street, and they become a family. Although he ultimately ends up living with Jenny, the familial bond was unbroken between Oliver and the dogs at the end of the movie, a warm-hearted feeling that had us all teary-eyed as Dodger says Oliver is “okay… for a cat.”
11. Salem
Salem Saberhagen is a black American shorthair belonging to the Spellman sisters in the series Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Although he is remembered for being a wise-cracking magic cat that comments on the mania in the Spellman household, he has a dark past. Sabrina the Teenage Witch lore has Salem locked in the body of a cat for a century as punishment for trying to take over the world. Maybe the lovable wisecrack is a mastermind behind the scenes, even in his adorable feline body.
12. Stimpy
Many a 90’s kid have incredibly fond memories of both Ren and Stimpy. Stimpy is the chubby, dimwit, good-hearted counterpart to the psychotic and unstable Ren. His trademark face is him with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. We loved the crazy plans these two hatched up together, with Stimpy being the one in charge of building the electronic and explosive devices for their schemes.
13. Sassy
Sassy is a Himalayan cat that appears alongside two dogs in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. The three believe they are being abandoned by their owners and are tasked with making their way home together. Sassy is a stereotypical cat character in that she is sassy and sarcastic, often clashing with Chance over whether cats or dogs were best. We cherish these three characters for their bravery and tenacity in their journey, which earned them a sequel, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco.
14. Scratchy
For decades, the tv show The Simpsons has become synonymous with American culture. In fact, some people believe it has become so synonymous that it predicted American future. In the Simpson’s, Scratchy is a parody character of Tom from Tom and Jerry. He is almost always brutally murdered or injured by his nemesis Itchy (a parody of Jerry). His character is interesting though, as he never goes out of his way to hurt Itchy the way Tom does Jerry, and yet he still somehow always ends up dead. We love this recurring Simpson’s character, even more so because he’s developed a love relationship with the Simpson’s cat Snowball II.
15. Felix
Although exactly who originally animated Felix remains disputed, Felix the Cat’s impact on cartoons and popular culture cannot be disputed. Felix was an early animated cartoon, debuting in 1919. Felix would appear in many animated shorts in the following years, even establishing a famous pace at which he would walk around. He quickly became a pop culture icon, appearing on Navy insignias, comics, and airplanes. Felix the Cat has been included in countless greatest cartoon lists.
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