Pussy on a Pedestal

Despite his imposing stature, Big the Cat is one laid back fellow. He lives a peaceful life in the jungle and passes the time by fishing with his best friend, Froggy. The Sonic series was built on high speeds and constant motion, so low key activities like fishing help Big stand out. Truth be told, he has absolutely no impact on the story whatsoever and his sections in Sonic Adventure were so poorly implemented that the director actually expressed his regret for including them in the game. Sega decided to retire him as a playable character in 2012 (although they resurrected him for an April Fool’s joke in 2016.) The hatred for Big the Cat is palatable, but he’s one of the most iconic cats on this list. When I think Sonic, I think Sonic’s Shitty Friends™. When I think Sonic’s Shitty Friends™, I think Big the Cat.

Rover is one of the first characters you’ll meet in Animal Crossing. He’s also one of the kindest. This talkative cat is nice enough to sit next to you on the train or bus and seems to take great personal interest in you. He asks several questions about your personality and goes out of his way to help you find a place to live when he learns that you’re in the process of moving. Rover himself is always on the move, so he seems to sympathize with your situation. Rover happens to be one of the most important characters in the series, and the manner in which you answer his questions effects everything from the game’s internal clock to the outward appearance of your character. After you get settled into your new home, Rover can usually be found on the train or bus and is always more than willing to talk.

A manifestation of evil in its truest form, Evil the Cat rules over the infernal wasteland known as Planet Heck with an iron paw. Having scoured the galaxy for evil things, Evil the Cat has filled his planet with sinister lawyers and dreadful elevator music. Like most of Earthworm Jim’s rivals, Evil the Cat wishes to claim the Super Suit as his own. His dream of conquering the galaxy notwithstanding, Evil the Cat is not unlike any other typical feline. For instance, he will frequently lick himself and plays with a ball of yarn when he gets bored. He’ll even stop to groom himself in the middle of a battle! You can afford to take chances when you have nine lives to play around with. After appearing in the first two Earthworm Jim games, Evil the Cat avoided Earthworm Jim 3D altogether. And here I thought that he liked evil things…

Myau (say it out loud) is an intelligent “musk cat” with the uncanny ability to speak. We first meet Myau in a pet store where his owner is attempting to sell him for an exorbitant amount of money. It’s soon revealed that Myau is on a mission to save his friend Odin, who has recently been turned into stone by Medusa. Although Myau has the medicine to cure Odin, he can’t open the bottle on account of having no fingers. Myau pleads with a young girl named Alis to save him, and she happily obliges. After Alis trades a valuable pot to secure Mayo’s freedom, the two set out to save the world together. Myau proves to be a very valuable party member, as he can attack with his claws, use powerful magic, and even disarm traps in dungeons. Myau can also increase his size and sprout a pair of majestic, feathery wings.

The Cait Sith is based on a creature from Scottish mythology that’s said to haunt the Highlands. Although incarnations of the Cait Sith have appeared in several Final Fantasy titles, it’s given the brightest spotlight in Final Fantasy VII. In that game, Cait Sith appeared as a robotic cat who rode on the back of a giant stuffed moogle. Cait Sith allowed said moogle to do the fighting for him, and merely used a megaphone to give it instructions in battle. Although Cait Sith is friendly, he’s often unreliable. He first joins Cloud’s group under the guise of a traveling fortuneteller but subsequently betrays his new friends and tries to sabotage their mission. Cait Sith later has a change of heart and opts to stay with the party, and even puts his life at risk when he volunteers to extract the Black Materia from the Ancient Temple.

Morgana probably wouldn’t want to be mentioned on this list at all. He hates being viewed as a common cat, and would much rather be known for his personality and capabilities. Morgana wishes to become human and is convinced that he used to be one in the past, but he usually appears as a talking cat despite having the ability to change his shape. (He can also take the appearance of a more realistic cat, and he can even transform into a cat van in tribute to My Neighbor Totoro!) Morgana is defined by his overconfidence and has an air of superiority around him, but he’s actually insecure and has an intense fear of abandonment. He feels tremendous pressure to prove himself and sometimes lets his ego get in the way of friendships, but he’s a loyal ally and guide for the most part.

After stumbling into the ruins of a long-lost civilization, an unnamed stray is forced to find a way back to the surface. The unpopulated city proves to be the perfect playground, and he’ll need to climb up obstacles, leap across platforms, and claw at various objects as he navigates through neon-lit alleys and shadowy landscapes. Most of the characters on this list have human-like qualities, but the stray’s journey requires him to perform true-to-life feline activities. In order to solve environmental puzzles, he’ll need to be stealthy, nimble, and curious. A little playfulness is also encouraged, and he can often elicit a positive response by nuzzling up to other characters. Sleeping is also an option, of course. Whether he’s taking a nap on a random blanket or burrowing into a cozy bookshelf, he has ample time to take paws pause and reflect on his journey.

In Monster Hunter, Felynes are adorable cat-like creatures with remarkable intelligence. The bipedal animals have mastered the human language, and this allows everyone to co-exist with hunters. Felynes take on various roles, ranging from shop keeping to farm maintenance. Certain Felynes, known as Palicoes, have pledged to support humans in battle. Tsukino takes her role very seriously, and she provides support to her assigned hunter by gathering materials and attacking monsters. She’s great at following orders, and she’s willing to throw on various disguises in order to gain more info about her potential targets. She also has a fantastic sense of humor, and I love the way she playfully teases her friends. Palicoes have been a part of Monster Hunter since the PS2 days, so it says a lot for Tsukino to be singled out on this countdown.

Some will point out that Meowth is a species of Pokémon and not technically a cat at all. Still, it’s pretty clear where the inspiration of his character came from. Meowth bears a striking resemblance to the Maneki Neko – a common Japanese sculpture (typically made of porcelain or ceramic) which is believed to bring good luck to the owner. Meowth, not unlike the sculpture, is usually found with his paw raised in a beckoning position. The gold coin attached to Meowth’s forehead is another reference to the Maneki Neko. Meowth is obsessed with shiny objects and is constantly searching for coins. This obsession can bring good fortune to his trainer, and his “Pay Day” attack can be used to earn money in battle. Is it any wonder why Meowth was given such a prominent role in the animated series?

Here kitty, kitty! This feisty catgirl from the Darkstalkers games is known for her killer curves, flowing blue hair, and revealing outfit. (Although, one has to wonder if Felicia’s skimpy attire can even be classified as an outfit in the first place.) It’s hard to believe that Felicia was actually raised by a Catholic nun! After a brief stint starring in a musical with her catgirl friends, Felicia became a nun herself and founded an orphanage named “Felicity House.” How can someone who looks so bad be so good? Some of the entries on this list haven’t been the cat’s meow, but we’re clearly dealing with some top-shelf pussy in the case of Felicia. (That should be taken as a compliment to her outstanding character and not as a sexist comment.) Felicia has sharp claws and has apparently taken a vow of celibacy, so being pounced on by her would not be a fun time.