Whether fictional or real, cats have become a major part in film and TV, portraying lovable or villainous characters. Since the short film The Sick Kitten in 1901, there have been many iconic cats on the screen.
Blofeld’s Cat (You Only Live Twice, 1967)
Ernest Stavro Blofeld is a James Bond villain from the classic film You Only Live Twice. As Blofeld’s face isn’t shown throughout the majority of his character arc, his cat becomes a vital focal point. The now iconic scene of Blofeld stroking his white Persian cat has been recreated in films like the Austin Powers series, where the character Dr Evil has a similar car to Blofeld’s, called Mr Bigglesworth.
Cheshire Cat (Alice in Wonderland, 1951)
The Cheshire Cat is a popular fictional cat in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Distinguished by his wide, mischievous grin. The Cat predates the 1865 novel and has become an icon of itself. In the 1951 Disney animated film the Cheshire Cat made his film début as a yellow eyed, pink and purple coated cat who could easily dislocate his body and become invisible.
Crookshanks (Harry Potter Series, 2001-2011)
Hermione’s cat Crookshanks, present in both books and films from the third to the sixth instalment, is a ginger cat, described by J. K. Rowling as half Kneazle. He’s an intelligent cat capable of solving problems with a dislike for untrustworthy people. Crookshanks played a vital part in Sirius Black’s attempts at entering Hogwarts in Prisoner of Azkaban and, while we don’t know what happened to him after The Half-Blood Prince, we hope he was reunited with Hermione.
Garfield (Garfield and Friends, 1988-1994)
This fictional character created by Jim Davis has been around since 1978, when he showed up in his own comic strip. Since then, it’s had a few TV shows and films based on him. Garfield is a lazy, fat, cynical, orange cat with a known love of lasagne and a known hatred for Mondays. The animated series of Garfield and Friends also features characters from U.S. Acres, another comic strip Jim Davis was working on.
Puss In Boots (Puss in Boots, 2011)
Puss In Boots is a European fairytale about a deceitful and trickster cat. On the big screen, this adorable rendition first appeared in the Shrek series. He is loosely based on Giovanni Francesco Straparola, Charles Perrault’s character and Zorro. He is originally hired in Shrek 2 to kill Shrek, but he quickly becomes an ally. The spin-off film showed Puss In Boots’ origins and adventures before appearing in Shrek.
Salem (Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, 1996-2003)
Salem Saberhagen is a former witch punished by the Witch’s Council to spend an indefinite amount of his life as a cat, because he tried to take over the world. His first appearance was alongside Sabrina in 1962 in the comics. He was a beloved character due to his self-deprecating humour and witty quips.
What is your favourite cat in film or TV? Let us know which felines we missed that needed to be on the list! Whether you want to add another cat to this list or simply find the perfect TV, you can get in touch on 0121 327 3273 to speak to our friendly team.
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