Pop Culture’s 10 Greatest Cats

Their little paws. Their fuzzy fur. Their inability to resist knocking over a freshly poured glass of water. Since the dawn of civilization, human beings have been captivated by cats. One of the rare animal species to have self-domesticated, Felis catus took one look at our ancestors and said: “Now there’s someone my descendants can boss around for generations.” Thousands of years of cat-obsession later, those ancient felines proved themselves right. Pop culture loves cats, and while each little kitty is special in their own way, these 10 have become beloved enough to withstand the test of time.

The Cheshire Cat

An OG feline, the Cheshire Cat has been an icon for more than a century. In Lewis Carroll’s possibly absinthe-inspired novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat is a stand-in for every archetypal trickster in human mythology. Legendary troublemakers in their own right, it only makes sense that a knocking-things-off-shelves-because-why-not creature like a cat would be the perfect choice for Alice’s mischievous animal guide. Like any housecat, the Cheshire Cat’s interests include frustrating human beings to no end. If cats could speak, it would certainly be in riddles like this guy. And while each cat on this list is an icon, the Cheshire Cat is the only kitty to have a facial expression named after it. Everyone knows what a Cheshire Cat grin looks like; it’s the expression your cat would make after dropping a steamer behind your couch, if they only had the facial muscles to do so.

Tom

Before there was Sylvester and Tweety Bird or Itchy and Scratchy, there was Tom and Jerry, the original cat-and-mouse drama. Unlike the one-of-a-kind Cheshire Cat, Tom is a feline everyman, an animated representation of the housecat’s timeless struggle to murder small mammalian intruders. And while he embodies every cat’s killer instinct, he attempts the lethal deed in a variety of creative ways. Baseball bats, slingshots, cheese-laden traps, homemade explosives — Tom’s methods are myriad. Despite his love for mouseicide, he’s got other passions as well, like playing stand-up bass for lady cats in the neighborhood. Like his ever-expanding Jerry-killing arsenal, Tom contains multitudes. A Renaissance cat, really.

Jones

While it may be the star of Ridley Scott’s Alien, the Xenomorph is only the second deadliest predator in the Milky Way. The deadliest? Little hunters like Jones. The unofficial mascot of the mining spaceship USCSS Nostromo, this widdle guy is actually a battle-hardened survivalist. Countless light-years away from the planetary home of his ancestors, he fearlessly braves the cold vacuum of the void — an existential horror that would drive most humans mad. And even when faced with an extraterrestrial killer in the ship’s vents, he greets the situation with typical feline nonchalance. While most of the Nostromo‘s crew was getting brutally killed, Jones was not only surviving, but thriving. Honestly, if Ellen Ripley hadn’t grabbed him before she boarded the escape shuttle, he probably would have just stayed on board. A rescue team would probably have found him sitting in Xenomorph’s lap, having earned the apex predator’s respect. Game recognizes game.

Puss in Boots

Don’t let his big eyes fool you, Puss in Boots is one of the most accomplished killers on this list. First introduced in Shrek 2 as an almost-Shrek-murdering assassin, this show-stealing sword-cat went on to star in a bevy of his own films. One of the foremost anti-heroes-turned-regular-heroes in the realm, Puss has a seriously impressive resume. He’s overthrown an evil prince, he saved his hometown from a giant golden goose, and he’s served as a loving cat-uncle to Shrek and Fiona’s children. If that wasn’t enough, he’s even cheated Death eight separate times. He may be an even more accomplished survivalist than Alien‘s Jonesy. The Xenomorph was scary, sure. But that sickle-wielding murder wolf? Terrifying.

The Cat Bus

It’s no secret that Hayao Miyazaki loves cats, and while his film oeuvre is full of worthy felines (Jiji from Kiki’s Delivery Service and the cast of The Cat Returns are honorable mentions) no cat has made as much of an impact as the Cat Bus from My Neighbor Totoro. This vehicular kitty hit pop culture like a truck (bus?), introducing Studio Ghibli fans to the ultimate mode of fantasy transportation. Who wouldn’t want to travel the world in the belly of a 12-legged commercial cat car? While most cats (in art and life) exist only to be adored by humans, this feline machine took it upon itself to provide an actual service to humankind. Granted, the Cat Bus doesn’t exactly run on a reliable schedule and may get distracted by a twine ball in the road, but hey, it’s free.

