The 10 Most Iconic Movie Cats of All Time

Today, Aug. 8, marks International Cat Day, and we're celebrating by thinking of all of our favorite cats. That, of course, includes the furry friends we've made in real life, as well as famous and iconic cats from classic films.

Movie cats have a tendency to make themselves the stars of the show, whether they're actually a main character or not. Often, there's way more to these frolicsome felines than meets the eye, playing a much more critical role than you'd first suspect. Curious about the cinematic cats that have us entranced? Just keep scrolling to discover our top 10 faves.

Buttercup – The Hunger Games

Buttercup from The Hunger Games series is a resonant character because his life parallels Katniss's in so many ways. Despite being a cat, he's also a scrappy survivor who's made it through more adversity than just about anyone, with a fierce attitude to match. He also doted on Katniss's sister, Prim, and the two mourn Prim's loss together after her tragic death. And though he may be described as hideous in the books, his movie version is anything but.

(The Hunger Games: Catching Fire via Lionsgate)

 

Derpy – KPop Demon Hunters

KPop Demon Hunters may still be fresh in our minds, but we have no doubts that Derpy the tiger will remain a beloved and irresistible character from years to come. He and Sussy the magpie are inspired by Korean Hojak-do folk art depicting silly-looking tigers and distinguished magpies, representing cooperation between social classes. Derpy is equal parts cute, frightening and silly, serving as a messenger of sorts and always eager to right wrongs (and fallen objects).

(KPop Demon Hunters via Netflix)

 

Goose – Captain Marvel

Maybe we're cheating a little bit here, because while Goose from Captain Marvel might look like an ordinary orange house cat, he's actually a flerken. Hidden beneath that cute and fuzzy exterior is a seriously deadly tentacled critter. Though Goose is responsible for Nick Fury's lost eye, he's also an unexpected hero who saves the day with his unique abilities.

(Captain Marvel via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

 

Also read about: Show Off Your New Cat With One of These 20 Instagram Captions

 

Jiji – Kiki's Delivery Service

Jiji the black cat is Kiki's familiar in the beloved Studio Ghibli film Kiki's Delivery Service.  He's a helpful companion to the budding witch Kiki as she undergoes her magical training, and in the English dub, he's voiced by the legendary Phil Hartman with a wise-cracking and sarcastic attitude. Through her journey, Kiki experiences burnout and struggles with her responsibility, slowly losing the ability to understanding her friend, and further underscoring the importance of her quest.

(Kiki's Delivery Service via Toei)

 

Jonesy – Alien

Alien's Jonesy may not have any special abilities or a zany personality, but he's become one of the most famous cats in horror cinema history with his forceful presence. As the human crew of the Nostromo gets picked off one by one by the alien Xenomorph, the tension and thrills build. Jonesy might not understand what's going on around him, but he provides relief when fellow survivor Ellen Ripley finds him alive, and the two make it out of the terrifying situation together.

(Alien via 20th Century Fox)

 

Keanu – Keanu

Keanu, the titular cat from Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele's 2016 buddy action comedy, is so cute that he gets two innocent people unwittingly involved in a massive crime conspiracy. Once belonging to a crime kingpin, Keanu finds himself in the possession of two cousins who fall in love with him. When he's kidnapped again, the two set of on a possibly deadly mission to rescue him, facing off against assassins, gangs and other criminals in the process. Even better, the cat is voiced by his namesake, Keanu Reeves.

(Keanu via Warner Bros. Pictures)

 

Lucifer – Cinderella

Lucifer from Disney's animated classic Cinderella sticks in our minds for a different reason entirely—he's a great big jerk. While he doesn't pose much of a threat to Cinderella himself, he emulates the nasty behavior of her wicked stepmother and stepsisters and makes her housework more challenging. With much of the film following Cinderella's mice companions, however, he becomes much more terrifying and dangerous. He wants to stop them not just because they're aiding Cinderella, but also because they might be a tasty treat.

(Cinderella via RKO Radio Pictures)

 

Also read about: 6 Ways to Show Your Furry Friend Love on Respect Your Cat Day

 

Puss in Boots – Shrek and Puss in Boots Series

It's incredible to see how far Puss in Boots has come over the years. He first appeared as a new interpretation of the fairy tale character in Shrek 2 in 2004, using both his cuteness and his swordfighting abilities to great success as a bounty hunter. He's charming yet capable, as well as a little bit silly, and we've loved watching hire lore develop throughout the years, particularly with the release of the gorgeously animated and compelling Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

(Puss in Boots: The Last Wish via Universal Pictures)

 

Mr. Bigglesworth – Austin Powers

Even though Mr. Bigglesworth from Austin Powers is a riff on the villainous Blofeld's Persian cat from the James Bond movies, we'd argue he's become way more famous than the cat who inspired him. While he also started out the film with the fluffy white fur of a Persian, he emerged from cryogenic freezing as a hairless Sphynx, somewhat matching his owner, Dr. Evil. While Mr. Biggleworth doesn't do much himself, his silly name is quite memorable, as is the way Dr. Evil cares deeply for him, despite otherwise being so focused on evil.

(Austin Powers via New Line Cinema)

 

Thackery Binx – Hocus Pocus

And finally, there's Hocus Pocus's Thackery Binx, who's anything but just a black cat. Thackery actually began his life as a human boy living in the 17th century before he was transformed by the witchy Sanderson Sisters. In addition to being immortal, he also has the ability to talk, and when the Sanderson Sisters are accidentally resurrected in 1993, he works to ensure that this time, they'll be stopped for good.

(Hocus Pocus via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)

 

If you adore cats as much as we do, click HERE to discover 13 unusual breeds of house cat you've probably never heard of.