Cats in Comics and Animation
Dogs may be man's best friend, but there's no arguing that cats dominate the comics and animation scene.
And if to the domesticated species we add their wild cousins (tigers, lions, panthers, etc.), the spectrum of their reach grows exponentially.
Although cats have been portrayed in the arts around the world since ancient times, the new printing technologies and the expansion of the printed press in Victorian times made cat images in cartoons as widespread as internet has done today with LOLCats memes.
The appeal of anthropomorphic cats representing different social roles is undeniable.
Due to their complex character (ranging from jolly to devious and plain mean), cats seem to epitomize humans better than simpler animals, such as dogs or birds.
Interestingly, cats are a regular feature in Japanese manga and anime because, unlike some Western culture beliefs which associate cats with demons and bad luck since the Middle Ages, in Asia cats are traditionally considered bringers of good luck.
Here we present you 22 of the most famous cats in cartoon and animation
1.- Louis Wain’s Cats (1884)
The original Catman, Louis Wain's cartoons were first published in 1884, creating a splash in London society and catapulting him to instant fame.
Counting with formal education in the arts, Wain’s cats were realistic and followed the Victorian aesthetic, but as he progressed in their creation they became more loose and cartoonish.
Wain continued producing cat cartoons and pictures for multitude of products, including newspaper and magazine illustrations, children's books, calendars, books of poems, greeting cards, etc.
Suffering from declining mental health, Louis Wain's art turned stranger by the end of his life, but as a result he's also credited as being the father of psychedelic art.
In 1972 the Victoria and Albert Museum dedicated a whole exhibition to Wain’s work, and most recently his fascination with cats was portrayed in the film “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain”.
Louis Wain put cats on the public scene like no other artist before, and his artworks can still be found in printed cards, calendars and books up to this day.
2.- Krazy Kat (1913)
Krazy Kat (also known as Krazy & Ignatz in some reprints and compilations) was created by the American cartoonist George Herriman, and ran as a comic strip from 1913 until1944.
Krazy Kat "Keeping Up With Krazy" (6:26)
Herriman’s creation should not be confused with Krazy Kat, a series of animated shorts produced in the 1930s by Charles Mitz and released by Samba Pictures/Columbia Pictures.
In fact, it was not until 1962 when Geroge Herriman's comic strip was released in animated form, and in color in the Krazy Kat Show.
The animated shorts, which ran for two years, brought the revamped adventures of Ignatz and his infatuated Krazy Kat to a new generation of viewers, an audience which grew with successive screenings in foreign countries and translations to several languages.
And although no new adventures of Krazy Kat and Ignatz are produced, fans of their comic strip still remain and continue to remember their legacy of ‘kraziness’.
3.- Felix the Cat (1919)
Created in 1919 by cartoonists and film-entrepreneurs Pat Sullivan and Otto Messner, Felix the Cat (the wonderful-wonderful cat) has honored the belief that cats have nine lives.
Felix Opening English (0:25)
His name makes reference to the Latin proper name ‘Felix’ (Joyful one) but also to the Latin name for house cats (Felis catus). From the very start, Felix captured the public’s attention by its stark blackness against the write paper of newsprint, and its large round eyes.
In fact, much of Felix’s success can be probably attributed to its simple storylines and sleek design. Despite being more than a century old, Felix’s original design has remained practically unchanged, and still looks modern.
And while some other cartoons of its time, such as Betty Boop or Popeye are directly associated to their era, Felix remains joyfully timeless.
When Otto Messner retired, King Features Syndicate chose his assistant, Joe Oriolo, to continue the strip.
In 1960, Felix’s adventures jumped from the printed page to the TV screen, when Joe Oriolo and Trans-Lux produced a series of color animated features.
Felix’s adventures and his effigy can still be seen in a wide array of merchandise - from notebooks to digital GIFs, proving that Felix’s charisma has nine lives, and his fan base is still going strong.
4.- Tom (from "Tom & Jerry") (1940)
Part of the most famous cat and mouse duo, Tom & Jerry was created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera in 1940 as a series of 161 comedy shorts for cinematic release by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Tom & Jerry's initial short film titled “Puss Gets the Boot” proved successful in theaters and garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject (Cartoon).
