Famous Cats in History and Pop Culture

Legendary Cats of History and Folklore

• Bastet (Ancient Egyptian Goddess): Perhaps the most revered “cat” in history isn’t a single cat but a deity. Bastet(or Bast) was worshipped in ancient Egypt as a goddess of home, fertility, and protection – taking the form of a woman with a cat’s head or a lioness in earlier periods. Cats were so sacred in Egypt that harming one was punishable by death​. Bastet’s cult center was in Bubastis, where annual festivals drew thousands. The reverence Egyptians had for Bastet spilled over to all cats: they were mummified by the tens of thousands as religious offerings. This ancient worship is why today the image of the “Egyptian cat” – often a sleek black cat with gold jewelry – remains iconic. Bastet firmly established cats as divine beings in human history.
• Trim (Sailor Cat of Exploration): Trim was a brave black-and-white cat who sailed with navigator Matthew Flinders in the early 1800s. Born on a ship, Trim circumnavigated Australia with Flinders. He was beloved by the crew for his friendly nature and uncanny sea legs. Trim survived a shipwreck and stayed with Flinders even during imprisonment by the French (when Flinders was held captive in Mauritius). Flinders wrote a tribute to Trim, praising his intelligence and manners. Today, statues of Trim stand alongside Flinders’ monuments in Sydney and other locales, commemorating this adventurous feline.
• Stubbs (Mayor of Talkeetna): In 1997, the small town of Talkeetna, Alaska, “elected” a cat as honorary mayor. Stubbs the cat, a ginger tabby with a short tail, held the title of mayor for 20 years until his death in 2017​. Tourists would visit the general store to see Mayor Stubbs, who often could be found napping or drinking water mixed with catnip from a wine glass (his daily treat)​. He had no legislative power, but he became a media darling and symbol of the town’s quirkiness. Stubbs’ long “term” as mayor showed that sometimes, people prefer a cat in charge – at least there were no bad policies or scandals under his leadership (unless you count the time he got into a scuffle with a dog and had to recuperate). Stubbs’s fame highlights how a beloved local cat can become an international story.
• Unsinkable Sam (Survivor of WWII): This cat’s tale seems almost too incredible to be true. Originally named Oscar, “Unsinkable Sam” was a ship’s cat reportedly aboard the German battleship Bismarck when it sank in 1941. He was found floating on a plank by British sailors and taken in as their ship’s cat – then survived when that ship (HMS Cossack) was torpedoed and sunk. Rescued again, he was moved to HMS Ark Royal… which was later also torpedoed and sunk. Each time, Sam survived and was rescued, thus earning the nickname “Unsinkable Sam.” Eventually he retired to a peaceful life on land. While some historians debate the full accuracy of Sam’s story, he’s become a legendary mascot for naval resilience. His portrait (a black-and-white tuxedo cat on a plank) is preserved in the UK’s National Maritime Museum. Unsinkable Sam’s story is a poignant (and oddly cute) footnote to the grim history of naval warfare, illustrating the respect and affection sailors have long held for their ship cats.
• Muezza (The Prophet’s Cat): In Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad was said to have a favorite cat named Muezza. One famous story recounts that Muhammad awoke one day to the call to prayer, and when he went to retrieve his robe, he found Muezza asleep on its sleeve. Rather than disturb his cat, he gently cut off the sleeve so Muezza could continue her slumber undisturbed. When he returned, Muezza awoke and bowed to him, and in return Muhammad caressed his cat three times. Because of such tales, cats hold a special place in Islamic culture – they’re often allowed in mosques and fed and cared for by communities, considering Muhammad’s love for cats. Whether legend or fact, Muezza symbolizes compassion and respect toward animals in Islamic tradition.

