There’s More Than One Cool Cat

Dogs might get more leading roles in movies, but we all know that cats are the better stars. A dog would do anything to please someone, including performing on camera. Cats, on the other hand, are known for their independence and straight defiance of doing anything they don’t feel like doing. That’s how you know the cats who hit the big time are real stars. Even animated cats know what they want, doing tricks for no one unless it serves their own purpose. So, who are some of the most famous cats in the world? Let’s dive in. 

Garfield

This lasagna-loving orange cat might be many non-cat owners’ first introduction to that trademark feline sass that cat-people know so well. Introduced to the world way back in 1976, the Garfield comic follows the exploits of this coffee-drinking, Monday-hating cat and his owner, Jon, and dog companion, Odie. Garfield holds the Guiness World Record for being the world’s most widely syndicated comic strip. 

Mrs. Norris

Argus Filch, the curmudgeon of a groundskeeper at Hogwarts, the fictional school in Harry Potter, had a feline sidekick named Mrs. Norris. In the books, this particular cat was known to snitch on students who were out after hours. 

In the movie version of the books, Mrs. Norris was actually played by a variety of different Maine Coons. One was trained to run alongside Filch and leap onto his shoulder, and another was incredibly calm and used in any scenes where the cat had to be held. 

Hamilton the Hipster Cat

We’d say that nearly 800,000 followers and a “verified” check mark on Instagram qualify you for fame. Luckily for Hamilton, he has all that, on top of a very dignified looking moustache. A quick browse of his Instagram page reveals that he is always looking regal, whether he is hanging out with other cat friends, snoozing, or showing off his fluffy tummy to the world. 

Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button

Okay, we know that this is three cats, but otherwise they’d dominate the whole list! For those unaware, Meredith, Olivia and Benjamin are Taylor Swift’s trio of cat companions. Meredith, named after the lead character in Grey’s Anatomy, and Olivia, named for the lead in Law & Order: SVU are both Scottish Folds. Benjamin, who shares his name with Brad Pitt’s character in the movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, is a ragdoll. All three of the cats made an appearance in Swift’s music video for “ME!” in 2019. 

Kazuki the Adventure Bengal

Some cats hit the big screen, some belong to famous people, and some just have captivating looks that carry them to stardom. Kazuki, on the other hand, earns his fame through adventuring. Like a feline John Muir, this outdoorsy Bengal shares stories and photos of his adventures in national parks to inspire others to get out and do the same. His exotic looking fur pattern, captivating eyes and knack for nailing a perfect pose sure help his cause as well. 

Salem

As is the case with so many on-screen kitties, the role of Salem in the recent “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” television series is played by multiple cats. Five in this case, if you can believe it. Salem appears as Sabrina’s “familiar,” a spirit animal of sorts for witches and warlocks. While we miss his ability to speak from the 90s sitcom, “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” we don’t miss the wonky animatronics. 

Grumpy Cat

Arguably the most famous cat in recent memory, Grumpy Cat was known for her insanely cute, yet “grumpy” face. Tardar Sauce’s (her real name) signature look was actually due to a combination of an underbite and feline dwarfism, though her owners reported that 99% of the time, she was a completely normal cat, not grumpy as her face implied. In 2013, Grumpy Cat had achieved so much fame that her owner took a leave of absence from her job in order to manage the famous cat’s schedule. 

Cheshire Cat

Popularized in Lewis Carrol’s “Alice in Wonderland,” the Cheshire Cat was known for his perplexing manner of speaking and a large grin. At one point, he even manages to make his entire body disappear, leaving only the grin behind. While the phrase “grinning like a Cheshire cat” predates the tale of Alice, the exact origins of the phrase remain a mystery. 

Meowth

Is a Pokemon a cat? We’re not entirely sure, as the fictional science just isn’t there yet, but we can all agree that this one is at least cat-like. In the anime series and the video games, it is known to sleep the days away and prowl city streets at night. Sounds like a cat to us. Due to the large role Meowth plays in the anime series, he is one of the more recognizable Pokemon to date, having appeared in the games since debuting in 1996. 

Goose

Goose appeared in the 2019 Marvel film, Captain Marvel, alongside star Brie Larson. The part was mainly played by a cat named Reggie, although three other cats did fill in at times. Technically Goose is not a cat, and actually an alien species known as a Flerken, but he chooses to stay in cat form, something he can do as a shapeshifter. Reportedly Brie Larson had a hard time filming scenes with the real life cats, as she is allergic to them.