Let’s take a trip back in time and check out my list of 7 most memorable cartoon cats! Another Middle-Aged Cat Lady’s picks will be sure to bring back memories.
Take a Trip Back to Saturday Morning Cartoons
Hey there, fellow cat lovers, let’s take a trip down memory lane to the era of pawprints, scratch posts, and milk bowls. Today, I’m going to dish about my seven favorite cartoon cats that made my childhood unforgettable!
From Garfield to the Thundercats, discover the greatest cartoon cats of all time “back in my day!”
Cartoon cats were a beloved part of my Generation X childhood, just as they’ve been for the Baby Boomer and Millenial generations. Whether they’re chasing mice, pining for lasagna, or fighting off ancient mummies and mutants, these feline characters captured many imaginations.
Here are my picks; hopefully, this list will bring back fond memories.
My List of 7 Great Cartoon Cats
Top Cat
Kicking off my list is Top Cat, the coolest alley cat in town. Also known as T.C., Top Cat was the star of his eponymous 1960s cartoon. I caught it on re-runs, naturally. I vividly recall the catchy theme song.
With his trademark purple hat and vest, he was a dapper character. Top Cat was the leader of a gang of alley cats who were forever getting in trouble with Officer Dibble. But T.C. always outsmarted him in the end.
His witty one-liners and charming personality made him a fan favorite and a true icon of cartoon cats.
Garfield
Next, we can’t forget about Garfield, the lazy and lovable orange tabby who had a serious obsession with lasagna. He also hated friendly doggie Odie and cute, positive kitty, Nermel.
His show Garfield and Friends aired on Saturday mornings from 1988 to 1994. I loved Garfield’s voice; the voice actor, Gerald “Lorenzo” Music, also did the voiceover for Peter Venkman in The Real Ghostbusters cartoon.
As a preteen, I even had Garfield underwear, so you know he had to make the cut. With his sarcastic humor and insatiable appetite, Garfield stole the hearts and stomachs of millions of fans.
Tom
Tom from Tom & Jerry was another unforgettable feline. Who didn’t root for Tom at some point in their childhood?
He was resilient and smart. For some reason, the writers wanted the viewers to see Tom lose. Not our household. We were Team Tom, always!
Despite being outsmarted by that pesky little mouse, Tom’s determination and perseverance were truly admirable.
Sylvester
Sylvester from The Looney Tunes was also a must on this list. As a kid who lisped, he was so relatable. His famous catchphrase, “Thuffering thuccotash!” will forever be ingrained in my memory.
His never-ending pursuit of the annoying “widdle” birdie Tweety Bird—whom he never caught—was frustrating! I couldn’t help but love the big lug.
Plus, he was a good dad to his little son, Sylvester, Jr.
Of all, his black-and-white tuxedo pattern is so essential to him that many black-and-whites share his name, including my kitty, Sylvester!
Thundercats (All of Them)
The cast of Thundercats could have made the entire list on their own. There were: Panthro, Tigra, Cheetarah, the twins Wylie Kit and Wylie Kat, Snarf, and the red-maned main star of the show, Lion-O.
The Thundercats deserve a special shout-out as a group of humanoid cats who fought against ancient an ancient Mummy named Mumm-Ra and his mutant henchmen.
Each of the Thundercats, from the young-in-age, mature-in-body “leader” Lion-O to the spunky and speedy Cheetara, brought something unique to the table.
And let’s not forget the grumpy but lovable Snarf.
Riff-Raff
This may be a controversial pick! Whenever I watched Heathcliff and Friends (also called Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats), I preferred the Riff-Raff cartoons to the Heathcliff ones!
Riff-Raff wore a jaunty cap and was the leader of his gang of alley cats, bossing around roller-skating Wordsworth and dumb Mungo. His girlfriend Cleo was one pretty kitty.
With his love for mischief and his street smarts, Riff-Raff was always getting into some kind of trouble.
Snagglepuss
Last but not least was Snagglepuss, the iconic Hanna-Barbera cartoon cat (lion?) with his distinctive pink fur and theatrical flair.
He was always ready to break out his catchphrase, “Exit, stage left!” when he found himself in a sticky situation.
I couldn’t get enough of his unique cadence and witty remarks.
Whether he was avoiding hunters, getting into misadventures, or just being his fabulously dramatic self, Snagglepuss was always a memorable character from my childhood cartoon-watching days.
Conclusion
So, what do you think of my top seven picks for the most memorable cartoon cats of our childhood? Did I miss any of your favorites?
Let me know in the comments below!
Another Middle-Aged Cat Lady 