List of fictional cats and felines
This is a list of fictional cats and felines and is a subsidiary to the list of fictional animals. It includes a limited selection of notable felines from various works, organized by medium. More complete lists are accessible by clicking on the "Main article" link included above each category.
Cats have long been an important theme in human lore and fiction, frequently earning the distinction of the new "it" pets.
In literature
This section deals with notable cat characters that appear in literature works of fiction including books, comics, legends, myths, folklore and fairy tales. Any character that appears in several pieces of literature will be listed only once, under the earliest work.
Cheshire Cat from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Character |
Earliest Appearance |
Notes |
Cheshire Cat |
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland |
Sometimes raises philosophical points that annoy or baffle Alice. It does, however, appear to cheer her up when it turns up suddenly at the Queen of Hearts' croquet field, and when sentenced to death baffles everyone by having made its head appear without its body, sparking a massive argument between the executioner and the King and Queen of Hearts about whether something that does not have a body can indeed be beheaded. |
Crookshanks |
Harry Potter |
The pet cat of Hermione Granger. He is described as having a "squashed face," which was inspired by a real cat Rowling once saw, which she said looked like it had run face first into a brick wall, most likely a Persian. Hermione buys Crookshanks from a shop in Diagon Alley out of sympathy, as nobody wants him because of his behaviour and his squashed looking-face. Rowling has confirmed that Crookshanks is half Kneazle,[1] an intelligent, cat-like creature who can detect when they are around untrustworthy people, explaining his higher than normal cat intelligence and stature. |
Snowbell |
Stuart Little |
Snowbell is a cat belonging to the Little family, of which Stuart is the youngest son. Snowbell has a malevolent attitude toward Stuart, though her behavior is tempered by her familial obligations. When the Little family adopt a bird named Margalo, Snowbell plots to kill her, predicating her departure. Stuart follows, and his pursuit comprises the second half of the story. |
The Cat in the Hat |
The Cat in the Hat |
The Cat in the Hat is a tall, anthropomorphic cat who wears a red and white-striped hat and a red bow tie. The Cat creates chaos when he shows up at the house of Sally and her brother while their mother is out. The children and the fish become very alarmed. Just before the children's mother arrives home the Cat uses a machine to clean up the mess, and then disappears. |
In comics
Character |
Origin |
Notes |
Krazy Kat |
Krazy Kat |
One of the first cats to star in a comic strip; the protagonist of the eponymous strip by George Herriman. Sweet and good-natured and simple, adores the scheming, wily, antisocial Ignatz Mouse even though Ignatz constantly plots against him. |
Garfield |
Garfield |
Garfield is an orange, fuzzy, tabby cat born in the kitchen of an Italian restaurant (later revealed in the television special Garfield: His 9 Lives to be Mama Leoni's Italian Restaurant) and immediately ate all the pasta and lasagna in sight, thus developing his love and obsession for lasagna.[2][3] As an adult he is fat and lazy but extremely intelligent and fond of wisecracks in thought bubbles, with his owner Jon Arbuckle serving as a comic foil for him. |
Heathcliff |
Heathcliff |
A boisterous and chubby but athletic tabby cat prone to wisecracks, causing physical mischief, chasing mailmen, and overturning garbage cans. Other felines from the strip include: The Catfather.[4] |
Bucky B. Kat |
Get Fuzzy |
A sarcastic siamese cat with an inflated ego, Bucky lives in an apartment with his human owner Rob Wilco and a dog named Satchel. Bucky's obsessions include becoming famous, inflicting harm on his roommates for perceived injustices and feuding with Fungo, a ferret who lives next door. Bucky is always drawn with his ears folded back, as if he is constantly in a state of aggressiveness or agitation. |
Hobbes |
Calvin and Hobbes |
The plush Bengal tiger and best friend of the comic's protagonist, Calvin, Hobbes is perceived by Calvin as being a live tiger, but by every other character as a stuffed toy. Hobbes, whose name is an allusion to the English political philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, often tries to be the voice of reason for Calvin during their numerous adventures. |
In legends, myths, folklore and fairy tales
Puss meets the ogre in a nineteenth-century illustration by
Gustave Doré
Character |
Origin |
Notes |
Maneki Neko |
Various folk-stories |
A common Japanese sculpture, often made of ceramic, which is believed to bring good luck to the owner. The sculpture depicts a cat (traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail) beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed—many times at the entrance—in shops, restaurants, pachinko parlors, and other businesses. Some of the sculptures are electric or battery-powered and have a slow-moving paw beckoning. |
Puss |
Puss in Boots |
Originally titled Le Maître Chat or Le Chat Botté, this French fairytale is about a cat who uses trickery and deceit to gain power, wealth and the hand of a princess in marriage for his penniless and low-born master. |
Cat sìth |
Various folk-stories |
A fairy creature from Celtic mythology, said to resemble a large black cat with a white spot on its breast. |
In media
This section deals with notable cat characters that appear in media works of fiction including film, television, animation and puppetry. Any character that appears in several pieces of literature will be listed only once, under the earliest work.