Mufasa

Perhaps the most iconic big cat in pop culture history, The Lion King‘s Simba was a royal necessity for this list. As far as lions go, Simba is a trendsetter. An iconoclast, even. Despite being the literal King of the Jungle, this Hamlet-inspired hero is a friend to all, even lowly prey animals. While Rafiki’s wisdom is the only thing preventing him from getting eaten by Mufasa’s pride, the potential lion-appetizer Timon and main course Pumba provide nothing but positive vibes. For perhaps the first time in big cat history, a lion like Simba saw past this warthog and meerkat’s caloric value and recognized their best friend value instead. Great rulers are more than just strong; they are also kind. Power-hungry villains like Scar will never understand this truth, and that’s why Simba deserves the crown. His beautiful singing voice helps, too.

Hello Kitty

An icon among icons, Hello Kitty is a cultural and economic powerhouse. The whiskered face of a multi-billion-dollar media franchise, this adorable little kitten is beloved the world over. Like the real-life Choupette, she’s the kind of cat that any fashion mogul could appreciate; her snow-white fur and little red bow just scream haute couture. That’s why she’s on backpacks, t-shirts, and keychains across the globe. And like any self-respecting It Girl, she always comes with an entourage. While they could never outshine the star they orbit, Hello Kitty’s friends are each icons in their own right. While Badtz-Maru isn’t a cat, he’s got the feline deadpan facial expression down pat.

Hobbes

They say the dogs are man’s best friend, but Calvin and Hobbes challenges the adage. The faithful feline companion to a Bart Simpson-esque elementary schooler, Hobbes will always be Calvin’s eternal partner in adolescent crime. Always down for a philosophical chat while flying down a hill in a red wagon, Hobbes continually proves that he’s just as critical a thinker as the real-life English philosopher he’s named after. But Hobbes is more than just a rationalist; he’s also a wellspring of emotional support. While Calvin’s parents are continually clueless about their son’s inner life, Hobbes is always there to provide a shoulder to lean on. To them, he’s just a stuffed animal, but to Calvin, he’s the entire world. Real-life tigers are sadly less reliable companions, but anyone who’s ever owned a cat will understand the feeling.

Salem Saberhagen

Most cats aren’t iconic enough to inspire an internet meme, but Salem Saberhagen isn’t most cats. The resident feline of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Salem is a once-human warlock cursed by the Witches’ Council to spend a century as a cat as penance for his world domination plans. Honestly, he’s better this way. If cats could think, what self-respecting kitty wouldn’t dream of ruling the world? They already rule their human owners; why not lord over 8 billion more? Whether he’s demanding to be groomed or asking permission to throw up in Sabrina’s shoes, Salem provides a voice for the inner desires of all of catkind. And while, like most cats, his primary concerns are sleeping, eating, and demanding attention, he’s proven himself to be a reliable source of emotional support in troubled times. Growing up is hard even for non-magical teens, but Salem trots next to Sabrina every step of the way.

Garfield

Lazy, unbothered, self-involved, Garfield is the quintessential cat, and that’s why he’s such an icon. A lover of lasagna and hater of Mondays, Garfield represents both human and cat kind’s intrinsic desire to lie around all day and do diddly. He’s reached a level of chill that each of us aspires to achieve; his only responsibility is to do exactly what he wants 100% of the time. And he’s been doing just that for fifty-odd years. Debuting in 1976, the Garfield comic’s titular star is one of the longest-lived cats on this list. While the Cheshire Cat hit the scene in the 19th century and Puss in Boots first appeared as a 1500s fairytale, Garfield has become more of an icon in five decades than these two other felines have in centuries. His secret? Be self-absorbed, cynical, and totally useless, and you’ll go far in life.

(featured image: Paws, Inc / Paramount Global)

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]