Cats have taken popular culture by storm. Although memes like lolcats and I Can Has Cheezburger? have been around for a while, the obsession with the whiskered mammal has yet to fizzle out. Websites such as Tumblr and Reddit continue to worship cats, with GIFs of them used to convey emotions and tell stories. The constant craze with the kitty might be a symptom of our generation reminiscing on our childhood. Movies and television shows from our elementary school days were littered with feline friends. Let’s take a look at some of our favorites.
Meowth from Pokémon
Maybe Pikachu could shoot electricity from his cheeks, but Meowth mastered the English language. Team Rocket spends the whole series trying to steal Ash’s coveted Pokémon without realizing that they have probably the only one that can form a sentence. What Meowth lacked in physical battle skills he made up with charm and wit. Targeting an Onix's weakness, he used a bucket of water to weaken the rock-type serpent and even used "Furry Swipes of Love" to profess his feelings for a Glameow he was tryna with. He probably learned those tricks when he was temporarily in a gang.
Lion-O from ThunderCats
Leader of the Thundercats, Lion-O is strong, fast, cunning and intelligent. He wields the legendary Sword of Omens, which is able to fire bolts of energy, all the while wearing skimpy, blue armor that shows off his muscled body. After going through the Anointment Trials, he is crowned true Lord of the ThunderCats. Whether you wanted to be him or do him, Lion-O deserves his spot as one of the most well-regarded kitties on our list.
Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland
The well-known trickster of Alice in Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat was one crazy puss. Appearing in the branches of a tree, he was not afraid to read Alice and throw her a bit of advice to get her shit together. With his purple stripes and wonky eyes, the last thing you see from the cat before he disappears into the shadows is a grin. Sometimes considered a Disney villain, the Cheshire Cat is definitely someone I would not want to run into after a night out in the woods.
Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Once a warlock that attempted to take over the world, Salem Saberhagen was sentenced to spend 100 years as a cat. But don’t let the tail fool you. Salem was probably one of the first diva personalities on television. With a quick wit and vast array of one-liners, let’s be honest and say that Salem was a pioneer of sassiness. Spending the series as Sabrina’s pet, he found himself in mischief, while occassionally saving the day. And you’ll never forget his trademark sobbing when distressed.
Luna from Sailor Moon
One of the two feline protectors of the Sailor Scouts, Luna always kept the girls in check (especially the scatterbrained Serena). Her and Artemis were advisors to Queen Serenity before Queen Beryl attacked and destroyed the Moon Kingdom. Luna was given the responsibility of reawakening the Sailor Scouts when the time was right. With a jump and flip in the air, she revealed to Serena and the other girls their transformation items, along with their true identities as defenders of the universe. She often gave the girls advice on defeating enemies and sometimes intervened to help save the day. More often she kept Serena from focusing on boys and food.
