Cats in the Movies

If you’re tired of watching TV shows like “Scandal” and “Secrets and Lies,” and perhaps are up to date on all your favorite Netflix shows (I have just finished season three of “House of Cards”), how about looking up some movie favorites with cat stars—both animated and real.

I never get tired of the Pink Panther. This pink cartoon cat with the manners of an English aristocrat was first featured in the opening title sequence of Edward Blake’s original 1963 “The Pink Panther” film about a sophisticated jewel thief (played by David Niven), with the bumbling Detective Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers), and a large diamond called the Pink Panther.

The creation of David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng, the animated Pink Panther proved just as popular with moviegoers as the film itself. The film company executives not only made film sequels, but also created a series of animated cartoon shorts. They cartoons had light-hearted plots featuring the stylish pink cat who only becomes flustered or angry when obtuse or offensive humans or troublesome gadgets, rodents or insects threaten the tranquility of his existence.

Recently, I held my own Audrey Hepburn festival, including “How To Steal a Million” and the timeless “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” that featured her feline confidant, Cat.

Of course, the white Turkish Angora cat named Snowball who spent her screen time being petted by Ernst Stravo Blofeld, James Bond’s archenemy in seven films, including “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971), makes the films worth a rerun, too. Then there is the spoof of this Bond classic, “Austin Powers” (1997), actor Mike Myers starred as Dr. Evil, whose sidekick was a Sphinx cat named Mr. Bigglesworth.

Two of my favorite cat movies star Robert de Niro, who happens to be a real-life cat lover. The movies, of course, are “Meet the Parents” (2000) and “Meet the Fockers” (2004) and starring the Himalayan cat named Mr. Jinx.

In the first film, Gaylord “Greg” Focker (Ben Stiller) and his girlfriend Pam Byrnes go to visit her parents because he wants to ask for her father’s permission to marry his daughter. Mr. Byrnes, a retired CIA counterintelligence officer, takes an instant dislike to his prospective son-in law and things go awry and get hilarious when he loses Mr. Jinx and replaces him with a stray cat using a can of spray paint to “re-create” the cat’s coloring.

Actually, there is no shortage of entertaining films with cat stars. To add to your list, there is Snowbell in “Stuart Little” (1999), ” Puss in Boots” (1988 and 2011) and “Harry and Tonto” (1974). Don’t forget Azrael in The Smurfs (2011) and for something a little bit different, the Cheshire cat in “Alice in Wonderland”—Disney’s original animated and/or its Tim Burton live-action version.

Grab the popcorn and have fun watching, preferably with a cat on your lap.

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About the Author: Sandy Robins is the 2013 winner of the “Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contribution to the Pet Industry Award.” Her work appears on many of the country’s leading pet platforms, such as MSNBC.com, MSN.com and TODAYShow.com. She is a regular contributor and columnist in multiple national and international publications, including Cat Fancy, as well as the author of the award-winning books “Fabulous Felines: Health and Beauty Secrets for the Pampered Cat” and “For The Love of Cats.” Learn more about Sandy on her website or Facebook page. #welovecats