Cartoon cats have been a staple of pop culture for decades—from classic characters like Felix the Cat to icons like Garfield and Hello Kitty.
I’ve always had a soft spot for cartoon cat characters, because they’re basically built for comedy. Cats can be lazy, smug, dramatic, chaotic, sweet, or straight-up evil… sometimes all in one episode. And whether they’re the star of the show or just stealing scenes in the background, animated cat characters tend to stick with us for life.
Cat Cartoon Characters
No matter which era you grew up on, there’s no denying these popular cartoon cats have shaped animation history. Some of these feline characters come from classic cartoons, some from modern movies, and a few come from anime and games—but they all earned their spot as memorable entertainment icons.
How I picked these
- Instant recognition: if you see one image, you know the character.
- Big personality: funny, iconic, quotable, or unforgettable.
- Range: classic TV, movies, anime, mascots, and a few “big cat” legends.
21Tom – Tom and Jerry
🎬 From: Tom and Jerry
⭐ Known for: endless schemes to catch Jerry
🧠 My take: Tom is “never quit” energy… even when he absolutely should.
Tom is the grey tabby cat who’s always at odds with Jerry. Even when every plan fails, he comes back with the same confidence like, “This time I’ve got him.”
20Snowball – The Simpsons
📺 From: The Simpsons
⭐ Known for: being “the family cat” in Springfield
🧠 My take: Snowball is low-key comedy—quiet, but always part of the chaos.
Snowball is the Simpsons’ pet cat (and yes, the Snowball naming is a whole thing). If you’re already in Simpsons mode, you might also like my list of Simpsons Christmas episodes.
19Tigger – Winnie The Pooh
🎬 From: Winnie the Pooh
⭐ Known for: bouncing + unstoppable optimism
🧠 My take: Tigger is the friend who shows up at 100% energy… always.
Tigger is bouncy, fearless, and convinced everything will work out. I respect the confidence.
18Tony The Tiger
🥣 From: Frosted Flakes (mascot)
⭐ Known for: “They’re gr-r-reat!”
🧠 My take: Tony is basically the CEO of cartoon confidence.
Tony the Tiger is one of the most recognizable cartoon mascots ever—and somehow he still feels like a legit “character,” not just an ad.
17Meowth – Pokemon
🎮 From: Pokémon (Gen 1)
⭐ Known for: Team Rocket chaos + iconic coin forehead
🧠 My take: Meowth is proof a “side character” can steal the whole franchise.
Meowth is one of the original 151 Pokémon. It evolves into Persian at level 28, and it also has regional variants (like Alolan and Galarian forms), which keeps it interesting across generations.
16Mufasa – Lion King
🎬 From: The Lion King
⭐ Known for: wise leadership + “dad lessons” that hit hard
🧠 My take: Mufasa is the blueprint for “legendary animated father figure.”
Mufasa is Simba’s father and the leader of the Pride Lands. His lessons about responsibility and courage still hit, even when I watch it as an adult.
15Puss in Boots – Shrek
🎬 From: Shrek
⭐ Known for: charm, swordplay, and weaponized “cute eyes”
🧠 My take: One look and you forgive every crime he’s ever committed.
Puss is one of those cartoon cats from movies who instantly becomes a fan favorite. Antonio Banderas’ voice acting is half the magic.
14Penelope Pussycat
📺 From: Looney Tunes
⭐ Known for: sweetness + classic cartoon romance chaos
🧠 My take: Penelope is peak “cute character, brutal consequences.”
Penelope is the kind of character that feels instantly classic—even if you haven’t watched Looney Tunes in years.
13Felix the Cat
🎞️ From: Classic animation era
⭐ Known for: mischievous charm + iconic design
🧠 My take: Felix is proof simple character design can be timeless.
Felix is one of the original “famous cartoon cats.” The black-and-white look is instantly recognizable, even today.
12Scratchy – The Itchy & Scratchy Show
📺 From: The Simpsons (Itchy & Scratchy)
⭐ Known for: being the unluckiest cat in cartoon history
🧠 My take: Scratchy exists to suffer… and somehow it works.
Scratchy never learns his lesson, and that’s the whole joke. Every time you think it can’t get worse, it absolutely does.