Hanna and Barbera later directed a total of 114 Tom and Jerry shorts for its initial MGM run from 1940 to 1958. During this time, they won seven Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film.
Since then, this much-beloved due has never ceased to appear on all kinds of screens available, always present and relevant, even spurring copies and imitations worldwide.
Nowadays, the cat Tom and his clever nemesis Jerry continue to be relevant, with their later incarnation in the 2021 hybrid animation and live action film Tom and Jerry.
5.- Sylvester (1945)
Perhaps one of the most versatile cartoon characters ever, Sylvester has appeared across a wide range of animated features, along several other Warner Bros characters such as Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Elmer Fudd, always playing a lovable mixture of ill-fated villain and victim of his own mishaps.
This versatility has allowed him ample exposure in a variety of roles, and along the evil but innocent-looking canary Tweetie, Sylvester is one of the most beloved cat cartoons of all times.
Voiced by Mel Blanc (who also provided the voice for Tweety, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, among many others, and provided him with a characteristic lisp), Sylvester appeared in later sketches accompanied by his son, Sylvester Jr, and he's also been featured chasing Speedy Gonzalez, the Hippety Hopper cangaroo.
Once, Sylvester even shared the screen with another Warner Bros cartoon with whom he's often mistaken for: Pepe le Pew.
Three of Sylvester’s cartoons have won Academy Awards: “Tweetie Pie”, “Speedy Gonzales”, and “Birds Anonymous”, which shows that not all black cats are icons of bad luck.
6.- Top Cat (1961)
Another famous cat emerged from Hanna Barbera’s studios, Top Cat, also called TC by his friends.
Created at a time of major social changes and paradigms, this charming street cat and his gang of feline friends were a veiled replica of the Rat Pack, which included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
In constant struggle and occasional alliance with police officer Dibble, Top Cat and his friends went from being a successful show to becoming an enduring icon for the delight of millions of fanatics around the world.
Top Cat is still around in the 21st century, with new adventures along his cheerful gang of friends, to the delight of the public of all ages.
7.- The Pink Panther (1963)
Originally created as an animated icon to embody the namesake diamond in the Blake Edwards’ comedy The Pink Panther, the character was used widely for the publicity of the film, and became so popular with audiences that a year later it got its own animated short, “The Pink Phink”, and in 1969 got his own show.
Created by the DePatie-Freleng studios, “The Pink Panther Show” portrayed comic shorts without dialogue, in which the action was underscored by a laugh track and a jazzy musical background (echoing Henri Mancini’s original score).
The series also included other characters such as the Aardvark. As the series progressed, the stories became more and more surrealistic, to go along with the tastes of the audience at the time.
The Pink Panther show had several other revivals, in the 1980s, the 1990s and 2010s, showing the enduring charisma of this unusual character.
And although its design has changed over the years to evoke more contemporary tastes, this slim pink feline remains true to its sophisticated nature, and is still beloved by fans all over the world.
8.- Pero (1969)
Created in 1969 for the film “The Wonderful World of Puss in Boots”, this feline by the name of Pero (a phonetic approximation to the surname of Charles Perrault, the famed French author who wrote a version of the folk tale) became so famous and beloved in Japan that in 1981 he became Toei Animation’s mascot, and later was chosen to represent the animation company as its logo icon.
And although Pero never appeared again on another animated adventure, his smiley face can still be seen at the start or the ending of some of Toei's animated features, making it one of the most widely recognized and beloved cat cartoons in the world.
9.- Doraemon (1969)
Created in 1969 as a manga, Doraemon became an anime in 1973, amassing a loyal group of fans worldwide.
As robotic cat from the future, Doraemon joins a preteen boy, Nobita, in several adventures, in which the boy and his friends must use their cleverness, friendship, and cooperation, and in the meantime learn important life lessons.
Although the anime ceased its production in 1994, Doraemon is considered one of the most popular manga and anime characters of all time, even beyond the frontiers of its native Japan, and Doraemon’s happy face can be seen in a large array of merchandise, from notebooks to video games and more.
