Sarah’s Favorite Fictional Felines
Since Bailey wrote about her favorite felines of film and television last month (check out her top ten fictional kitties here), I have not been able to stop thinking about which cats would make the cut on my list… So, here it is! I’ve thought about this topic long and hard, and (like Bailey) I have restricted myself to my favorite ‘domesticated’ kitties (otherwise Baby, aka the leopard from the 1938 screwball comedy film Bringing Up Baby, would have taken the top ‘spot’ on this list…). Without further ado: round up the toy mice, shake a bag of cat treats, and curl up with that purrfect feline in your life, as you check out a dozen (cause I couldn’t limit myself to ten) of my favorite furry felines. You better bet your nine lives that there is at least one kitty on this list that will suit your fancy! Enjoy!
12. Crookshanks from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, dir. Alfonso Cuarón) – Hermione Granger’s familiar, who first made his appearance within the pages of J. K. Rowling’s popular children’s book series, is one of the most underappreciated characters within the Harry Potter universe. Overlooked for his grumpy demeanor and scruffy features, Crookshanks proved to be one smart magical creature (he is, after all, part cat and part Kneazle), recognizing that Ron’s pet rat Scabbers was not what he appeared to be, and occasionally helping out the wizarding trio over the course of the series.
11. Bill the Cat (aka. Bill D. Cat) from Opus ’n’ Bill: A Wish for Wings that Work (CBS, 1991) – Bill is a true oddball. As Opus (a flightless penguin) explains in A Wish for Wings that Work, Bill was rescued from a lab, where scientists replaced his brain with tater tots, leaving him considerably deranged… Bill is the ("Ack!") hairball producing, crazy orange cat that we all need in our lives. "Thppt!"
10. Jake / Zunar-J-5/9 Doric-4-7 (or The Cat) from The Cat from Outer Space (1978, dir. Norman Tokar) – Have you ever had a staring contest with your cat and wondered if they were trying to tell you something? Perhaps your cat is really a space alien attempting to telepathically communicate with you? Zunar-J-5/9 Doric-4-7, or Jake, as his human friends affectionately nicknamed him, is one such feline extraterrestrial in the sci-fi comedy film The Cat from Outer Space. If you have not had the chance to witness the campiness of this film, I highly recommend it. If nothing else, it will make you want to adopt an Abyssinian cat…
9. Felix the Cat from Bold King Cole (1936, dir. Burt Gillett) – I was introduced to Felix the Cat at a very young age via a series of VHS tapes (Oh, the horror!) that contained collections of classic cartoons (everything from “Looney Tunes,” to “Little Lulu,” and so many great cartoons in between). Some of my favorite cartoons, from this collection, were the 1930s Felix shorts, which featured sound and color, but the character actually dates back to the silent era, first appearing in a 1919 Paramount Pictures short, Feline Follies. Equally as iconic and recognizable as Mickey Mouse, Felix the Cat has had a soft spot in my heart for quite a while, and has appeared throughout modern media in everything from comics to TV series, and even plenty of character merchandise as well. (You can find many classic Felix cartoons on YouTube, and can even watch Bold King Cole here!)
8. Thomasina from The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963, dir. Don Chaffey) – There is sometimes no greater connection than between that of a girl and her cat. This movie brings all the feels; it is a tearjerker, an emotional rollercoaster ride, but also a heartwarming fantasy film. Featuring a stellar cast, including Karen Dotrice (who would go on to play Jane Banks in Mary Poppins, 1964), The Three Lives of Thomasina is a strangely great cat film. It even features a pretty spectacular fantasy sequence, depicting a ‘cat heaven’ or afterlife that Thomasina (voiced by Elspeth March) visits, which is presided over by Bastet, the Egyptian cat goddess. This is certainly the type of film that will make you want to snuggle with your fur baby…
7. Pyewacket from Bell, Book and Candle (1958, dir. Richard Quine) – Who doesn’t love a good love-spell toting familiar? When Greenwich Village witch, Gillian (Kim Novak), realizes that her college rival is about to marry her neighbor, Shep (James Stewart), Gillian takes revenge by sending Pyewacket, her Siamese cat familiar, to cast a love spell on him, to stop their impending wedding. Even though witches cannot (or rarely) fall in love, things are quickly complicated when Gillian starts to fall in love with Shep… The breakout feline star in this film was in fact Kim Novak’s cat, Pyewacket, the cat’s name having even made its way into the script. I truly don’t know of a more gorgeous feline to have ever graced the silver screen.
