The 10 Best Animated Movies About Cats

Gay Purr-ee (1962)

You might not know this classic, as many years have passed, but Gay Purr-ee features the incredible voice of Judy Garland from The Wizard of Oz, and tells the story of a little kitten who moves to the big city: Paris. And although she is tricked more than once, the film has a unique style that alludes to many artistic movements that were born and/or popularized in France, with some references to Manet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Degas, and Renoir. | © Warner Bros

The Aristocats (1970)

Surely, this is the first movie that came to mind when you thought of cat movies. And why not? The Aristocats is a Disney classic, and although it has some representations that might be uncomfortable today (like the Asian stereotypes), it is still a fantastic musical with some catchy songs that will stay in your head for weeks, whether you want them to or not. After all, Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat! | © Disney

Fritz the Cat (1972)

Here we have the first movie that is not for kids, and boy, is it rough. As is typical of Ralph Bakshi's films, Fritz the Cat gives us a raw look at American society in the '70s, in its most unpleasant aspects, using anthropomorphic characters as a medium. And of course, always following the misadventures of the cat Fritz, who gets into all sorts of trouble. Fun fact: This movie was the first animation to receive an X rating in the United States, so you understand how strong it is. | © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Felidae (1994)

Another movie that is not for kids, but for different reasons, is Felidae. Here we follow the adventures of a detective cat, and at first it might seem like a movie for all ages, until you realize it deals with cat cults where they sacrifice themselves by voluntary electrocution. And the nightmare scenes of our protagonist will haunt you too, so if you decide to watch it, know that you have been warned... | © Lionsgate

The Cat Returns (2002)

After all the fuss with intense movies, it's time to return to the tranquility of Studio Ghibli with The Cat Returns. But believe me, just because it’s for all ages doesn’t mean it’s slow, because in just 74 minutes it tells the story of Haru, who, after saving the prince of cats, is kidnapped to the kingdom of cats and forced to marry him. Will she be able to escape in time, before losing her humanity and giving herself completely to her... catness? | © Studio Ghibli

Une Vie de Chat (2010)

What makes Une Vie de Chat excellent is its handling of emotional trauma. Here, a little girl is comforted by her cat Dino after the death of her father, although at night he lives another life as a cat-burglar with his human companion Niko, breaking into houses while others sleep and stripping them of their most prized possessions. Short, direct, fast-paced, and with a cast of villains who can be funny or intimidating as the occasion requires. | © Gebeka Films

The Rabbi's Cat (2011)

A curious movie that touches on religious themes from the ignorant and vulgar perspective of a street cat, who embarks on an odyssey where his companions reveal different aspects of spirituality. It's not only an exciting journey full of dangers, but it also gives us a look at different religions, and how we are not so different after all, both in our beliefs and rituals. | © UGC

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

I never thought I would recommend a sequel to Puss in Boots, considering how little I liked the first one, but this Shrek spin-off not only has a mix of 2D and 3D animation for the action scenes that reminds us of Into the Spider-Verse, but it also touches on themes like the fear of death, and accepting it not as an enemy, but as a natural and inevitable process. Deep themes in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish? I didn’t expect it! | © Universal Pictures

A Whisker Away (2020)

Although it is not a revolutionary movie, what makes A Whisker Away worth watching is that the little it does, it does very well. It is short, simple, and straightforward in its plot, with a schoolgirl who transforms into a cat to spend time with the boy she likes. And while its concept might sound creepy, it is actually a heartwarming school romance movie. | © Netflix

Lackadaisy (2023)

It might be cheating to add Lackadaisy, considering it's a 30-minute pilot you can watch on YouTube right now, and that everything points to it becoming an animated series, but it is so extraordinarily created with its hand-drawn animation, its talented cast of voice actors, and a script that promises us a Game of Thrones in St. Louis during the Prohibition era, that we couldn't simply ignore it. Believe me, if there's anything on this list worth watching, it's the group of cat bootleggers in Lackadaisy facing off against other criminal gangs. | © Iron Circus