10.- The Aristocats (1970)
Breaking from its notorious aversion to cats (until then, the studio’s only major feline portrayals had been the vicious Lucifer in 'Cinderella', the mischievous Figaro in 'Pinocchio', the magical Cheshire cat in 'Alice in Wonderland', and the mean siamese cats in 'Lady and the Tramp'), the Disney company released in 1970 a feature film with a full cast of cats.
Following the success of 101 Dalmatians, the studio sought to create a similar story with cats, blending a group of classy French cats hiding in the bohemian district of Paris, with the Hippy and Jazzy mood favoured at the time.
Despite their best animation efforts to portray them under a benign light, the feline characters lack the genuine charm of other humanized characters from a studio famous for this.
However, the Aristocats remain to this day an icon of cat elegance and jazzy cool.
11.- Heathcliff (1973)
Often mistaken by 'the other' orange cat, Heathcliff is 'the original' tabby.
Created by American cartoonist George Gately (who often signed Geo Gately) in 1973, Heathcliff has appeared on several print forms uninterruptedly since then, now designed by cartoonist Peter Gallagher.
Of famously indifferent character, and unbeatable at tossing garbage cans to pick his favorite delicacies, Heathcliff represented perfectly the mood of the 70s: freewheeling, insouciant, and rebellious to authority.
Although only one Heathcliff animated film has been released (Heathcliff the Movie, from 1987), this orange cat has had two successful TV animated series in 1980 and 1984, and can still be seen on a multitude of merchandise, from keychains and mugs to videogames, and still remains one of cartoons’ favorite cats.
To check his cartoons online, you can go to Heathcliff’s Official website: http://heathcliffcomics.com
12.- Hello Kitty (1974)
Who doesn't know this kitty? Kitty White is probably the most famous fictional feline in the world.
Created by Yuko Shimizu in 1974 for the Sanrio Company, Kitty White is a British female cat who loves to make friends and travel the world.
Back in the 1970s Britain was a popular destination for Japanese travellers, and Sanrio already had other characters set in the United States, so they wanted something different.
Part of Hello Kitty’s appeal is her potential for cuteness. Due to its simplistic design -no mouth, no eyebrows, - the public can project their own emotions on her. In addition, its choice of colors and its innocence appeal a wide range of public, from little children to adults.
Hello Kitty is currently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi, but with minimal changes to its original design.
Hello Kitty’s global fame has spawned theme parks in Japan and China, and also includes animated TV series, comic books, video games, and a merchandise of over 50000 products.
But this kitty’s popularity has also been used for a good cause - the UNICEF has even appointed Hello Kitty as a children's ambassador, and the Japanese government appointed her ambassador of tourism.
13.- Garfield (1978)
Created by cartoonist Jim Davis in 1976, Garfield didn't run massively until 1978 when it was syndicated by King Features.
Since then, the original fat cat went through several re-drawings until achieving the image we know today.
Equally self-absorbed as Heathcliff and sharing the same color and stripes, Gardfield is a bon vivant who adores lasagana, perpetually criticises his human, Jon Arbuckle/Bonachon, and loves to trick his dog Oddie into cruel practical jokes.
Suave and often philosophical, the Garfield cartoon presents fictional and real situations which cats and their owners face (such as a visit to the vet, arguments with the sandbox, destroying furniture) under a humorous light.
The endless appeal of this iconic cat can be found in countless items of merchandise, animated TV series, and animated films, the latest of which is "The Garfield Movie" (2024)
14.- Thundercats (1985)
Lion-O, Pathro, Cheetara, Tygro, Snarf, Mumm Ra - every child in the 80's was familiar to these names.
And although not exactly ‘cats’, no list of felines in animation could truly be complete without them.
Released in 1985, and blending American animation with Japanese anime style, The Thundercats presented their young audience with a new exciting type of animation, realistic and dynamic, with buff characters that went in the line with the aerobics and fitness craze of the time.
The animated show was an instant hit with the young audience, and over time it became iconic, launching a whole array of merchandise - from action figures to lunch boxes, Halloween costumes, and video games - and a popular franchise that endures up to this day.
