Cats have been a fixture throughout human civilization ever since they domesticated themselves in ancient Egypt, and who doesn’t love a good cat video? As it turns out before YouTube, cats have been in movies since the dawn of Hollywood.

The cinematic universe is full of cunning kitties, whether you’re a fan of cartoons or action flicks. Let’s check out some of the most iconic cat movie moments in cinematic history below so you can get a much-needed extra dose of cat videos in your day.

Top 10 Cat Movie Moments From Cinema History

1. Meeting the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland

Arguably, the most recognizable cartoon cat of all time is the Cheshire Cat, with his mysterious smile and enduring love for talking in cryptic turns of phrase. Unlike the evil Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat appears to help Alice when she’s hopelessly lost in the topsy-turvy Wonderland.

Although strange and hard to understand, the cat appears to be a force for good and a helpful ally to Alice.

2. Freeing Thackery Binx in Hocus Pocus

In this Halloween staple, Thackery Binx was transformed into a black cat for defying a coven of witches and defending his sister against the villainous Sanderson sisters.

After spending centuries and most of the film as a cat, Binx is finally freed from his cat form and turned back into a human at the end of the movie before his spirit fades away to be at rest with his sister.

3. Mr. Bigglesworth Gets Upset in Austin Powers

Who can forget Mr. Bigglesworth, the gorgeously fluffy Siberian cat owned by mastermind Dr. Evil? Mr. Bigglesworth is possibly the most temperamental cat in Hollywood history because people die in gruesome ways when he gets upset. It’s too bad a criminal madman owns the adorable Mr. Bigglesworth.

4. Sassy Springs a Jailbreak in Homeward Bound

In this harrowing testament to three pets’ enduring love for their owners, Sassy the Cat engages her stealth skills to break her dog friends out of an animal shelter after mistaking it for a pound.

However, the medical staff also helped Chance the American Bulldog out by removing porcupine quills from his muzzle. The daring bravery shown by Sassy was nothing short of stunning, however.

5. Meeting Keanu in Keanu

In this absurdly outrageous and very R-rated buddy comedy movie, the most adorable baby kitten of all time appears at the doorstep of a man named Rell. Rell’s upset because his girlfriend broke up with him, but Keanu’s turning up cheers him up and gives his life a new meaning. We think any cat owner can identify with the warm comfort that Keanu gave Rell.

6. Jiji Pretends to Be a Doll in Kiki’s Delivery Service

In the anime classic from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, Jiji is a talking black cat owned by a young witch named Kiki. Jiji’s a sassy but helpful kitty that begrudgingly helps Kiki with her delivery business, going so far as to pose as an inanimate doll while Kiki finds a child’s lost doll.

7. Pray for Mercy from Puss in Boots in Shrek 2

The cheeky, confident Puss in Boots unsuccessfully ambushes Shrek and Donkey in this classic animated film clip. He was so popular he would one day star in his film series. Puss in Boots has a distinctly roguish catlike charm that cat parents everywhere know and love in their cats when they’re running wild with the zoomies at 5 AM.

8. Goose Scratches Out Nick Fury’s Eye in Captain Marvel

While the superpowered Carol Danvers is the main star of Captain Marvel, Goose the Cat stole the show for audiences everywhere. Eventually, we learn that Goose is a fearsome creature known as a Flerken who poses as a cat to blend in with human civilization.

At one point, Goose scratches out the eye of superspy Nick Fury, reminding us all of the implacable fury cats can unleash when they’re threatened.

9. Mr. Tinkles Fires Everyone in Cats & Dogs

In this family-friendly comedy, cats and dogs can talk and even have opposing secret organizations that fight in secret, unbeknownst to their human owners. The villain is a deceptively cute Persian named Mr. Tinkles, who sneaks into a factory to mass-produce genetically altered mice that will spread a dog allergy to humans everywhere and render cats the default pet.

While we know cats aren’t evil, the movie is right that cats are cunning creatures!

10. Sly Professor Catches Tardy Students in Harry Potter

The timelessly magical world of Harry Potter has captured the imagination of audiences everywhere, featuring myriad fantastical creatures and abilities. One of the most intriguing is the ability to turn into animals, which the stern Professor McGonagall uses to hide as a cat in her classroom. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley run in late and think she isn’t there, but she transforms from a cat back into a human.

Conclusion

Cinemas will always have a place for cats, as we can see across decades of classic movie moments. Whether you prefer animated characters or live-action stars, you’re likely to find a feline character you admire. Cats are known as sly, tricky, wise, mysterious, sassy, and wrathful, but Hollywood somehow displays their signature spirit in all the clips we collected here.

See also:

• Abyssinian Siamese Mix: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits
• Cornish Rex vs. Sphynx: Differences Explained (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: SnacksInTheBackpack, Pexels