Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: July 14, 2023 by Crystal Uys
Before cats took over the internet, there were cartoons. From Felix the Cat, who was created in the silent film era in the 1920’s, to Simon’s Cat, the white British feline cartoon character who has taken the internet by storm over the last few years, cartoon cats have delighted and entertained cat lovers for decades. Meet five of the top cartoon cats.
Top 5 Cartoon Cats
1. Felix the Cat
Felix’s black body, white eyes, and giant grin make him one of the most recognized cartoon characters of all time. Developed in the 1920’s, Felix cartoons began airing on American TV in 1953. He first appeared in a short film called Feline Follies, and shortly thereafter, he made the transition from screen to print. Eventually, Felix was syndicated in over 250 newspapers all over the world. He is still published today in various magazines and publications.
2. Tigger
Tigger is the fictional tiger in A.A. Milne’s book The House at Pooh Corner. This sweet tiger with distinctive orange and black stripes bounces rather than walks, which fits his cheerful, outgoing personality. Tigger often overestimates his own abilities and has complete confidence in himself, which leads him into some interesting predicaments. In addition to the books, Tigger has appeared in multiple Disney movies.
3. Garfield
Garfield was created by Jim Davis in 1978, and the lazy feline who loves to eat and hates Mondays has spawned an empire that includes merchandise earnings of $750 million to $1 billion annually. The strip has also been turned into animated television programs and two full length feature films.
4. Hello Kitty
This fictional cat was designed by Yuko Shimizu. The female white Japanese bobtail cat with the red bow first appeared on a vinyl coin purse in Japan in 1974. Since then, Hello Kitty has turned into a global marketing behemoth worth more than 5 billion a year.
5. Simon’s Cat
Simon’s Cat is an animated cartoon series created by British animator Simon Tofield. Based on Tofield’s own cats, the cartoons feature a charming, yet mischievous cat that lives with Simon. His first cartoon alone, Cat Man Do, featuring black and white pencil drawings of a cat trying to wake his human has garnered more than 45 million views since it was posted on YouTube five years ago. In addition to the cartoons, Simon’s Cat has several books out, and Simon’s Cat merchandise ranges from toys to household goods, turning Simon’s Cat into a multi-media empire worth several million dollars.
For most cat lovers, the most enchanting feature of these, and all cartoon cats, is how well they capture cats’ unique traits and personalities.
This article was previously published on Answers.com and is republished with permission.
About the author
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