15.- Hobbes (from Calvin & Hobbes) (1985)
One of the most beloved cartoons ever, Hobbes is the felt tiger and imaginary friend of six-year-old Calvin.
Part voice of conscience, part adventure companion, Hobbes (whose name was inspired by the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, and Calvin’s after the French theologist Jean Calvin) acted as counterbalance to Calvin’s impetuous character, without ever pontificating.
Created by American cartoonist Bill Watson in 1985, Calvin and Hobbes was published daily for a decade in over 2400 newspapers across the world in several languages, and cartoon compilations were released in different books. Its full adventures were compiled in 1997 in several volumes.
Although, Watson stopped creating the comic strip in 1995 -refusing to make it a franchise-, Calvin and Hobbes still remains one of the most successful comic strips ever, and its fan base around the world remains strong.
16.- Totoro and the Catbus (from “My neighbor Totoro”) (1988)
We all know that cats are mysterious and a bit magical, but few have captured these characteristics as fully as this Hayao Miyazaki animated feature film.
With grins that remind us of Alice in Wonderland’s magical cat, both the mysterious cat character of Totoro and the fantastic Catbus (an giant twelve-legged cat that works as a bus towards a mystery land) take and the viewers on a ride through a complex and often inspiring story.
Since the film’s release, both Totoro and the Catbus have become icons of cat mysteriousness, appearing on all sorts of merchandise, and joining the menagerie of other Studio Ghibli cats, such as Kiki’s black cat, Jiji, in “Kiki’s Delivery Service” (1989), and Baron Humbert von Gikkingen in “The Cat Returns” (2002).
17.- Gaturro (1993)
Created by the Argentinian cartoonist ‘Nik’ (Cristian Gustavo Dzwonik), Gaturro is a cartoon which has been published in several Spanish-speaking countries, both in newspapers and magazines, but also in a wide array of merchandise such as books, notebooks, desk articles, toys, key rings, and many more.
The strip follows the adventures of an Abyssinian cat, Gaturro, his human and cat families, and his friends, portraying simple day-to-day situations under a humorous light.
Gaturro’s popularity has spawned more than 35 comic books, with a Gaturro film released in 2010 and an online site for children called “Mundo Gaturro”.
All of which makes Gaturro the most famous and successful cat originated in the Spanish speaking market.
18.- Baron Humbert von Gikkingen (from “The Cat Returns”) (2002)
What would you do if you could enter a world ruled by cats where fantasies come true?
Based on the 2002 manga “Baron the Cat” by Aoi Hiiragi, “The Cat Returns” is a Studio Ghibli animated film that follows the story of Haru, a high school student who has the ability to talk with cats.
Aware of her awkwardness, Haru suppresses this ability until she saves a cat from being hit by a truck on the street. The cat turns out to be the Prince of the Cat Kingdom, who invites her to her kingdom. Haru accepts, sliding into an incredible adventure from which she will not leave unchanged.
Her guide into this fantastic realm is a stylish cat called Baron Humbert von Gikkingen. Baron Humbert is, as all cats, mysterious and slightly devious, but eventually heroic, and for many has become an icon of perfect felinity.
Similar to Howl’s Moving Castle in its blend of magic and romance, The Cat Returns is a story especially targeted to cat lovers, casting a light on our relationship with cats and how they may perceive us from their particular point of view.
19.-Puss in Boots (from “Shrek 2") (2004)
Appearing for the first time in the Dreamworks animated film “Shrek 2" -as Shrek's attacker and ultimately unexpected sidekick-, the fairy tale character became so successful with audiences that he got its own spin off in 2011, with the film Puss in Boots, which explored his unsung past.
Voiced by Antonio Banderas, this version of the famous fairy tale character is a Spanish swashbuckler with flair, whose cute-eyes trick became iconic with audiences across the world and can still be seen in GIFs and Memes online.
Puss in Boots’ latest appearances were in the TV series "Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos" (2012), and the animated feature film "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" (2022).
20.- A Cat in Paris (2010)
We all suspect that some cats lead a double life, but in this particular case the title character takes this suspicion to the limit.