In film
Character |
Origin |
Notes |
DC |
That Darn Cat! |
A wily, adventurous Siamese tomcat who lives with two young women, suburbanite sisters Ingrid and Patti Randall, whose parents are traveling abroad at the time of the story. In the 1997 remake the cat is a grey and white tabby. |
Filby |
Primer |
Aaron’s cat. When missing, called by name by Aaron and Abe during the fountain scene.[5] Filby is most likely named after a character in the science fiction novel, The Time Machine, written by H.G. Wells in 1894.[5][6] |
Mr. Bigglesworth |
Austin Powers |
A parody of Blofeld's cat from James Bond films |
Jake |
The Cat from Outer Space |
A cat-like alien. His real name is Zunar-J-5/9 Doric-4-7. |
Pyewacket |
Bell, Book and Candle |
Siamese cat and familiar of Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak), who is a witch |
Smarf |
Too Many Cooks |
An anthropomorphic cat puppet used in the short, a parody of various other puppets used in sitcoms. |
In television
In animation
In video games
This section deals with notable characters who are prominently featured in various video game titles, either as main characters or notable supporting characters.
In advertising
See also
List of cats Non-fictional cats.
References
- ↑ Rowling, J. K. "J. K. Rowling's Official Website". Crookshanks. Retrieved 30 June 2007.
- ↑ "Garfield". Garfield.com. December 14, 1984. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
- ↑ Phil Roman (Director), Lorenzo Music (Voice) (1988 (television), 1993 (VHS)). Garfield: His Nine Lives [Television production] (Television (Original), VHS). Fox Home Entertainment.
- ↑ Rovin, p. 117.
- 1 2 Tim S (5 May 2009). "The Primer Universe: The Time Machine". The Primer Universe. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ↑ "Free Study Guide for The Time Machine by H. G. Wells-Book Summary (Characters)". Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ↑ Fiona Kelleghan (2005), "Cats", The Greenwood encyclopedia of science fiction and fantasy, 1, pp. 105–107, ISBN 978-0-313-32951-7
- 1 2 Sega (1999). "Characters: Big the Cat". Sonic Adventure Instruction Manual. Sega.
pp. 28
- 1 2 3 Sega (2004). "Team Rose". Sonic Heroes Instruction Manual. Sega.
pp. 11
- ↑ Sega of America. "Big's official character profile from Sega of America". Sega of America. Archived from the original on 2005-03-05. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
- ↑ Rodger Swan (March 28, 2007). "Bubsy in Claw Encounters of the Furred Kind". Sega-16. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
- ↑ Smith, Dave (2008-03-25). "Final Fantasy VII: Top 10 Characters". IGN. IGN Entertainment. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
- ↑ Final Fantasy VII Game Manual Character Description page (PAL version) Page 6
- Rovin, Jeff. The Illustrated History of Cartoon Animals. New York: Prentice Hall, 1991, ISBN 0-13-275561-0.
Further reading
- Rogers, Katharine M. (2001). The Cat and the Human Imagination: Feline Images from Bast to Garfield. ISBN 978-0-472-08750-1.