Cats’ already gigantic personalities get even bigger in the animated world. Imagination takes hold, and iconic characters are born. Here are five of our favorite cartoon cats to grace the big or small screen.

Garfield

From the popular comic strip that bears his name to seemingly countless TV and big-screen adaptations, this iconic orange tabby has endeared himself to fans for more than four decades. And it’s no surprise. Garfield, a cynical, mischievous lover of lasagna and serial antagonizer of his human, Jon Arbuckle, packs quite the personality.

Tom Cat

Tom & Jerry

Getting its start in the 1940s, Tom & Jerry is a cartoon franchise that has stood the test of time. The premise is simple. It’s about cat, Tom, and mouse, Jerry, who pretty much never stop dueling. Eighty years and countless quarrels in, the franchise lives on – as does Tom’s immense starpower.

Sylvester

Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies

This scraggly tuxedo cat is among the classic big names in the Looney Tunes lineup. Known for tangling with animated nemeses like Tweety Bird and Hippety Hopper, Slyvester is a superstar in the cartoon cat world.

Stimpy

The Ren & Stimpy Show

This lovable halfwit is the good cop to Ren’s bad cop in the edgy-for-its-time Nickelodeon series. Oh joy!

Cheshire Cat

Alice in Wonderland

Always flashing that signature half-moon grin, this pink-and purple-striped cat rose to cartoon fame for guiding Alice through Wonderland in the classic 1951 film. That grin isn’t always well-meaning, though, as he tends to be more than a little mischievous.

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