From comic strips to television to songs, cats have clawed their way into every corner of pop culture—and into our hearts. And so, with tomorrow kicking off Adopt-a-Cat Month, we’ve decided to honor our favorite felines. Below you’ll find 20 of the coolest cats in town.
20. Mr. Bigglesworth, Austin Powers
Dr. Evil sums it up best: “When Dr. Evil gets angry, Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset. And when Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset, people DIE!”
19. Snacks the Cat
The adorable Maine Coon of Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino has been called the band’s greatest inspiration. He was even featured on the cover of their debut album. Check out Snacks’ Tumblr and Twitter pages for daily updates, musings, and photos.
18. Meowth, Pokemon
As one of the few Pokemon with the ability to talk, creators combined the words “meow” and “mouth” to form its moniker. Though it belongs to Team Rocket, Meowth has become a favorite and one of the most recognizable Pokemon.
17. Sassy, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
Sassy embodies the loyalty everyone wants in a pet—with a heavy dose of sauciness that lives up to her name. Thinking they’ve been abandoned, Sassy accompanies dogs Shadow and Chance on a trip across America to rejoin their family. The heartfelt reunion proves that cats can be as faithful as their canine counterparts.
16. Toonces the Driving Cat, Saturday Night Live
“Toonces, The Cat Who Could Drive a Car” first aired on NBC’s Saturday Night Live in 1989. The pet of Lyle (Steve Martin, Dana Carvey) and Brenda Clark (Victoria Jackson), Toonces was allowed to drive the family car—which usually resulted in the vehicle going off a cliff.
15. Salem Saberhagen, Sabrina the Teenage Witch
A warlock sentenced to spend 100 years as an American Shorthair by the Witch’s Council, Salem became the pet cat of Sabrina Spellman and her two aunts. Noted for his wit, sarcasm, and one-liners, Salem was voted the Kids’ Choice Awards “Favorite Animal Star” three years in a row.
14. Snowball(s), The Simpsons
Fox’s favorite animated family has gone through five versions of their pet cat, taking the whole “nine lives” thing to a whole new level. We’ll give an Honorable Mention to the show’s other awesome cat, Scratchy
13. Smelly Cat, Friends
First appearing in the show’s second season, “Smelly Cat” has ultimately become Phoebe Buffay’s most popular ditty. Try to resist singing along as you watch the clip above.
12. Keyboard Cat
Our favorite musical feline, Charlie Schmidt’s cat Fatso, better known as “Keyboard Cat,” has received over 15 million views on YouTube.
11. Milo, The Adventures of Milo and Otis
Played by Ginger, an orange tabby cat, Milo grows up on a farm with Otis, a pug. When the two are separated, they set out to find each other – proving that friendship spans all species.