These Famous Cartoon Cats Stand The Test Of Time (And Cuteness)
My fellow cat people, I am here to spark joy. For decades, cats have made their mark on mainstream media, starring in movies, comics, and commercials. What's cuter than a famous cat? A cartoon cat, of course.
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From sweet kittens to fierce lions, here are the 23 most famous cartoon cats of all time:
1.Garfield (Garfield)
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Garfield was the OG Grumpy Cat, boasting his signature look of being absolutely done. He originally appeared in a comic strip by Jim Davis, accompanied by his human Jon and his dog brother, Odie. Since his inception, Garfield has received the book, TV series, and movie treatments.
2.Oliver (Oliver & Company)
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Disney's 1988 movie remains one of the most underrated of the era, but it's still memorable to many. It follows a tabby kitten called Oliver as he finds his way from the streets of New York City into the home of a loving family.
3.Lucifer (Cinderella)
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Lady Tremaine from Cinderella would be a cat lady (as a cat lady, I feel like I can say this). Her beloved pet is aptly named Lucifer, and he's just as much of a menace as the stepmother and her daughters. Lucifer is an entire mood, but in his defense, he mostly just wants to sleep.
4.Tom (Tom & Jerry)
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The world's most famous cat and mouse duo dates back to the 1940s. Their claim to fame is a series of comedic shorts that feature Tom the cat chasing Jerry the mouse, and Jerry chasing Tom right back. This routine never fares well for either of them.
5.Sylvester (Looney Tunes)
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In similar fashion, Looney Tunes icon, Sylvester, is seen hopelessly hunting Tweety. This talking feline has appeared in over a hundred cartoons and is one of the most notable animated cats in history.
6.The Aristocats (The Aristocats)
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While each of these legends technically deserves a moment to shine, I am grouping the Aristocats together. There are no cuter cats in the history of animation than the regal Duchess, the smooth-taking J. Thomas O'Malley the Alley Cat, and Duchess's three kittens, Marie, Toulouse, and Berlioz.
7.Rajah (Aladdin)
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Big cats are cats, too, so here we go! Rajah is an absolute treasure and steals the show in the beloved Disney animated feature, Aladdin. He made every kid in the '90s want a pet tiger and was a stellar bestie to Jasmine.
8.Tigger (Winnie the Pooh)
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Another famous tiger resides in the Hundred Acre Woods. Pooh's energetic companion, Tigger, has become a household name since the inception of the franchise back in 1926.
9.Tony the Tiger (Kellogg's Frosted Flakes)
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Another famous cartoon tiger can be seen on the front of a cereal box. Tony has been informing us that Frosted Flakes are more than good — they're grrrreat — for generations.
10.The Cat in the Hat (Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat)
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This cat has long been wrecking havoc with Thing 1 and Thing 2. He is possibly the most famous feline in literature, as the titular character in Dr. Suess's children's book, The Cat in the Hat.
11.The Pink Panther (The Pink Panther)
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While this franchise centers around Inspector Jacques Clouseau, its cartoon mascot is debatably even more of a star. The Pink Panther himself is also the best dancer on this list.
12.Hello Kitty (Sanrio's Hello Kitty)
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The Hello Kitty craze of the '90s was truly a time to be alive. This Japanese Sanrio character has graced plenty of themed merchandise and received her own TV series. Her iconic pink bow is recognizable anywhere.
13.The Cheshire Cat (Alice in Wonderland)
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The Cheshire Cat gives cats a weird rap, but he's an icon nonetheless. This staple character from Alice in Wonderland literally haunts our dreams and is one of the most memorable elements of Disney's 1951 adaptation.
14.Snowball II (The Simpsons)
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Snowball II (whose name pays homage to the Simpsons' first cat, Snowball I) is Lisa's cat in the series. She is often bothered from her peaceful life to be pulled into the family's hijinks.
15.Puss in Boots (Shrek 2)
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This sword-wielding cat received his own movie after capturing audiences with his charm during the Shrek films. He went from sidekick to main character, and rightfully so...look at that face!
16.Simba (The Lion King)
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Perhaps Disney's most famous feline is the king of Pride Rock. Simba remains one of the most beloved animated characters in history and is a mischievous, troublemaking cat at his core.
17.Sagwa (Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat)
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Based on the children's book by Amy Tan, Sagwa received her own TV show on PBS Kids in 2001. In the series, she is Chinese royalty and goes on many adventures with her siblings and bat friend, Fu-Fu.
18.Cat (CatDog)
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This bizarre children's show was a moment during the late '90s. CatDog aired on Nickelodeon and followed the mayhem of a conjoined cat and dog. Cat is the brains of this duo, naturally.
19.Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes)
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The notable newspaper comic series, Calvin and Hobbes, was created by illustrator Bill Watterson. Since then, the pair has starred in many books, and Hobbes, Calvin's stuffed animal come to life, is one of the most famous cartoons to date.
20.Bagheera (The Jungle Book)
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In The Jungle Book, Mowgli befriends a wise panther named Bagheera. This guy rules over the jungle and is one of the most well-known cats in animation.
21.Felix the Cat
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As one of the first cartoon characters with a cult following, Felix is worth noting. He was created in 1919 during the silent movie era, and has been reinvented across cartoons many times.
22.Figaro (Pinocchio)
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This sweet little black-and-white kitten, owned by Geppetto in Disney's Pinocchio, might be a minor character, but he's notable to any Disney fan. Why? He's super cute and brings all of the nostalgia.
23.Chloe (The Secret Life of Pets)
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Chloe might be the newest addition to this list, but with good reason. This pudgy gray cat spends her days lazily batting around toys, waking her human at the crack of dawn, and living a secret life with her dog friends while her owner is at work.
