Everyone loves cats! Even if you think you don’t, you’re wrong. Cats are the best. They have little paw beans and whiskers, and they purr when you pet them. Come on! That’s awesome! While you can’t actually pet fictional cats, they can still make you happy. Here are the ten best fictional cats of all time!
Felix the Cat
In a different timeline, Felix the Cat might be as famous as Mickey Mouse. This beloved icon of early cartoons first appeared over 100 years ago, back in 1919, and was created by Pay Sullivan and Otto Messmer. He’s remembered for being the earliest example of a cartoon animal mascot to appear as a recurring character, setting the standard for future characters in that archetype like the aforementioned Mickey, Bugs Bunny, Oswald the Rabbit, and more.
The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat is basically what would happen in Mary Poppins was written by Dr. Seuss. This big, grinning feline entertains bored kids and even teaches them about responsibility. There was a 2003 live action movie starring the character, played by Mike Myers, that was divisive among audiences at the time. It’s since spawned a bit of cult following due to its anarchic sense of humor and genuinely impressive visual effects for its era.
Sylvester
The Looney Tunes’ resident tom cat, Sylvester, is known for his comical lisp and his never-ending quest to capture Tweety Bird. He’s bumbling but determined, sort of an everyman (everycat?) character who you can count on to keep trying to achieve his goals, no matter how many humorous ways he’ll be thwarted.
Cheshire Cat
The enigmatic Cheshire Cat of Alice in Wonderland fame knows more about the world than we do. He sees through the nature of our fragile reality, and all he can do is smile and offer vague, mysterious quips about the things we can’t perceive. You know, normal kids’ movie stuff.
Simba
The titular Lion King is basically Hamlet for Disney. When his father, Mufasa, is sent plummeting to his doom by his traitorous uncle, Scar, Simba goes on a journey to escape his fate. After returning to the pride and defeating Scar, Simba rules as a good and just king.
Puss in Boots
Look, do you need a reason to love a swashbuckling cat voiced by Antonio Banderas? He’s smooth-talking, quick-witted, and deadly with a sword. Oh, and he’s downright adorable. First appearing in the Shrek series, Puss in Boots has gone on to star in his own (decidedly excellent) spin-off movies.
The Pink Panther
We’re going to count big cats as cats for the sake of this list. It’s in the name! The Pink Panther is mysterious, silent, and smooth. Interestingly enough, this cartoon cat first appeared in the opening credits of the live action movie of the same name. The credit sequence was so popular that it spawned an animated show starring the character.
Tigger
Do plush tigers count as cats? Well, whatever, we’re going to add him here. Tigger is your best friend, he bounces on his tail, and he’s the only one of his kind. Many fans of the Winnie the Pooh franchise are particularly fond of Jim Cummings’ portrayal of the lovable tiger, with his cutesy catchphrases ringing as genuinely endearing instead of gratingly annoying.
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Tom Cat
Yeah, Tom from Tom and Jerry is technically called Tom Cat. The creators really broke the mold with that name, huh? Who’s his pal, Hound Dog? Anyway, this little scamp trying (and failing) to catch Jerry is one of the funniest running gags in cartoon history, so he earned his high spot on this list.
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Garfield
Jim Davis’s famous comic strip star Garfield has been in everything from movies to cartoons. His sarcastic wit and mundane humor make him a beloved favorite in the world of fictional animals. After all, who doesn’t love lasagna and hate Mondays? He’s just so relatable!
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