Check out our list of famous cats in the entertainment industry.

Cool Cats: Our Favorite Felines of the Entertainment Industry

They’ve been winning over our hearts for generations.

Whether orange and lazy, pink and sophisticated, or tall and mischievous, famous felines from the world of entertainment have stood the test of time. These memorable characters have delighted children and adults alike, spawning award-winning comic strips, movies, television shows, books, and cartoons in the process.

Much like our own felines have done, the cool cats of Hollywood have endeared themselves to us with their uniqueness, humor, and charm. They come in all shapes and sizes, and range from villainous to heroic, yet these entertaining cats have one major attribute in common: Each boasts a larger-than-life personality while also maintaining regular feline qualities we’ve come to know and love.

In alphabetical order, here are a dozen of our favorite cats of the entertainment industry:

  1. The Aristocats: Another Disney classic, this 1970 film centers upon a family of aristocratic cats in France who are kidnapped and ultimately aided by an alley cat acquaintance. From its myriad of cat characters to its inclusion of the song Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat, The Aristocats represents about as feline-centric of a cinematic production as you’ll ever find.
  2. The Cat in the Hat: Theodor Geisel – better known as Dr. Seuss – created many popular literary characters, but perhaps the most memorable was The Cat in the Hat. This children’s book series revolves around a tall feline with a red-and white-striped hat and a red bow tie. After making a mess of the house while the children’s mother is gone, The Cat in the Hat saves the day by riding a machine that picks everything up and cleans the house.
  3. The Cheshire Cat: This fictional cat was popularized by Lewis Carroll’s classic 1865 novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Known for his distinctive grin that lingers even after his body has disappeared, this mischievous cat takes great pleasure in misdirecting Alice when she encounters him while lost.
  4. Garfield: Arguably the most famous cartoon cat of all-time, this comic book icon is syndicated worldwide in more than 2,500 publications. The orange tabby cat belonging to Jon Arbuckle loves to eat (especially if it’s lasagna) and strongly dislikes Mondays. A staple of comic strips since 1978, Garfield has also graced various television series and movies with his lovable brand of sarcasm and laziness.
  5. Lucifer: Cinderella, Disney’s classic film from 1950, produced many memorable characters, and Lucifer belongs on that list. The diabolical pet cat of the movie’s main antagonist, Lady Tremaine, sports black fur and an evil grin that’s similar to that of Cheshire Cat from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Lucifer has a wicked streak and a propensity for eating mice.
  6. Milo: The orange tabby cat from the 1986 movie The Adventures of Milo and Otis has a knack for making the “curiosity killed the cat” mantra ring almost true. Milo narrowly escapes trouble numerous times while seeking adventures and often has his friend Otis the pug to thank for his happy endings.
  7. Mr. Jinx: This Himalayan cat plays a central role in the plot of Meet the Parents, the 2000 romantic comedy starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller. A beloved pet of De Niro’s character, Jinx gets loose outdoors, prompting Stiller’s character to take the ill-advised action of painting a stray cat’s tail to appear as Jinx. This cinematic feline performs various tricks and even knows how to use a toilet.
  8. Pink Panther: This title character from the opening and closing credit sequences of films within The Pink Panther series is highly-regarded for his distinctive pink coloring and catchy theme song. His immense popularity has resulted in numerous theatrical shorts and television cartoons dedicated to this iconic character. Today the Pink Panther is also associated with a number of cancer awareness organizations.
  9. Salem: A 500-year-old witch who was sentenced by the Witches Council to spend 100 years as a cat, Salem lives with Sabrina Spellman and her family in the hit 1990s television sitcom, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. This American Shorthair cat is generally portrayed as a loyal, kind-hearted friend to Sabrina, though he does aspire for world domination.
  10. Simba: Playing the “king of the jungle” role nicely, this popular hero from Disney’s 1994 animated film The Lion King gets depicted developing from an eager cub into a full-grown lion. Voiced by Matthew Broderick, Simba is likable and carefree. Despite suffering emotional trauma when his father dies, Simba ultimately defeats Scar and returns the kingdom to glory.
  11. Sylvester: This black-and-white Tuxedo cat of Looney Tunes cartoon fame is best known for his trademark lisp. He’s appeared in more than 100 cartoons and is often portrayed as an antagonist who chases Tweety Bird. Although Sylvester is prideful and persistent, he rarely proves successful with his efforts.
  12. Tom Cat: A carton creation of Hanna-Barbera, Tom Cat is a blue-and-gray, short-haired feline. Like Looney Tune’s Sylvester, Tom Cat typically ends up on the losing end in his pursuit of Jerry Mouse, getting outwitted by his tiny adversary. When he’s not chasing Jerry, Tom Cat has been known to pursue love interests with several female cats.