Top 25 Cartoon Cats

Originally intended to be only a top FIVE cartoon cats list, the contenders kept coming.
So here we are with a top 25 list of famous cartoon cats for your enjoyment.
Each feline has been ranked according to four of the most important cat traits:
Cuteness, Funniness, Craziness and Intelligence.

Lucifer

From Cinderella

With a name like that you expect him to be evil. The cat owned by the wicked stepmother was villified because he just did what cats do best. He hunted mice.

4
4
1
4
13/40

Henry’s Cat

Henry’s Cat is a laid back dreamer, much like many real world cats. He dreams of fun adventures but rarely goes on any.
He is based on an earlier production from the same creators called ‘Henry 9 to 5’ about a commuter who escaped his daily drudgery through daydreaming, often about sexual desires.

4
3
2
7
16/40

Tiger

From An American Tail: Fievel Goes West

In this movie about mouse pilgrims settling in America, the dream is a land without cats where the streets are made of cheese. Tiger is apparently the only cat who isn’t evil. He helps the little mouse Fievel as he makes his own journey to the Wild West avoiding cats and cowboy spiders.

4
7
3
4
18/40

Pete

From Disney

Pete is one of the earliest cat and mouse cats in cartoons. Appearing with Mickey in Steamboat Willie, he has since been a foil to him and a number of other Disney heroes.
Pete hasn’t expressed much interest in eating Mickey or his friends like most feline antagonists, but he is usually dangerous in other ways.
In recent years he has moved into a house next door to Goofy. While their sons are good friends, Pete is not a huge fan of ‘The Goof’ as he calls him.

1
7
6
5
19/40

Figaro

From Pinocchio

Geppettos pet cat joined him in the belly of the whale along with the goldfish that was always looked to Figaro like a tempting treat.
After the adventure with the wooden boy, Figaro somehow came into the possession of Minnie Mouse and remains her pet.

10
4
1
5
20/40

Si and Am

From Lady and the Tramp

Si and Am are the cats able to strike fear into dogs. The two cats from Siam are well remembered for their song ‘We Are Siamese If You Please’. Possibly considered racist nowadays, this two were haunting yet intriguing.

5
6
4
6
21/40

Dinah

From Alice in Wonderland

Alices own pet cat who unfortunately doesn’t join her on her adventure, but is happy to hear about it when she returns. In the real world it seems that Dinah is the only one with any chance of understanding Alice.

10
6
1
5
22/40

Scratchy

From The Simpsons (The Itchy and Scratchy Show)

The Itchy and Scratchy Show is an extreme spoof of Tom and Jerry enjoyed by Bart and Lisa Simpson. Though Tom and Jerry can be fairly violent in its own right, Itchy and Scratchy manage to take it to another level with bonus gore.
Loses funny marks because Itchy usually gets the punchlines.

3
6
9
4
22/40

Penelope Pussycat

From Looney Tunes

This cat had an odd life. On a regular basis she would accidentally have her tail painted with a white stripe which would then in turn confuse the always coincidentally nearby Pepé Le Pew and lead him to believe she was a fellow skunk. He would then spend the remainder of the cartoon chasing after her in an attempt to woo her while she fled his skunky stench. This would continue until eventually somehow the paint would be washed off and Pepé would realise his mistake.
Somehow though, the tables have turned and Penelope has realised that their love is meant to be.

10
6
2
5
23/40

Scat Cat

From The Aristocats

Thomas O’Malleys best friend is the trumpet playing, jazz singing Scat Cat. With his band he entertains the aristocats with their rendition of ‘Everybody Wants To Be A Cat’ Never a truer word was spoken.

7
7
3
6
23/40

Stimpy

From The Ren and Stimpy Show

Stimpson J. Cat is the companion of the odd little chihuahua Ren. Together they have crazy and often offensive adventures. All part of the fun. Bogeys, farts, violence and ludity are all part of the package, yet Stimpy remains lovable with his simple naivety and warm heart.

3
9
9
2
23/40

Snowball II

From The Simpsons

Snowball II is the replacement for the first Snowball after she was hit by a car. The first Snowball was white, but Lisa liked the name so kept it.
Snowball II became good friends with the Simpsons pet dog Santas Little Helper.
Unfortunately she met a similar fate to the original Snowball, although this happened in season 15, well past the time everyone stopped watching.

7
8
1
8
24/40

The Aristocats

Duchess and her three kittens Toulouse (eldest ginger), Marie (white girl) and Berlioz (youngest grey) are thrown out by the family butler after he discovers that the master has left everything to them in her will.
The adventure begins as they try to make their way home.

