12 Iconic Cartoon Cats From The 80s That Will Have You Purring

When it comes to villainous cartoon cats of the 80s, Azrael from The Smurfs takes the cake! This mischievous feline was the sidekick of the evil wizard Gargamel, and his main goal in life was to capture the Smurfs (and usually eat them).

I always found Azrael funnier than Gargamel. He was known for his sneaky ways, but he was also the one who usually suffered the consequences of Gargamel’s bad planning. Even though he was a “bad guy,” I think we all secretly loved his iconic, wheezy laugh.

ThunderCats‘ Snarf is one of the most memorable characters of the 1980s. Okay, technically he is a “Snarf” and not a house cat, but when I was younger, I didn’t know the difference. I’m putting him on this list because he fits the feline vibe perfectly.

This creature was the loyal companion (and essentially the nanny) of Lion-O. Snarf was often portrayed as the comic relief, constantly worrying about safety while Lion-O charged into battle. Despite his timid nature, Snarf was fiercely loyal and saved the team more times than he gets credit for.

When discussing unforgettable cartoon cats, one name that always comes to mind is M.A.D. Cat from Inspector Gadget. This sinister-looking feline was the pet of Dr. Claw, parodying the classic James Bond villain trope.

One of the things that made M.A.D. Cat so memorable to me was that he was Dr. Claw’s emotional outlet. If a plan went well, he got petted. If Inspector Gadget won, M.A.D. Cat usually got slammed onto the desk. His snickering laugh was the perfect punctuation to every episode.

In 1983, American Greetings created The Get Along Gang, a group of animals that met in an abandoned caboose. While the show was designed to sell cards and toys, I genuinely enjoyed the characters.

Zipper was the athletic cat of the group. He was the resident “tough guy” and often played the role of the cynic, but he always remained loyal to the rest of the gang. In a show about teamwork, Zipper taught me that you could be competitive without being a bully.

If you are a fan of The Great Mouse Detective (1986), then you definitely remember Felicia. She was the massive, spoiled pet of the villain Ratigan. Her role was simple: she was the executioner.

Whenever Ratigan was displeased with a henchman, he would ring a bell, and Felicia would arrive to gobble them up. For a Disney movie, that is pretty dark! Her menacing presence added real stakes to the story, making her one of the most effective guard cats in animation history.

This one is a massive dose of nostalgia for my British readers. Henry’s Cat first aired in 1983, directed by the legendary Bob Godfrey. The show had a very distinctive, “wobbly” animation style that felt handmade.

Even though the main character didn’t actually have a name (he was just Henry’s Cat), he became a cult hero. His laid-back attitude and bizarre daydreams made him a standout figure in the 80s, proving you didn’t need high-octane action to be entertaining.

Before Garfield dominated the airwaves, there was Heathcliff. Running from 1984 to 1988, this show brought the popular comic strip to life. While Garfield was lazy and cynical, Heathcliff was street-smart and always up for a scrap.

The cartoon was split into two segments, one featuring Heathcliff and the other featuring the Catillac Cats (who lived in a junkyard). I always felt Heathcliff was the cooler, grittier cousin of the cartoon cat world.

If you grew up in the 80s, there’s a good chance He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was your favorite TV show. And frankly, who wouldn’t want a pet green tiger?

What I loved was the dual personality. Cringer was He-Man’s sniveling, lazy companion who hated danger. But when the power of Grayskull hit him, he became Battle Cat, a fearless armored beast. It was the ultimate power fantasy for anyone with a lazy house cat.

Okay, I am cheating slightly here. Lion-O is technically a Thunderian alien, not a “cat” in the traditional sense. But with a name like Lion-O and a cat-like appearance, he earns his spot on this list.

He was the fearless leader known for his courage and strength. Lion-O’s signature weapon was the Sword of Omens, which gave him “sight beyond sight.” As a kid, I spent hours holding a stick in the backyard trying to summon the other ThunderCats.

If we’re talking about iconic cartoon cats, we can’t forget Sylvester. While he was created earlier, he was a staple of 80s Saturday morning reruns. His lisp and never-ending pursuit of Tweety Bird are legendary.

One of the things that made Sylvester so beloved to me was his never-say-die attitude. No matter how often he was outsmarted or beaten up by a bulldog, he always bounced back. He taught me resilience (and how to spit when I talk).

Tom is definitely near the top of the list. Like Sylvester, his popularity soared in the 80s thanks to constant TV airtime. Tom is known for his constant, violent battles with the clever mouse, Jerry.

I always felt a bit bad for Tom. He is just trying to do his job as a house cat! He is not a one-dimensional villain; he has a wide range of emotions and a surprising amount of musical talent. But Jerry always wins, which I suppose is the law of the cartoon jungle.

Garfield, the lasagna-loving orange tabby, needs no introduction. Created by Jim Davis, Garfield exploded in the 80s. You couldn’t walk into a school without seeing a Garfield Suction Cup plush toy on a car window.

Garfield’s popularity came down to one thing: he said what we were all thinking. He hated Mondays, he loved food, and he thought exercise was a waste of time. His dry sarcasm and relationship with his owner, Jon, made him the king of 80s merchandising.