From Garfield to Grumpy Cat, these famous cats have clawed their way into books, movies and pop culture history
1
/
12
Grumpy Cat
The viral sensation known as Grumpy Cat (real name: Tardar Sauce) captured the attention of millions because of her perpetual frown. In 2012, her photos hit Reddit when Tardar Sauce was just a kitten. People identified with her less-than-impressed look, making her the star of many an internet cat meme.
According to her human, Tabatha Bundesen, Tardar Sauce isn’t actually unhappy at all. “She really isn’t grumpy,” she posted on Grumpy Cat’s official website. “She is a super cute and cuddly kitty and loves to be held and rubbed!” Sadly, Tardar Sauce passed away in May 2019.
2
/
12
Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch
A most opinionated fictional black cat, Salem Saberhagen may have gained prominence when he appeared weekly on ABC’s Sabrina the Teenage Witch, airing from 1996 to 2003, but the character was around long before that. In fact, Salem first appeared in 1962 in the Archie Comics Sabrina series, upon which the show was based.
While he was often portrayed by a puppeteer on the teen TV program, occasionally an actual cat would be brought in to bring Salem to life, much to actress Melissa Joan Hart’s chagrin. “Being around that Salem cat too much … the set was covered in cat food,” she told Vulture. “So yeah, I can’t do cats anymore.”
3
/
12
Garfield
Hide your lasagna, people! Garfield, the comic strip cat with a big appetite, isn’t afraid to attack a pan of the rich, cheesy dish. According to a report by The Guardian, the first comic starring the portly feline—who eventually became one of the most famous cats in history—debuted in U.S. newspapers in June 1978.
Two years later, his first book landed at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. From there, more books released, and a TV special hit the air. In 1988, an entire decade after he made his debut, Garfield starred in a weekly Saturday morning cartoon titled Garfield and Friends. In 2002, he even set a Guinness World Record for being the most widely syndicated comic strip in the world. Now that deserves some lasagna.
4
/
12
Morris the Cat
In the world of cat food, there was none more finicky than commercial star Morris the Cat, or at least that’s what each 9Lives ad told us. Morris, one of the most well-known cats in history, made his debut in 1968 for the cat food brand, even gracing some of its packaging, not to mention loads of television ads.
An orange tabby cat, he was “discovered” at the Humane Society in Hinsdale, Illinois, and remained the company’s “spokescat” for years, appearing in 58 commercials. He even appeared in the movie Shamus with Burt Reynolds in 1973. While the original Morris is no longer with us, his spirit continues on with modern versions of the picky eater still representing 9Lives.
5
/
12
Hello Kitty
Listen, there’s a lot of debate about whether or not Hello Kitty is a cat or a little girl. In 2014, Sanrio, the company behind the cutesy character, made the bold statement that she’s human, and it shook Hello Kitty fans to the core. But considering the general public has always assumed she was a feline, we’re filing her under “most famous cats in history.” With an adorable little nose, whiskers and pointy ears, she’s one of the most iconic cats mankind has ever seen.
Her real name, in case you didn’t know, is Kitty White. According to a Los Angeles Times article, she is a perpetual third grader. Another fact about this cat: Kitty was first introduced in 1974, when her image decorated a small coin purse. The rest, as they say, is history.
6
/
12
Mr. Jinx
They say dogs are man’s best friend, but in the case of the hit comedy Meet the Parents, that role went to a cat. Mr. Jinx, to be specific. The bond between the furball and Jack Byrnes (played by Robert DeNiro) was so special that Jack taught Mr. Jinx a great number of talents—most notably, how to use a toilet instead of a litterbox.
According to Humane Hollywood, two separate Himalayan cats (named Bailey and Misha) portrayed the character, who went on to appear in the film’s sequels, Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers.
