“Everybody wants to be a cat because a cat’s the only cat who knows where it’s at.” These wise words were first sung by Scat Cat in the 1970 animated Disney film The Aristocats. And while the movie is the only Disney cartoon totally dedicated to felines (whereas dogs get 101 Dalmations, Lady and the Tramp, etc.), you can still find Disney cats popping up in some form in almost every movie the company makes.
And just like in real life, the cats in the Disney canon come in a variety of personalities. From mischievous to mysterious, cuddly to cunning, no two Disney cats are alike. Some can talk, while others can only purr. Some take center stage while others simply live as pets. But all of them manage to find a place in our hearts.
Take a look at eight of the most memorable Disney cats and let us know if your favorite feline made the list.
Marie from The Aristocats
There are plenty of cats to choose from in the aforementioned Disney flick The Aristocats, but we have to highlight cute kitty Marie here. That white fur! Those pink bows! That sass!!! Duchess’ daughter may be one of the cutest cats on the list, but don’t think for a moment that she can’t go toe-to-toe with the fiercest of felines. This kitty doesn’t take anyone’s crap, including any tormenting from her brothers Berlioz and Toulouse. She’s ladylike, but with an edge, as proven with her quote, “Ladies do not start fights, but they can finish them.”
Rajah from Aladdin
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but Princess Jasmine‘s pet tiger Rajah proves that a giant jungle cat can be pretty dang loyal, too. Without ever saying a word, Rajah is seen all throughout Aladdin protecting his owner in any way he can. And since Jasmine is the most eligible bachelorette in all of Agrabah, Rajah spends most of his time scaring away potential suitors who don’t deserve his owner’s attention.
Tigger from Winnie the Pooh
Tigger is a wonderful creature, as he’ll be the first to tell you, adding that he’s “bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!” Sure, it’s redundant, but he certainly gets the point across. While the rest of the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood are in a constant state of fear of Heffalumps or are clinically depressed with a penchant for losing their own tails, Tigger is the one friend Winnie the Pooh can count on to be full of energy and positivity. And in these trying times, that’s a really beautiful thing.
Oliver from Oliver & Company
The little orange Tabby kitten from the 1988 movie Oliver & Company may have started out as a lonely orphan, but ends up a hero, all while singing some catchy tunes with his dog pal Dodger (Billy Joel). Oliver was raised on the streets of New York by a pack of dogs before eventually being taken in by a little girl named Jenny. And luckily for her, the brave little kitty was around to save her from the evil loan-shark Sykes. Best of all, Oliver was voiced by a young Joey Lawrence in his pre-Blossom days. Woah!
Bagheera from The Jungle Book
Bagheera is a wise, level-headed, and intelligent panther who is responsible for rescuing Mowgli in the jungle and bringing him to a pack of wolves to help raise him. Sure, he’s not as fun to be around as Baloo, but we can’t all be the life of the party. We need balance. And that’s what Bagheera brings to the table, consistently going out of his way to make sure the little man-cub is safe from his jungle enemies, including a less-friendly Disney cat, the tiger Shere Khan.
Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland
The Chesire Cat is constantly smiling from ear to ear, but if you lived your life in a constant state of mischief, you would be too! Disappearing and reappearing as he sees fit, the pink and purple cat sometimes helps Alice in her journey through Wonderland, but other times can’t help himself from causing trouble, including causing mishaps in order to get the Queen of Hearts to lose her temper. But he’s nothing if not self-aware, and is the only character in Wonderland who acknowledges (and proudly admits) to being mad.
Lucifer from Cinderella
Cinderella‘s wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine, is not a nice woman and she found the perfect pet to match her nasty qualities — her spoiled cat, Lucifer. While his love for eating is highly relatable, the fact that Lucifer wants to eat Cinderella’s mice friends makes his feeding time a lot more disturbing. The only thing he loves more than eating mice is making Cinderella’s life miserable, and he goes to great lengths to achieve both. Despite his wicked ways, he’s ultimately part of the movie to provide comic relief, so at least his failures provide us with a few laughs along the way.
Simba from The Lion King
There are so many amazing cats to choose from in The Lion King, but Simba is the heart and soul of the film (and the jungle). As an impressionable young cub, he just wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a mighty king. Meddling from his evil uncle, Scar, may set him back, but at least it allows him to get some outside mentoring from Timon and Pumbaa, helping to make him the well-rounded lion we know and love today.
