Cats are fascinating and interesting animals, so it’s no surprise that there are numerous movies that feature them. Many films with cats are family friendly and have lovable and memorable characters. Here’s a list of excellent kitty movies that you can watch during your next family movie night.
Top 25 Cat Movies for Kids
1. The Aristocats
| Release Date: | December 24, 1970 |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Productions |
| Starring: | Phil Harris, Eva Gabor |
The Aristocats is a classic movie that’s beloved by many cat lovers. The story revolves around a family of pet cats that get kidnapped and lost. They find their way back home with the help of an alley cat. It’s a sweet story that kitty-loving kids will enjoy, and it’s filled with many different cats with distinct personalities and quirks.
2. Oliver & Company
| Release Date: | November 18, 1988 |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Starring: | Joey Lawrence, Billy Joel |
This movie is based on Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist, and the story revolves around the adventures of a stray cat named Oliver. He befriends a gang of stray dogs that try to help him find a forever home with a girl named Jenny Foxworth.
3. Garfield the Movie
| Release Date: | June 11, 2004 |
| Studio: | David Entertainment, Paws, Inc. |
| Starring: | Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Stephen Tobolowsky, Bill Murray |
Garfield is a lazy cat who just wants to enjoy life. He feels like his other pet housemate, Odie, gets in his way and annoys him frequently. He devises a plan to get rid of Odie but has a change of heart and decides to figure out how to get Odie back. If your child loves this movie, they’ll be thrilled to know that it has a sequel, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties.
4. The Amazing Maurice
| Release Date: | November 13, 2022 |
| Studio: | Ulysses Flimproduktion, Cantilever Media, Narrativia, Moonshot Films |
| Starring: | Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke |
The Amazing Maurice is a fantasy comedy film about a ginger cat named Maurice. He’s very smart and cunning and befriends a group of rats that help him accomplish his money-making scams. His plans come to a halt when he meets Malicia, who figures out his schemes and wants his help in rescuing her town.
5. The Cat in the Hat
| Release Date: | November 21, 2003 |
| Studio: | Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures |
| Starring: | Mike Myers, Alec Baldwin, Kelly Preston, Dakota Fanning, Spencer Breslin |
This movie is loosely based on Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. It is about two siblings, Conrad and Sally Walden, who meet the Cat in the Hat. He shows up on their doorstep on a rainy day and introduces them to exciting and imaginative experiences. He causes mayhem in the house, and the Walden siblings must figure out a way to clean their home before their mother returns.
6. Cats Don’t Dance
| Release Date: | March 26, 1997 |
| Studio: | David Kirschner Productions, Turner Feature Animation |
| Starring: | Scott Bakula, Jasmine Guy |
This movie follows a cat named Danny. His dream is to leave his hometown of Kokomo, Indiana, and move to Hollywood to become a famous movie star. He doesn’t have any connections in Hollywood and has to learn to work to make his dreams come true.
7. Spy Cat
| Release Date: | June 13, 2018 |
| Studio: | Scopas Medien Grid Animation |
| Starring: | Alexandra Neldel, Axel Prahl |
Spy Cat is about a spoiled and pampered house cat that encounters the opportunity to become a private eye. She decides to leave her luxurious life to solve a mystery, and she finds new meaning to her life along the way.
8. The House of Magic
| Release Date: | December 25, 2013 |
| Studio: | nWave Pictures |
| Starring: | Murray Blue, Cinda Adams, Grant George |
An abandoned cat named Thunder finds a new home with a retired illusionist. His new owner ends up in the hospital, and he and the other house pets devise a plan to prevent his owner’s nephew from selling their home.
9. Shrek 2
| Release Date: | May 15, 2004 |
| Studio: | DreamWorks Animation |
| Starring: | Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas |
While Shrek 2’s plot revolves around an ogre, it debuts and features the lovable cat, Puss in Boots. He befriends Shrek and his companions, and they work together to save Princess Fiona’s kingdom. Puss in Boots grew such a strong fanbase that he got his own spin-off movie.
10. Puss in Boots
| Release Date: | October 16, 2011 |
| Studio: | DreamWorks Animation |
| Starring: | Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thorton, Amy Sedaris |
Puss in Boots is a spin-off movie from the Shrek franchise. The story takes place before Puss in Boots meets Shrek and Donkey. Puss in Boots is looking to restore his honor by working with another cat, Kitty Softpaws, and Humpty Dumpty. If you enjoy this movie, you can watch its sequel, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which was released on December 13, 2022.
11. The Adventures of Milo and Otis
| Release Date: | July 12, 1986 |
| Studio: | Fuji Television Network |
| Starring: | Shigeru Tsuyuki, Dudley Moore |
The Adventures of Milo and Otis is a live-action adventure comedy about a cat named Milo and a Pug named Otis. Milo is hiding in a box, and the box suddenly gets swept away by a river current. The movie follows Milo’s adventure and Otis chasing after Milo.
12. The Cat From Outer Space
| Release Date: | June 30, 1978 |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Productions |
| Starring: | Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, Harry Morgan, Ronnie Schell, Roddy McDowall, McLean Stevenson |
This movie is about an alien cat that gets stranded on Earth. The cat enlists the help of three scientists who are determined to help the cat return home. Their efforts aren’t an easy task, as army officials and spies try to thwart their plans.
13. The Cat Returns
| Release Date: | July 20, 2002 |
| Studio: | Studio Ghibli |
| Starring: | Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Peter Boyle, Elliott Gould, Tim Curry |
The Cat Returns is a fantasy animated movie. The story begins with a girl named Haru helping a cat and ending up in his Cat Kingdom. She has to figure out how to escape and return home, and she learns some valuable life lessons along the way.
