Waffle from Catscratch is the tallest, goofiest, and most lovable of the three cat brothers. He is a happy-go-lucky goofball who might secretly be the smartest one of the bunch.
He greets the world with pure, wide-eyed wonder, and the smallest things delight him, the kind the rest of us walk right past. In a show full of scheming and chaos, Waffle is the pure ray of sunshine.
Catscratch first aired on Nickelodeon in 2005, following three anthropomorphic cats who inherit a fortune.
Waffle is the youngest brother of Mr. Blik and Gordon, and his boundless optimism and simple-mindedness power a huge chunk of the show’s comedy. He is the kind of character both kids and adults can appreciate, just for very different reasons.
Name: Waffle
Role: The youngest and tallest of the three cat brothers
Voiced by: Kevin McDonald
Species: Debated, but usually called a gray American Curl
Known for: Pure optimism, pet newts, and shouting “Splee!”
Residence: The Cramdilly Mansion
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Who Is Waffle from Catscratch?
Waffle is the youngest and tallest of the three feline brothers, and comedian Kevin McDonald of Kids in the Hall fame gives him his voice.
Naturally, his whole personality runs on unfading optimism, boundless energy, and a constant need for fun. He rarely understands what is going on around him, and that is exactly the point.
His simple-mindedness keeps dragging the brothers into unexpected adventures and pure chaos. It also makes him the beating comedic heart of the series.
In short, where Mr. Blik brings greed and Gordon brings honor, Waffle brings joy, and the show is far better for it.
Waffle’s Endearing Personality Traits
Waffle is so beloved because of his real enthusiasm and endless curiosity about the world.
His approach to life is childlike, innocent, and completely carefree. As a result, that simple worldview keeps leading him to misread complicated situations, which produces some of the show’s funniest moments.
Above all, his biggest love is his pet newts.
He dotes on them constantly, treats them like family, and even has a favorite newt named Gomez that he refuses to go anywhere without. Of course, that soft-hearted devotion, aimed at a bunch of tiny amphibians, tells you everything about how sweet Waffle is.
A Brotherly Dynamic
Waffle’s naivety causes the occasional ripple with his brothers, especially the short-tempered Mr. Blik, but it is also the glue holding their odd little family together.
Still, he looks up to both of his brothers with wide-eyed admiration, which adds a surprising amount of warmth beneath all the slapstick.
His bond with Gordon, the kilt-wearing middle brother, brings out a more tender side.
Meanwhile, Gordon is protective and patient, happily putting up with Waffle’s antics even when he ends up on the wrong end of them. One detail says it all about Waffle’s cluelessness. He still thinks he is a pet, so he regularly asks the family butler Hovis to let him outside and scratch him behind the ears.
Waffle’s Personality and Quirks
Vibrantly enthusiastic, lovably clueless, and endlessly entertaining, Waffle is the show’s resident uninhibited savant.
He throws himself into every single moment, showering love on his newts and marveling at the smallest things. On top of that, he speaks fluent Newtuguese, the supposed language of newts, as if he were one of them.
His list of fascinations is a joy. Revolving doors, fingers, bubble wrap, and newts never stop captivating him.
For example, he dreams of roller coasters as public transportation and eats donuts plucked straight from imaginary “donut trees.” Zero-gravity basketball thrills him, and he loves to sniff the flowers printed on shirts. When he is happy, he shouts “Splee!” or “Woohoo!”, and armpit noises are a personal favorite. In the episode “Off the Leash,” he even acts like a literal dog.
Did you know? Waffle is the only near-sighted character in all of Catscratch, which might explain a few of his more baffling life decisions. His famous “Splee!” catchphrase comes from a story called The Legend of Duke Eark Splee, which Gordon reads aloud in the episode “To The Moon.”
Waffle in the Gear Comic
Doug TenNapel loosely adapted Catscratch from his graphic novel Gear, and Waffle turns up there too with his core personality fully intact.
He is the same endearingly silly, fun-loving goofball, just with one big difference. In Gear, he obsesses over guppies instead of newts.
He has spent his whole life watching and talking to those guppies, even though nobody ever takes his claims seriously. His dream is beautifully simple: to one day live in a cozy little cabin in the woods, right beside a pond packed with his beloved guppies. It is a very Waffle goal.
Is Waffle Secretly the Smartest Brother?
Here is a fun twist the show quietly supports. Waffle might be the smartest of the three brothers. Under all the drooling and the “Splee!” shouting, he holds a surprising amount of textbook knowledge and can rattle off obscure facts on the spot.
In fact, he is a classic idiot savant, brilliant in random flashes and utterly clueless the rest of the time. He also takes better care of his newts than his brothers manage with pretty much anything, so make of that what you will.
Hidden talents: For a cat this clueless, Waffle is weirdly gifted. He can reel in a kraken while fishing, shred on the guitar, and hold a full conversation in Newtuguese. Genius is a strong word, but he is full of surprises.
Who Voices Waffle in Catscratch?
Kevin McDonald voices Waffle. The comedian and actor is best known as a member of the sketch troupe Kids in the Hall. If Waffle sounds familiar, that is because McDonald also played Pleakley in the Lilo & Stitch series, and the two share a very similar goofy energy.
Interestingly, Rob Paulsen handled Waffle in the show’s unaired pilot before ending up as Gordon instead.
What Kind of Cat Is Waffle from Catscratch?
This is trickier than it sounds, because the sources do not fully agree. Most sources describe him as a gray American Curl, thanks to his long, distinctive ears. That said, some listings call him a Scottish Fold or simply a tabby. Either way, his design is unmistakable.
He sports predominantly gray tabby fur with pale white feet. Blue stripes that resemble a ticked tabby wrap around his long tail and one of his ears. His big, puppy-dog eyes radiate innocence, a soft tuft of fur hangs on his chest, and he stands as the tallest of the three brothers.
Waffle Fun Facts
- He is the only near-sighted character in the whole series.
- His main pet newt goes by Gomez, and he treats the little guy like a best friend.
- He fishes surprisingly well, once reeling in a full-sized kraken.
- He can also play the guitar, as shown in “Spindango Fundulation.”
- In the graphic novel “New Neighbors,” Waffle has a girlfriend named Pinky.
- Rob Paulsen voiced Waffle in the unaired pilot before the role went to Kevin McDonald.
For parents looking into the show, Common Sense Media has a full breakdown, and you can read more about the series on its Wikipedia page.
Tyler’s take: Waffle is the character I would most want to hang out with. He is dumb in the happiest possible way, weirdly gifted when you least expect it, and completely incapable of being cynical. Every chaotic cartoon needs a Waffle, and this show absolutely nailed it.
This tall, dopey cat is the pure heart of the show. He shares the mansion with a whole crew of chaotic cartoon characters, including the cats’ sweet human neighbor Kimberly.
Is Waffle your favorite Catscratch brother? Drop a comment and let me know.