Fictional Felines and Pop Culture Icons

• Cheshire Cat (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland): With his famous toothy grin and ability to disappear at will, the Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel is one of literature’s most iconic cats. He’s a mischievous guide to Alice in Wonderland, known for philosophic (and nonsensical) insights. The phrase “grin like a Cheshire cat” was known before Carroll, but he immortalized it by literally having the cat fade away until nothing but the grin remained​. The Cheshire Cat has since appeared in countless adaptations, always representing that enigmatic, otherworldly quality of cats. He might be a fictional character, but any time you see a wide cat grin or a cat vanishing around a corner, you can’t help but think of him.
• Puss in Boots: Originating from a French fairy tale in the 1600s (by Charles Perrault), Puss in Boots is the clever anthropomorphic cat who wears boots and tricks his master’s way to fortune. In modern times, DreamWorks reimagined Puss in Boots in the Shrek films as a swashbuckling, Spanish-accented cat (voiced by Antonio Banderas) with adorable wide eyes and formidable sword skills. This Puss in Boots became a pop culture star, even getting his own spin-off movies. He merges two things humans love in cats: cuteness and cunning. It’s a centuries-old character that proves a resourceful cat is a timeless hero.
• Garfield: Perhaps the world’s most famous comic strip cat, Garfield first appeared in 1978, created by Jim Davis. This lasagna-loving, Monday-hating orange tabby has become a global phenomenon. Garfield’s lazy antics, sardonic thought bubbles, and endless appetite resonated with readers, and by the 1980s Garfield was in TV cartoons, merchandise, and more. Fun fact: by the 2000s, Garfield was syndicated in over 2500 newspapers, making it one of the most widely published comic strips. Garfield’s popularity endures because he captures something very cat-like (aloof self-interest) yet in a humorous, exaggerated way. Plus, who among us doesn’t have a bit of Garfield in us on Monday mornings?
• Hello Kitty: Not a traditional cat, but absolutely a cultural icon. Hello Kitty, designed by Yuko Shimizu for Sanrio in 1974, is a cartoon anthropomorphic kitten (with the full name Kitty White) who became a merchandising empire. Hello Kitty has a trademark red bow and no drawn mouth – part of her design’s charm is her simplicity and the idea that she speaks from the heart. She isn’t tied to a comic or story; she’s more of a branding character whose image has been on everything from school supplies to airplanes. Hello Kitty became a symbol of kawaii (cute) culture in Japan and then worldwide. Although not a “character” with adventures per se, she’s arguably one of the most famous felines ever – even being named the U.N. Tourism Ambassador to Japan at one point! Hello Kitty demonstrates how the image of a friendly cat can transcend into a global ambassador of cuteness and friendship.
• Crookshanks (Harry Potter’s Cat): In the Harry Potter series, Hermione Granger’s cat Crookshanks plays a small but memorable role. A large, squashed-face ginger cat, Crookshanks is extremely intelligent (in the books it’s hinted he’s half-Kneazle, a magical feline creature). He correctly distrusts Ron’s pet rat (who is secretly the animagus Peter Pettigrew) and even helps Sirius Black by trying to bring him the rat. Crookshanks shows the trope of a cat that’s smarter than some humans suspect. While not as globally iconic as others on this list, Harry Potter being such a phenomenon means Crookshanks is a pretty well-known kitty (and his name is often referenced as a fun and fanciful pet name).
• Grumpy Cat (Internet Meme Star): In the age of the internet, cat memes reign supreme. And none shone brighter (or more dourly) than Grumpy Cat. Real name Tardar Sauce, she became an online sensation in 2012 when a photo of her perpetually frowning face went viral. Her downturned mouth and unimpressed glare launched a thousand captions (the classic: “I had fun once. It was awful.”). Grumpy Cat appeared on news shows, had merchandise, even starred in a Lifetime holiday movie. She basically wrote the book on internet cat fame – quite literally, there are books about her. Grumpy Cat’s face, caused by feline dwarfism and an underbite, was one-in-a-million, and she brought joy to millions with her cantankerous “persona”​. Though she passed away in 2019, her meme legacy continues to live on as an integral part of internet culture. Grumpy Cat’s celebrity proves that one snapshot of a cat’s unique expression can capture hearts worldwide.
• Lil Bub: Another internet-era star, Lil Bub was an oddity and a cutie. Born as the runt of a feral litter with multiple genetic anomalies (dwarfism, extra toes, no teeth), Lil Bub had an ever-tongue-out happy expression. Discovered and adopted by Mike Bridavsky, Lil Bub’s photos took off online around 2011. Bub became known as a “perma-kitten” for her small size and big eyes. She starred in a documentary (Lil Bub & Friendz won at Tribeca in 2013) and helped raise awareness for pet adoption and special needs pets. Fans loved her positive, otherworldly aura – many joked she was a magical space cat here to inspire us. Lil Bub, like Grumpy Cat, turned internet fame into philanthropic good; her owner used her platform to raise money for animal charities. She showed that even the “weird” cats, the ones who might be overlooked, have the power to charm the world.
• Salem (Sabrina the Teenage Witch): In the Archie comics and the popular 1990s sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Salem Saberhagen is a former witch turned into a black cat as punishment. In the sitcom, Salem (voiced by Nick Bakay) steals the show with his sarcastic one-liners and schemes – all delivered by a sassy animatronic cat. Salem became a beloved character, often plotting world domination or making snarky comments from the perch of a couch. He’s another example of the classic trope: the talking black cat advisor/sidekick to a witch (much like the folkloric idea of a witch’s familiar). Salem’s comedic presence in Sabrina endeared him to a generation and keeps him in best-TV-cat lists to this day.
• Tom (Tom & Jerry): We can’t mention famous cats without Tom, of Tom and Jerry. Debuting in 1940, Tom (the cat) and Jerry (the mouse) defined the cat-vs-mouse cartoon genre. For decades, children watched Tom’s never-ending, always-foiled attempts to catch Jerry. Without dialogue, Tom expressed everything through hilarious facial expressions and slapstick, making him a global icon. Sure, he’s often the “villain” compared to cute Jerry, but many of us root for Tom in his eternal struggle (or at least sympathize when he gets squashed yet again). Tom and Jerry cartoons won multiple Oscars and remain syndication staples worldwide, cementing Tom’s status as one of the most famous animated cats ever.

These are just a handful of the multitude of famous felines out there. From ancient temple cats to cartoon troublemakers and viral internet pets, cats clearly hold a special place in human storytelling and affection. Each famous cat reflects something about how we view cats: as mystical, funny, loving, sly, or just plain inspiring creatures. It’s a testament to the versatility of cats that they can be heroes, villains, comedians, and even public officials (looking at you, Mayor Stubbs) in our collective imagination.

Who knows – the next famous cat might be the one napping on your lap right now, just a viral video away from superstardom!

Sources: In ancient Egypt, cats were worshipped and protected by law, exemplified by the cat-goddess Bastet. The Cheshire Cat from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is known for disappearing until only its grin remains​. In real life, Stubbs the cat served as honorary mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska for 20 years (1997–2017)​, becoming a tourist attraction. Grumpy Cat (Tardar Sauce) became an internet meme sensation for her perpetual scowl, leading to millions of social media followers and widespread merchandise​. Salem Saberhagen from Sabrina the Teenage Witch popularized the trope of the talking black cat sidekick, while Tom from Tom & Jerry has been an iconic animated cat since the 1940s. These examples illustrate the wide impact of felines in culture, from historic reverence to modern entertainment.