Sabrina, chilling in some pants, as you do when you’re a cat…
6. Cat from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961, dir. Blake Edwards) – Most people think of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and conjure images of Audrey Hepburn in oversized sunglasses, pearls, and a little black dress… I, however, think about the stray cat that the main character, Holly Golightly, cares for, and simply named Cat. Cat, in a sense, becomes a spirit animal for Holly, an extension of her character, as a ‘free spirit’ who does not always make the wisest decisions. The final scene in the film, where Holly releases Cat into the rain, and Holly’s love-interest, Paul, goes racing after the cat, and Holly chases after both of them, packs an emotional punch every time I watch this film. If you have not watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s in a while, I assure you that the film is well-worth a re-visit.
5. Si & Am from The Lady and the Tramp (1955, dirs. Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske) – Voiced by Peggy Lee (who was featured as several characters within the film, most memorably as the Pekingese, Peg, who sings “He’s a Tramp”), Si and Am are the mischievous twin Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp. The duo’s songs, particularly “The Siamese Cat Song,” are catchy and among some of the first tunes that I learned to play on the piano. I cannot help but love these sly cats, between Si and Am’s torment of Lady, their utter disregard for boundaries, and duplicitous nature (being easily able to bamboozle Aunt Sarah), Si and Am give cats a bad name, but that is exactly why I love them.
4. Tabby from The Worst Witch (1986, dir. Robert W. Young) – There have been several adaptations of Jill Murphy’s delightful children’s book series (which pre-dates Harry Potter by a considerable number of years) centering upon the misadventures of a young witch, Mildred Hubble, and her growing menagerie of pets. The original made-for-TV movie is probably my favorite, if for no other reason than Tim Curry makes a delightful appearance as ‘The Grand Wizard’ (but the recent Netflix series is pretty good too). Between Mildred’s distress over her familiar, Tabby (named as such since he was the only tabby cat in a litter of all-black kittens), who is afraid of heights and refused to ride on her broomstick, and her lackluster performance in all things involving magic, The Worst Witch is a relatable coming-of-age story that embraces the differences in all of us.
3. Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland (1951, Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske) – Voiced by Sterling Holloway (who you might recognize as Disney’s original Winnie the Pooh), and based upon the works of Lewis Carroll, the Cheshire Cat was brought to life by Disney animators in the most zany and endearing way. The character is delightfully mysterious, and one cannot help but be captivated by his ever-changing ‘Cheshire cat grin.’ This character is an enigmatic reminder that “We’re all mad here.” (A fitting quote, particularly at this stage of 2020…)
2. DC (aka. Darn Cat) from That Darn Cat! (1965, dir. Robert Stevenson) – I used to watch this movie repeatedly growing up. I went through a very strong ‘Haley Mills’ phase, where I could not get enough of the actress’s films, particularly her Disney films, such as Pollyanna (1960), The Parent Trap (1961), and That Darn Cat! (her last Disney film). The real star of this film, however, is the aloof Siamese tomcat (I clearly have a thing for films that feature Siamese cats…), DC, who does what he wants, whenever he wants, and even helps solve a crime. If you happened to catch the lackluster 1997 remake, That Darn Cat, but have not seen this film before, I cannot express enough how much better the 1965 film truly is, from the incredible supporting cast, to the gags that never get old, and even to the catchy theme song, That Darn Cat! is an amusing family-friendly crowd pleaser.
Lucyfur, showing off her ferocious side…
1. Lucifer from Cinderella (1950, dirs. Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske) – The facial expressions of this lazily evil feline, put me in stitches every single time I watch this movie. Lucifer’s snarky disposition and disdain of everything surrounding him, are a sheer delight to watch. When my mum and I first rescued our cat, Lucyfur (who at the time was called ‘Cheshire’), her antisocial disposition was so reminiscent of Lucifer that we jokingly said that she reminded us of the female incarnation of the character. Being a ‘red-head,’ she had her Lucille Ball moments as well, which prompted us to switch up her name. Shortly after we rescued her, we were discussing new ‘potential’ names, when Lucyfur walked into the room, sat down, and started washing her paws. We were spit-balling different nicknames to give her, as ‘Cheshire’ did not fit, neither did ‘Chessie,’ or anything else we tried. We said “Lucyfur,” and, suddenly, she murped at us. We said the name again, and she gave a louder meow, before sashaying out of the room… My mum and I were stunned, the cat literally picked her name, and still responds to it whenever called. She will forever be linked with her cartoon counterpart, Lucifer, who is most certainly my all-time favorite cinematic feline.
If this list doesn’t make you want to burst into song with a rousing rendition of “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” (from The Aristocats, 1970), I don’t know what else will… Which fictional kitties would make your list? Have any of your cats been named after famous felines from film and/or TV? Share your thoughts in the comments below and check back soon for more posts!
Copyright © 2020 Sarah Crane