7
/
12
Mr. Bigglesworth
You’d think it would be hard to top the colorful antics of Austin Powers and his nemesis, Dr. Evil, but the film franchise did manage to produce a scene-stealer in Mr. Bigglesworth. The hairless cat was a precious companion to the antagonist, who made it his mission to not only bring down the international man of mystery but also take over the world.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the feline actor is a sphynx cat whose real name is Ted Nudegent. “When Ted appeared on the set for the sequel, he hadn’t seen Mike in months,” animal trainer Tammy Maples told the newspaper. “Ted immediately ran to Mike’s lap, jumped on it and began to purr. I believe Mike really loves Ted. On more than one occasion, Ted wound up staying in a scene longer than planned because he dozed off in Mike’s lap.”
8
/
12
Azrael
Eighties kids who grew up on Saturday morning cartoons will surely remember Azrael, the astute pet cat of Smurf nemesis Gargamel. The feisty feline was at the ready to assist Gargamel in his dastardly plans to wreak havoc on Smurf Village, despite the fact that those little blue whippersnappers never did a thing to deserve his wrath.
Azrael made her debut in the Smurfs comic books and has remained with the franchise through the feature films, in which she is animated through the magic of CGI. The popular cat’s look has changed throughout the years, but in the movies, it most closely resembles an orange tabby cat.
9
/
12
The Cat in the Hat
Is there a more popular cat in children’s literature than The Cat in the Hat? We think not. Originally published in 1957, Dr. Seuss’s tale of an opinionated cat with a penchant for fun has stood the test of time. Today, PBS still airs the animated series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! and the character continues to delight little ones who are just developing a love of words and books.
Did you know that author Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss’ real name) used precisely 236 different words that kids can understand to write the story? Clearly, he was on to something.
10
/
12
Felix the Cat
If you want to get really nostalgic, check out Felix the Cat, a cartoon character created in 1919 during the silent film era. First introduced in the short film Feline Follies, Felix went on to become a star of the comics section in newspapers.
Though there’s a question as to who really created this famous cat, credit goes to Australian cartoonist Pat Sullivan and/or New Jersey cartoonist Otto Mesmer. The black-and-white kitty has many credits to his name, like being honored as the mascot of Fighter Squadron 2-B, with his image gracing their F-3 biplanes in World War II. On top of that, Felix the Cat was also the first-ever parade balloon at the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade.
11
/
12
Choupette Lagerfeld
Perhaps history’s most fashionable cat is Choupette Lagerfeld, pet of the late German designer Karl Lagerfeld. The fashion icon was frequently photographed with his beloved white Siamese cat and told WWD that Choupette was given to him by a model named Baptiste Giaconi in 2011.
“She has a strong personality,” Lagerfeld said. “She has lunch and dinner with me at the table, with her own food. She doesn’t touch my food. She doesn’t want to eat on the floor. She sleeps under a pillow, and she even knows how to use an iPad. She has two personal maids, for both night and day. She is beyond spoiled.”
12
/
12
Puss in Boots
The Shrek film franchise really shone a spotlight on the fairy tale character Puss in Boots, but the famous cat has been around much longer than that big green guy. He originally started out as a literary figure in The Facetious Nights of Straparola by Giovanni Francesco Straparola in the early 1550s.
Puss in Boots was resurrected in fairy tales later in the 1600s, and in 2011, he received his own self-titled full-length feature film with Antonio Banderas voicing the loveable outlaw. Netflix even developed an animated series around the character titled The Adventures of Puss in Boots.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Grumpy Cat: “About Grumpy Cat”
- BBC: “Grumpy Cat internet legend dies”
- Archie Comics: “Sabrina Spellman”
- Vulture: “Sabrina the Teenage Witch’s Melissa Joan Hart Didn’t Like Salem the Cat”
- The Guardian: “Garfield’s creator, 40 years on: ‘I’m still trying to get it right'”
- 9Lives: “Morris the Cat”
- Los Angeles Times: “Hello Kitty is not a cat, plus more reveals before her L.A. tour”
- Humane Hollywood: “Meet the Parents (2000)”
- Chicago Tribune: “Mr. Bigglesworth Exposed!”
- PBS Kids: “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That”
- National Film and Sound Archive of Australia: “Felix the Cat”
- WWD115: “Karl Lagerfeld Talks Chanel, Cats”
- Toronto Public Library: “Puss in Boots and Books: The History of a Fairy Tale”
