(Picture Credit: Albert L. Ortega/WireImage/Getty Images)
Dogs like to get the spotlight in movies, but we all know it’s the cats who steal the show when they appear on screen.
They can be cute and cuddly, intelligent, and fierce, but they always leave an impression.
The cats on this list are some of the most famous movie cats of all time. Is your favorite on the list? Read on to find out!
1. Mr. Bigglesworth From Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery
Played by an Egyptian Sphynx cat named Ted Nude-Gent, Mr. Bigglesworth is Dr. Evil’s beloved pet in the Austin Powers movie series.
Mr. Bigglesworth used to be a long-haired Persian, but thirty years spent in a cryogenic capsule turned him and Dr. Evil permanently bald. Mr. Bigglesworth was named Cat of the Year by Cats magazine in 1999.
“When Dr. Evil gets angry, Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset. And when Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset, people die!” —Dr. Evil
2. Tonto From Harry & Tonto
This orange tabby won the 1975 Performing Animal Top Star of the Year Award for his role in Harry & Tonto.
In true feline fashion, Tonto gravitated toward the one person who didn’t fuss over him during the shooting of the film—the actor who played Harry, Art Carney, who admitted later that he did not like cats!
“My cat has to relieve himself.”—Harry
3. Garfield From Garfield: The Movie
This lasagna-loving fat cat started out as an American comic strip then successfully made the leap to television, video games, and even full-length feature movies.
In 2002, Garfield made it into the Guinness Book Of World Records for being the most widely syndicated comic strip. The 2004 live-action movie starred a computer-generated version of Garfield voiced by Bill Murray.
“So much time and so little I need to do.”—Garfield
4. Mittens From Bolt
Mittens is a savvy stray cat who was declawed then abandoned by her owners. Unable to hunt for herself, she survives by intimidating the local pigeons into fetching her food.
When she meets Bolt, she reluctantly accompanies him on his quest to return home to his forever human. Susie Essman, Mitten’s voice actor, says she sees her as “a tough New York City chick, and Bolt [as] this idiot Hollywood guy.”
“They pretend they’re going to always be there for you, and then one day they pack up and move away and take their love with them and leave their declawed cat to fend for herself!”—Mittens
5. Oliver From Oliver & Company
In this 1988 Disney classic, Oliver is an orphaned kitten who joins a gang of street dogs to survive.
The story was much grittier in an original version of the script. Originally pitched as a live-action version of Oliver Twist, the film eventually became the upbeat musical adventure we know and love today.
“When are we gonna get those hot dogs?”—Oliver
6. Sassy From Homeward Bound
Played by Tiki and voiced by Sally Field, Sassy is a Himalayan who, along with a Bulldog and a Retriever, trek across the Rockies to reunite with their family.
Prior to her debut role in the film, Tiki was originally rescued from a kitten mill. She went on to thrive under trainer Tammy Maples and learned how to do stunts on cue.
“Cats are smarter than dogs and more attractive, and we don’t drink from the toilet!”—Sassy
7. Crookshanks From The Harry Potter series
While technically half-Kneazle, Crookshanks looks more like a scruffy tomcat than a magical creature. Nobody wanted him as their pet, and he remained at Magical Menagerie until Hermione Granger purchased him in 1993.
In the movies, Crookshanks is played by two red Persians—Crackerjack and Pumpkin. To make them appear as scruffy as possible, their trainers had to stick bits of already-shed fur back onto their bodies.
“Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he’d been in there for ages; no one wanted him.”—Hermione
8. Mrs. Norris from the Harry Potter series
Argus Filch’s pet cat, Mrs. Norris, is often on patrol at night, keeping an eye out for misbehaving students. While hated by many, she is exceptionally loyal to Filch. Author J.K. Rowling named Mrs. Norris after a similarly hated character in Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park.
Several cats played her during the films, including a Maine Coon named Pebbles who became very good at walking across the set and stopping where indicated. She was used wherever the film needed a shot of Mrs. Norris pacing the corridors of Hogwarts.
“Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner.”—Filch to Mrs. Norris
9. Puss in Boots From The Shrek Series And Puss In Boots
Voiced by Antonio Banderas, this debonair feline made his first appearance in Shrek 2 then later on in a spin-off prequel of his own.
His signature look—a musketeer cavalier hat, a rapier, and boots—is a part of his roguish charm. Puss is an accomplished fighter, capable of disarming his opponents with a flash of his blade, but he’s not above using his looks to get what he wants.
“My thirst for adventure will never be quenched!”—Puss in Boots
10. Orangey From Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Nobody knows for sure how many cats were used in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but Orangey is the only cat to have won two Picture Animal Top Star of the Year awards, one of which was for his work in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
“I’m like Cat here. We’re a couple of no name slobs. We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us. We don’t even belong to each other.”—Holly Golightly
Did your favorite famous movie cat make the list? Who should we add? Let us know in the comments below!