14. Tom and Jerry: The Movie
| Release Date: | February 26, 2021 |
| Studio: | Turner Entertainment |
| Starring: | Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Colin Jost, Rob Delaney, Ken Jeong |
This movie revolves around notorious rivals, Tom the Cat and Jerry the Mouse. Jerry moves into a luxury hotel in New York City, and a wedding event planner hires Tom to chase Jerry out because he’s a threat to her career.
15. A Cat in Paris
| Release Date: | October 15, 2010 |
| Studio: | Folimage |
| Starring: | Dominique Blanc, Bernadette Lafont, Jean Benguigui, Bruno Salomone |
A Cat in Paris is about a cat named Dino who lives a double life. He seems like an ordinary house cat, but he also works as a cat burglar at night. Dino’s owner finds out about his secret life, and they embark on a journey to uncover more truths.
16. Cats & Dogs
| Release Date: | July 4, 2001 |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Starring: | Jeff Goldblum, Tobey Maguire, Alec Baldwin, Sean Hayes |
Cats & Dogs is a spy action movie that revolves around a rivalry between spy dogs and cats. A scientist develops a formula to cure people of dog allergies, and a group of cats want to steal it and use it to develop a new formula that will make all people allergic to dogs.
There are three total movies in the Cats & Dogs franchise. The sequel, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, was released in 2010, and the third movie, Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite!, was released in 2020.
17. Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever
| Release Date: | November 29, 2014 |
| Studio: | Lifetime, Lighthouse Pictures |
| Starring: | Tardar Sauce, Aubrey Plaza, Megan Charpentier, Daniel Roebuck |
Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever is a fun holiday movie that stars the internet-famous cat, Grumpy Cat. It is a story about Grumpy Cat forming a friendship with a girl named Crystal. Crystal is able to hear Grumpy Cat talk, and the two embark on an adventure together to learn the true meaning of Christmas.
18. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
| Release Date: | February 3, 1993 |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Starring: | Michael J. Fox, Don Ameche, Sally Field, Robert Hays |
This movie is an adventure comedy that revolves around the friendship between two dogs and a cat. After being temporarily placed on a ranch, they decide to go on a journey to be reunited with their family in San Francisco.
19. The Secret Life of Pets
| Release Date: | June 16, 2016 |
| Studio: | Illumination Entertainment |
| Starring: | Louis CK, Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell |
The story of The Secret Life of Pets revolves around a dog named Max, but it features many different animals, including a tabby cat and a group of alley cats. Max ends up getting lost and has to team up with a motley crew of animals to find his way back home.
20. Felix the Cat: The Movie
| Release Date: | January 26, 1989 |
| Studio: | Felix the Cat Creations |
| Starring: | Chris Phillips, Maureen O’Connell, Peter Newman, Alice Playten |
This movie is based on the famous cartoon cat, Felix. In this movie, Felix has to save the Kingdom of Oriana, which has been overtaken by the evil Duke of Zill. Felix is transported to the Kingdom of Oriana and helps the princess thwart the duke’s plans.
21. That Darn Cat!
| Release Date: | December 2, 1965 |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Productions |
| Starring: | Hayley Mills, Dean Jones, Dorothy Provine, Roddy McDowall, Neville Brand, Frank Gorshin |
That Darn Cat! is a comedy thriller that involves a cat named DC and rescuing a kidnapped woman. DC is the comedic star of the movie and helps FBI agents rescue the woman in a roundabout, hilarious way.
22. Kiki’s Delivery Service
| Release Date: | July 29, 1989 |
| Studio: | Studio Ghibli |
| Starring: | Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Tress Macneille |
Kiki’s Delivery Service is about an adventure shared between a girl named Kiki and her trusty cat sidekick, Jiji. It is an animated fantasy movie that begins with Kiki traveling to a new city so she can learn to become a witch. She ends up meeting a baker, who helps her start her own delivery service.
23. Home
| Release Date: | March 7, 2015 |
| Studio: | DreamWorks Animation |
| Starring: | Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin, Matt Jones, Jennifer Lopez |
While a cat isn’t the main character of Home, an adorable calico cat named Pig is the constant companion of the movie’s heroine, Tip Tucci. This fun family film follows the adventure that ensues after a chance encounter between Tip and an outcast alien named Oh. Pig also creates plenty of funny and endearing moments.
24. A Whisker Away
| Release Date: | June 18, 2020 |
| Studio: | Studio Colorido, Toho Animation, Twin Engine |
| Starring: | Cherami Leigh, Johnny Yong Bosch, Robert Buchholz |
A Whisker Away is an imaginative movie about a girl named Miyo who transforms into a cat after putting on a magical mask. The movie follows her journey of trying to return to being a human and the life lessons she learns along the way.
25. The Lion King
| Release Date: | June 15, 1994 |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Starring: | Matthew Broderick, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly |
While this movie isn’t about house cats, it’s still one of the most iconic films featuring cats. The Lion King was inspired by the biblical stories of Joseph and Moses and Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The modern retelling of these literary works makes Simba’s journey a timeless classic with a message that people of all ages can relate to.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are so many cat movies with interesting and unique cat characters. They also span across a wide variety of genres, so there’s something for everyone. With all the wonderful cat movies out there, there’s no excuse not to watch one of these movies at your next family movie night.
See Also:
- Cat Sìth: The “King of Cats” From Celtic Mythology
- Why Do Cats Blink Slowly? Their Behavior Explained
Featured Image Credit: Alones, Shutterstock
Top 25 Cat Movies for Kids