10
5
1
8
24/40

Heathcliff

Heathcliff enjoys seafood, rooting through trash cans, spending time with his girlfriend, chasing mice and getting into trouble.
He’s one of the many cats with a canine opponent called Spike.

6
6
5
7
24/40

Thomas O’ Malley

From The Aristocats

Abraham de Lacy Giuseppe Casey Thomas O’Malley is the friendly alley cat who helps the Aristocats in their time of need. After they meet the film becomes a feline version of Lady and the Tramp, with the lovely Duchess and the charming hobo Thomas romancing against the odds.

7
7
3
7
24/40

Catdog

Obviously only the cat half of this odd creature is a part of this list. Catdog was a unique pair of individuals who were simply trying to make their way in the world with no support but each other.
Cat was the brainier of the two, as he would be.

4
8
6
7
25/40

Tom

From Tom and Jerry

Tom is one of the most recognisable cartoon cats and the archetype of the cat and mouse cartoon. Famous for his rivalry with the crafty mouse Jerry, he also has to deal with the dog Spike and his potentially racially offensive African owner.
In recent years, Tom and Jerry seem to have put aside their differences and become friends. It’s like hearing that Batman and the Joker regularly share pints.

5
7
8
5
25/40

Meowth

From Pokémon

Technically not a cat, but a close enough approximation, Meowth is the wise cracking sidekick to Team Rockets Jesse and James. More of a team mate than a battling Pokémon, he is heavily involved in the scheming and plotting to kidnap Ash’s Pikachu.
Though he is an extremely rare talking Pokémon, he still shows some envy towards the boss Giovannis Persian.

5
8
6
7
26/40

Top Cat

Top Cat, the undisputable leader of the gang, affectionately known as TC, is an alley cat who regularly causes trouble for Officer Dibble.
He’s wise cracking and fast talking with a knack for getting his own way.

6
8
4
8
26/40

Sylvester Jr.

From Looney Tunes

The son of Sylvester, he is somewhat smarter but has a huge amount of respect for his father.
He is often seen being trained in the art of mouse hunting by his dad. On occasion though there has been confusion as to whether or not they are hunting mice or a kangaroo.

10
7
2
7
26/40

Garfield

Garfield is the fat lazy cat we all love. He has all the stereotypical traits people generally associate with cats.
He does little else besides eat and sleep. He is racist when it comes to dogs. He believes himself better than everyone else (and in many cases, he’s right).
Unusually though, his favourite meal is lasagne rather than the more traditional bowl of milk.
Garfield became so popular at one time that you could not go a day without seeing him stuck to the inside of a car window.

6
8
5
8
27/40

Catbert

From Dilbert

Catbert is the evil HR manager in Dilberts company. An opponent to anyone he meets and not just Dilbert and Dogbert, Catbert believes himself better, more intelligent and more important than anyone else.
As is the way with cats, he is often right about this.

2
10
7
10
29/40

Sylvester

From Looney Tunes

Sylvester is another archetypal cat and mouse type cartoon character, although usually he is paired with the canary Tweety Pie as his prey. He has from time to time been known to chase mice however including the legendary Speedy Gonzales. His other most famous quarry is the kangaroo he mistakenly believes to be a mouse.
Sylvester is one of the most popular Looney Tunes having had such a varied career and even spending some time as Porky Pigs pet.
More recently, alongside Tweety, Granny and Hector he became part of a detective agency although his main interest (or even obsession) remained eating the bird.

6
9
8
6
29/40

Cheshire Cat

From Alice in Wonderland

The mysterious and magical Cheshire Cat is one of few who seems to really be Alices friend in the strange world, although even he can cause trouble and make things unnecessarily difficult.
He is completely mad anyhow.

5
8
10
8
31/40

Felix

Felix the Cat was the big thing before Mickey Mouse came along. Yet another reason for the long standing rivalry between cats and mice.
Nowadays it’s sad that a lot of people don’t remember him despite his returning to the screens several times over the decades.
His madcap antics were the inspiration for many characters who followed as well as probably the cat food namesake.

7
9
9
7
32/40

Honourable Mentions

These guys didn’t make the actual list because they’re not cats as such, but members of the cat family.

Snagglepuss
A mountain lion who many call the first openly gay cartoon character.

Bonkers
This bobcat bears a number of similarities to Roger Rabbit and by no coincidence. The original idea was that the show would star Roger, but the royalties were too expensive.

Pink Panther
The one and only truly original.