11Garfield
📰 From: Garfield (comic strip)
⭐ Known for: lasagna + sarcasm + elite nap culture
🧠 My take: Garfield is the patron saint of “leave me alone.”
Garfield is a lazy, overweight orange tabby who loves eating and sleeping. Jim Davis introduced Garfield in 1978, and he’s been a global mood ever since.
10Hello Kitty
🎀 From: Sanrio
⭐ Known for: global icon status + instantly recognizable design
🧠 My take: Hello Kitty might be the most successful cartoon “cat” ever created.
Hello Kitty is one of the most iconic characters in pop culture history. Created in the 1970s, she became a worldwide phenomenon across merch, shows, and collaborations.
9Sylvester – Looney Tunes
📺 From: Looney Tunes
⭐ Known for: lisp + relentless Tweety chasing
🧠 My take: Sylvester is the definition of “confidence with zero success rate.”
Sylvester is cunning and sneaky… but usually outwitted by Tweety. He’s one of the most classic cartoon cat characters from the golden era of animation.
8Cheshire Cat – Alice in Wonderland
🎬 From: Alice in Wonderland
⭐ Known for: vanishing acts + chaotic advice
🧠 My take: Cheshire Cat is “helpful” in the most unhelpful way possible.
The Cheshire Cat is mischievous and mysterious, famous for that wide grin that sticks around even after he disappears. For Disney fans, he fits nicely alongside other popular cartoon characters people never forget.
7Simba – The Lion King
🎬 From: The Lion King
⭐ Known for: Hakuna Matata + coming-of-age story
🧠 My take: Simba’s arc is why this movie still holds up.
Simba’s story works because it’s bigger than “becoming king”—it’s about fear, guilt, friendship, and finally owning who you are.
6Salem – Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
📺 From: Sabrina the Teenage Witch
⭐ Known for: talking cat sarcasm + troublemaking
🧠 My take: Salem is the blueprint for “pet that roasts you.”
Salem was turned into a cat as punishment, and he never stopped plotting. I can’t blame him—if I could talk, I’d probably also cause problems.
5Luna – Sailor Moon
🌙 From: Sailor Moon
⭐ Known for: mentor energy + “wise talking cat” status
🧠 My take: Luna is strict, but she’s the reason the hero levels up.
Luna is a classic example of why cartoon cat characters in anime hit differently—she’s cute, but she also carries the plot.
4The Cat in the Hat
📚 From: Dr. Seuss
⭐ Known for: turning a quiet day into a disaster
🧠 My take: He’s basically “fun” with zero risk management.
The Cat in the Hat is mischievous, playful, and chaotic in a way that feels timeless. If you want a deeper rabbit hole on that universe, check out my Cat in the Hat characters list.
3Oliver – Oliver & Company
🎬 From: Oliver & Company
⭐ Known for: sweet “lost kitten finds family” story
🧠 My take: Oliver is one of Disney’s most underrated cat characters.
Oliver starts abandoned, then slowly finds his people. I’ve always liked this one because it’s a softer, more emotional Disney cat story.
2Lucifer – Cinderella
🎬 From: Cinderella
⭐ Known for: pure villain cat energy
🧠 My take: Lucifer is the original “pet that chooses violence.”
Lucifer is basically the story’s furry menace. If you like Disney villains in general, I also have a bigger list of ugly Disney characters who left a lasting impression.
1The Aristocats (The Aristocats)
🎬 From: The Aristocats
⭐ Known for: music + charm + “cats on an adventure” vibe
🧠 My take: This movie makes being a cat look like a full-time lifestyle.
The Aristocats follows Duchess, her kittens, and the alley-cat legend Thomas O’Malley. It’s one of those “comfort animation” picks that feels like a warm blanket.
Why Are Cats Popular Cartoon Characters
Cats have stayed popular in cartoons because they’re naturally expressive, funny, and unpredictable. I also think cats work so well in animation because they can flip between “cute” and “menace” in one second—and animators can exaggerate that with faces, body language, and perfect comedic timing.
Whether it’s a classic like Tom & Jerry (I even wrote about whether Tom and Jerry are actually best friends) or newer-era animation, cats keep showing up because they’re independent, relatable, and ridiculously entertaining.
If you’re into older eras, you can also jump through my nostalgia hubs like cartoons in the 70s or 2000s cartoons—cat characters are everywhere once you start looking.
