You might think celebrity profiles are reserved for us humans, but plenty of famous cats have earned A-list status – whether it’s through the big screen or they’ve become pet influencers on social media.
Slinky, elegant and mysteriously cool, it’s hard not to be magnetized by our feline friends, making them the perfect candidates for stardom and easily able to win over a crowd of loyal fans. Dating back 4,000 years to Ancient Egyptian times, cats were considered magical, godlike creatures who were worshipped and adored. And to this day, we still hold them very close to our hearts.
From Garfield to Puss in Boots, here are some of the most famous cats in the world – and how they came to fame. How many of these do you know?
Famous cats
1. Garfield
A fictional but extremely famous cat, Garfield is the protagonist of the eponymous strip cartoon created by Jim Davis. This lazy and cynical orange cat loves lasagna and hates Mondays and any form of exercise.
2. Bob
Bob is an orange tabby stray who bonded with a homeless man named James Bowen. The cat was injured, and the man was a recovering drug addict – together, they gave each other a reason to fight for survival.
This true story was turned into both a book and a movie (in which Bob himself stars), A Streetcat Named Bob.
3. Cat in the Hat
The feline hero of a wacky 1957 children’s book by Dr Seuss. The Cat went on to become Dr Seuss’s signature creation, although he claimed he chose a cat simply because of the abundance of rhyming words.
The tale of this anthropomorphic cat – who turns two kids’ dreary, rainy day into a few memorable hours of wild chaos – became a huge bestseller, an animated TV special in 1971, and a 2003 action film.
4. Taylor Swift's cats
Taylor Swift is a proud pet parent to three adorable cats – Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button – who have become stars of their own.
Not only have they starred in a Diet Coke commercial and appeared on the cover of Time magazine, but they’ve also featured in not one, not two, but three of her music videos. Olivia is reportedly worth $97 million, making her one of the world’s richest pets!
Want to know more? We have a whole feature on Taylor Swift's cats.
5. Cheshire Cat
Lewis Carroll’s fictional cat from his 19th-century novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a whimsical, perplexing, and philosophical – and famously grinning – feline who, at one point, gradually disappears until only his signature grin remains.
Although the Cheshire Cat is most commonly associated with this novel, the phrase “grinning like a Cheshire Cat” predates Lewis Carroll, appearing in several 18th-century texts.
6. Nala
This internet sensation holds the Guinness World Record for the cat with the most followers on Instagram. Nala – a Siamese/Tabby mix with around 4.5 million fans and her own merchandise line – has earned her owner, “Pookie” (Varisiri Mathachittiphan), over $100 million.
Life hasn’t always been so glamorous though. The adorable, cross-eyed Nala rose to these dizzy heights from humble beginnings as a sick stray, before being rescued in 2011.
7. Puss in Boots
Charming, cunning, and confident, this smooth-talking cat has stolen many hearts in DreamWorks' Shrek. As one of the main characters, Puss in Boots serves as one of Shrek's loyal sidekicks, helping him to save Princess Fiona from Dragon.
Whether he's using his sword skills to fight off bad guys or his famous 'cute eyes' to get his own way, he's always ready to protect his friends.
8. Mrs Norris from Harry Potter
Fans of Harry Potter will know Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch’s pet cat. She is described as having bulging yellow eyes, a scrawny body, and dust-colored fur – and is a superb tell-tale, alerting her master to any miscreant students.
Several Maine Coon cats played Mrs. Norris in the films, despite the breed typically being large and non-scrawny. The production team also used animatronics for some of the stunts.
9. Tom
As one of the main protagonists in Tom and Jerry, Tom has become one of the most well-known cats in the world, appearing on our screens for more than eight decades and across multiple generations.
The hit TV show has won seven Academy Awards and revolves around the rivalry between Tom and a mouse named Jerry. While Tom tries his best to catch Jerry, he's often outsmarted with cunning tactics, leading to a comedic and slapstick aftermath.
10. Grumpy Cat (Tardar Sauce)
Tardar Sauce, who died aged seven in 2019, came to be nicknamed Grumpy Cat due to her appearance. She had a permanently grumpy face, due to an underbite and feline dwarfism, but rapidly became an internet sensation when a photo was posted of her on Reddit as a five-month-old kitten in 2012. She was worth millions of dollars.
She went on to become an internet meme, hobnobbed with celebrities, guest-starred in TV shows and even had her own waxwork at Madame Tussauds, the first ever cat to be immortalized there.
11. Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty is worth a staggering $84.5 billion, making it the second highest-grossing media company of all time. This adorable little cat was originally marketed toward pre-teen girls but has become an international superstar, winning cult followers among teens and adults too.
What started as a character design for everyday products soon became the official Japanese tourism mascot and kawaii icon, with her very own backstory. From branded merchandise and movies to cafés and amusement parks – this kitty has made it big!
12. Willow Biden
This sweet grey tabby cat, with green eyes, is the family pet of former US president Joe Biden and First Lady Jill. She was the first feline to live in the White House since George W Bush was at the helm. Willow is named after Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, Jill Biden’s home town.
13. Mr Bigglesworth from Austin Powers
Mr. Bigglesworth stars in Austin Powers as the antagonist Dr Evil’s loyal cat, who appears in many scenes as his confidant and support.
The role is played by a sphynx cat named Ted, who appeared on the front cover of Cats magazine in 1999. In an interview, Mike Myers (Austin Powers) revealed that Mr. Bigglesworth delayed filming on several occasions because he wanted to sleep on his lap. We'll allow it!
14. The Aristocats
This 1970s Disney classic tells the story of four cats – Duchess and her three kittens – who live the life of luxury in a mansion in Paris. That’s until they’re catnapped by the butler, who plots to steal their owner’s fortune.
The cats are dumped in the French countryside, and the film follows their adventure back home, where they meet plenty of friends along the way – like stray cat O’Malley.
15. Choupette
Possibly the most glamorous cat of all, Choupette is a cream Birman cat with dazzling blue eyes who belonged to the fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld until his death in 2019. Choupette was given to Lagerfeld by the French model Baptiste Giabiconi.
The beautiful Choupette (translated from the French as “sweetie”) used to eat with her owner at table, had four grooming sessions a day and slept in discarded Chanel garments. She is lucrative too, and made several million euros in car adverts and beauty campaigns, as well as starring on the cover of Vogue with Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen.
Want to learn about more famous pets? Read our round-up on the Royal Family's dogs and US presidents' dogs through the years. Or, check out these celebrities with exotic pets
Edited by Georgia Guerin and Alexis De Leaver.
This page was last updated in May 2025 by Megan Milstead.
