There are few things that television watchers love more than an animal companion. Most human protagonists have them, and they can sometimes become popular with the masses. In terms of cats, there have been many famous felines who steal the show.
From the earliest animations, where they were nothing more than silent presence, to the more modern takes, where they have plenty of sasses to share, these felines are more than the fond memories they give their fans. Most people likely have a fictional cat that they remember, and going back to watch the series they're from can bring nostalgia and a ton of laughs.
10 Salem Is The Best Witch's Familiar
Sabrina Spellman rose to television prominence in the sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The show features the Spellmans' feline companion, Salem. These two are often seen together, and the same can be said in the show's prequel animated series, Sabrina The Animated Series.
The sitcom runs for one season, but within it, Salem keeps a close eye on Sabrina while offering witty commentary, and boundless humor. However, the most interesting facet of his character is that he's not a cat at all. Salem's feline body is a result of a curse placed on him by the Witches Council. Salem may encourage Sabrina to pursue magic, but while he remains a cat, he proves to be a fantastic familiar.
9 Puss in Boots Has Endless Charm
The character of Puss in Boots reaches its height of popularity in the Shrek franchise. He became so popular, in fact, that he received his animated series named The Adventures of Puss in Boots. The series takes place before the movies and follows Puss in Boots as he aims to protect the city of San Lorenzo.
Puss in Boots goes about the series with the same wit and charm he possesses in the movies. The humor of his character, and the other characters in the series, is reminiscent of the character's roots and sure to leave fans laughing.
8 The Pink Panther Made The Franchise His Own
Originally starting as a character in the openings of the Pink Panther films, the fictitious pink cat has made the franchise his own. Fans are so enamored by his character that he has since been given multiple short films and four tv specials. The first was The Pink Panther Show, and the most recent was Pink Panther and Pals.
Pink Panther and Pals aired on Cartoon Network and reflected the original Pink Panther Shorts. The character of Pink Panther is cool and collected. He also takes on a silent role as the protagonist, much like his original series in the franchise.
7 Felix The Cat Through The Decades
Felix the cat is one of the most well-known cartoon characters in the film industry. Created in the late 1910s, he stars in many silent films. Then, in the 1950s, Felix was given an animated series, Felix the Cat. In this show, he meets a new cast of main characters, including his arch-enemy, the Professor.
Felix is a character who survives the testament of time. Despite his first animated series ending after two seasons, he returns in the 1990s series, The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat. Fans of the character are treated to a new version of the character, voiced and all, who pays homage to the original from decades before.
6 Hello Kitty Is A Household Name
An animated cat who is likely known in every home is Kitty White. Better known as Hello Kitty, Kitty White was initially marketed toward teenagers in the 1970s but has since grown in popularity in recent decades. The little white cat is a wholesome character with merchandise, movies, and television series.
One of the most long-running Hello Kitty series is Hello Kitty's Paradise. The series ran for twelve years and featured the Hello Kitty characters in various shorts. Hello, Kitty's extended popularity clearly indicates that no matter the generation watching, she remains loved in the hearts of her fans.
5 The Cat In The Hat Can Connect Family Members
Most people will be familiar with Dr. Seuss and the plethora of children's books published under his name. One of his most famous characters is The Cat In The Hat. The character of the Cat in The Hat has been in many shorts and movies, but an animated series on PBS bridges the gap between parents who grew up with the character, and their children.
The series, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! follows Nick and Sally as they go on adventures around the world with the infamous cat. This new-age retelling focuses on education and learning while capturing the goofy fun that older fans know the Cat and The Hat for.
4 Sylvester Isn't Very Looney
Sylvester is a well-known character from the Looney Tunes universe. The cat often takes an antagonistic role in many of his animations, and can often be seen chasing characters such as Tweety or Speedy Gonzales. The character has had many iterations and stories, but he remains a mouser with a losing streak throughout most of them.
Sylvester is commonly known for his telltale lisp when he speaks, and his catchphrase, "Sufferin' Succotash!" His tendency to lose makes him less loony than his fellow characters, but he remains well-received by fans of the Looney Tunes franchise.
3 Tom Is A Main Character Who Scarcely Wins
Tom is one half of the duo in Tom and Jerry. The animated series follows Tom the Cat and Jerry the Mouse as they struggle to outsmart one another. Like most cats, Tom is desperate to catch the mouse who lives in his home but is unsuccessful most of the time. The series doesn't have an individual protagonist, as it follows both characters.
Tom is often caught in Jerry's traps, resulting in hilarious circumstances. The series operates on slap-stick comedy and a reusable premise. Even though Tom has been the main character since the series first came to be in the 1940s, he's a protagonist who scarcely wins.
2 Meowth Is A Classic Villain
Meowth is well known to Pokémon fans not for being a cute companion but as a classic villain in the animated series. Meowth has been in countless iterations of Pokémon and is a member of the infamous Team Rocket. He is one of the few Pokémon who can speak and offers witty banter and humorous one-liners.
Despite taking an antagonistic role in most series, Meowth is well-received by fans. He and his fellow members of Team Rocket continue to be popular characters, even though they are often bested by the show's protagonists.
1 Garfield Is Everyone's Favorite Cat
Garfield is a fictional feline that is as loved as he is known. The orange tabby with a love for lasagna got his start in Newspaper comic strips and quickly made his way to the animated limelight. He is the main character in two animated series, Garfield and Friends, and The Garfield Show.
The wise-cracking cat is revered for his sarcastic comments and mild-mannered attitude. In many ways, he's reminiscent of cats in real life, making him an easy favorite for people whose cats long for food, naps, and mischief.