This 2010 animated feature presents a black cat with red stripes, who by day lives with a little girl and responds to the name of “Dino”, and by night accompanies a burglar through heists around Paris and responds to the name of “Mr. Cat.”.
An international co-production (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland), the animated film takes inspiration from children's books illustrations and film noir, creating a film's aesthetic that is at once mysterious and dreamlike, and provides a perfect backdrop for a fantastic story.
Nominated for an Academy Award as Best Animated Film, this unusual animated feature -both artsy and stylish- lends the story an additional layer of enigma and visual interest, and reinforces the mysterious nature of cats.
21.- Superkitties (2023)
Disney’s latest animated TV series showcases the adventures of four superhero kittens on a mission to make the city of Kittydale a more caring and "pawesome" place.
Similar to the Adventures of Ladybug, Superkitties feature four kitties with superpowers (Strength, Courage, Kindness), which they combine to solve the problems of their town, often cooperating with a group of police pups.
Aimed to pre-school children, the Superkitties stories are bright and quick-paced, presenting common situations and conundrums that children of that age range often face.
No character is evil in Kittydale, but despite the character’s cuteness, the stories are not maudlin and each one contains a practical conclusion to teach children how to apply soft skills and values such as cooperation, kindness, the importance of paying attention, etc.
A worthy effort that refutes the common discrimination that cats are always mean and selfish
22.- Flow (2024)
Who says that cats are always scared of water? Flow proves otherwise.
In a future without humans, an unnamed black cat (dark gray) acts like a guide and leader to a group of animals - a capibara, a lemur, a white bird, a dog- who find themselves desperate for survival in curious circumstances.
This Award-winning Latvian film features no dialogue, but in spite of this and without resorting to anthromorphising the animals, their animation manage to express a range of deep human emotions, connecting with the audience in a story that at times seems closer to our reality than we may want to admit.
Showcasing humanity in each of the different animals -different shapes, different social norms, different languages-, the message of the film is simple but clear: unless we work together in friendship and cooperation despite our differences, we can’t survive.
This inspiring film has moments of philosophical depth and transcendence, addressing meaningful topics (survival, life and death, the cycle of life, etc.), in a poetic, almost instinctive but never-preachy manner.
Among many other awards, Flow won a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film, and was nominated for Academy Awards both in the Best Animated Feature (which it won) and Best International Feature Film.
Other Notable cats
We could not wrap up this list without mentioning some of the many other cats and felines that have made notable appearances in comics and animated features.
In no particular order:
-The Cat in the Hat - by Dr. Seuss
-Figaro, the black kitty - from Disney’s “Pinocchio”
-The Cheshire cat - from Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland”
-Bagheera and Shere Khan - from Disney’s “The Jungle book”
-Si and Am, the Siamese cats - from Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp”
-Kimba - from the manga and anime “Kimba, the White Lion”
-Simba - from Disney’s “The Lion King”
-Meowth - from Pokémon, part of the Team Rocket
-Snowball, Lisa Simpson’s cat - from The Simpsons, by Matt Groening
-Mooch the cat - from the comic strip “Mutts”, by Patrick McDonnell
-Bucky Cat - from the comic strip “Get Fuzzy”, by Darby Conley
-Pusheen - from the comic strip “Everyday Cute”, by Claire Belton and Andrew Duff
-Salem - from the animated series “Sabrina The Teenage Witch”
-Baratine - from the animated series "Ideafix and the Indomitables"
-Kitty Galore - from the animated film “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore”
-Mittens - from Disney’s animated film “Bolt”
-Chaplapla - from the animated series and books “Stinky Dog”
-Cat Noir - from Disney’s “Miraculous: The Adventures of Ladybug”
-Felini - from the Felini app, by animator Tilmann Vogt
-Nadara - from the series “Natsume's Book of Friends”
-Mr. Black - from the animated series “Black Cat Detective”
-Chi - from the animated series “Chi's Sweet Home”
-Luna - from “Sailor Moon”
Many other cats appear on countless comics and animated films, and more keep on coming every year.
Cats truly have an undeniably flair to make us laugh, think and dream - Which one is your favorite?
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