Rediscover your childhood with this nostalgic deep dive into forgotten cartoon cats from the 80s to 2000s. From Heathcliff to Eek!, uncover feline friends you loved but may have forgotten.
Cartoon cats have always held a special place in our hearts. They were funny, mischievous, cool, or downright chaotic. Between the 1980s and the early 2000s, a golden era of animation flourished, producing dozens of unforgettable feline characters. Yet, with time, some of these beloved cartoon cats have faded from the mainstream — but that doesn’t mean they’re truly forgotten.
In this post, we’re unlocking a vault of nostalgia to rediscover the most charming, quirky, and hilarious cartoon cats you probably loved as a kid but haven’t thought about in years. From obscure Saturday morning shows to forgotten Nickelodeon gems, let’s take a time-traveling journey through whiskers and wackiness.
Table of Contents
- Top Forgotten Cartoon Cats of the 1980s
- Iconic but Overlooked 90s Cartoon Cats
- Early 2000s Cat Characters You Forgot Existed
- International Forgotten Cartoon Cats
- What Made These Cats Special
- Why Did We Forget Them?
- The Enduring Appeal of Animated Cats
- Where Are They Now? Streaming & Merch
- Fan Communities Keeping the Memories Alive
- Final Thoughts: Reclaiming Our Animated Cat Nostalgia
1. Top Forgotten Cartoon Cats of the 1980s
Heathcliff (1980-1981)
Before Garfield stole the limelight, there was Heathcliff — the streetwise, orange cat with a cocky strut and a love for fish. Voiced by Mel Blanc, Heathcliff ruled his neighborhood and was the king of cat comedy.
Why forgotten? He was overshadowed by Garfield’s rising popularity and had a shorter run in syndication.
The Catillac Cats (Part of Heathcliff)
These cool cats lived in a junkyard and drove around in a pink Cadillac. They had attitude, fashion sense, and memorable names like Riff-Raff and Cleo.
Why forgotten? Overshadowed by Heathcliff, and the dual-show format confused younger viewers.
Snagglepuss (Rebooted in the 80s)
Originally a 60s character, Snagglepuss made a comeback in the 80s with reruns and appearances on Yogi’s Treasure Hunt. His theatrical catchphrases like “Exit, stage left!” still echo in many minds.
Why forgotten? Only appeared in ensemble casts, not in a solo show.
2. Iconic but Overlooked 90s Cartoon Cats
Eek! The Cat (1992–1997)
One of Fox Kids’ early hits, Eek! was a kind-hearted purple cat who constantly tried to help others — with disastrous results. The show was chaotic, surreal, and full of slapstick humor.
Why forgotten? Disappeared with the fall of Fox Kids and limited reruns.
Scratchy from “Itchy & Scratchy” (The Simpsons)
Technically not forgotten, but Scratchy, the eternally doomed cartoon cat in The Simpsons‘ violent parody cartoon, often gets overshadowed by other Springfield residents.
Why forgotten? Side-show status within The Simpsons meant no standalone fame.
Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat (2001–2002)
Sagwa was a beautifully animated PBS show teaching moral lessons, set in Imperial China. It was poetic, calming, and culturally rich — unlike the zany shows of the time.
Why forgotten? Too peaceful and educational to compete with action-heavy cartoons of the early 2000s.
Bonkers D. Bobcat (1993–1994)
A lesser-known Disney cat, Bonkers was a zany former cartoon star turned cop. The show was a mix of Who Framed Roger Rabbit vibes and police comedy.
Why forgotten? Short-lived, and always in the shadow of bigger Disney Afternoon shows like Darkwing Duck or TailSpin.
3. Early 2000s Cat Characters You Forgot Existed
Cat from “CatDog” (1998–2005)
Cat was the snobbish, cultured half of the mutant duo CatDog on Nickelodeon. Though the show was popular, Cat as a character rarely gets love on his own.
Why forgotten? Overshadowed by the oddness of the premise and the wild popularity of Dog.
Kitty Katswell (T.U.F.F. Puppy, 2010–2015)
While slightly beyond the 2000 cutoff, Kitty Katswell deserves a mention. She was a secret agent cat with ninja skills — witty and tough but overshadowed by Dudley Puppy.
Why forgotten? Never reached SpongeBob-tier popularity and had limited merchandising.
Penelope Pussycat (Looney Tunes)
Penelope, the silent cat constantly chased by Pepe Le Pew, had a strong presence in early reruns of Looney Tunes. Her expressions spoke louder than words.
Why forgotten? Her character is often overlooked due to the problematic nature of the Pepe Le Pew dynamic.
Felix the Cat (90s and 2000s Revivals)
Felix is an icon of early animation (1920s), but he saw a 90s comeback with The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat. Trippy, colorful, and creatively bizarre.
Why forgotten? Too surreal for many young viewers and not promoted widely.
4. International Forgotten Cartoon Cats
Bananya (Japan, 2016)
A tiny cat living inside a banana — need we say more? Bananya was cute, simple, and short. It gained a cult following online but never made mainstream waves in the West.
The Cat in Pacha et les Chats (France)
In French children’s programming during the 90s, Pacha and his friends were feline musicians spreading good vibes. They appeared in educational shorts on France 5.
Why forgotten? Never translated or distributed widely outside French-speaking countries.
Dudu (South Africa, 1990s)
A rare gem from South African television, Dudu was a black cartoon cat who often found himself in moral dilemmas, teaching young viewers about kindness and community.
Why forgotten? Lack of global distribution and archival footage.
5. What Made These Cats Special
All these cats shared some traits:
- Distinct personalities (sassy, shy, genius, chaotic)
- Creative designs (purple fur, pink cars, talking bananas!)
- Catchy theme songs (we still hum them)
- Animated in different styles (traditional, flash, surreal)
Each cat filled a niche — from problem-solver to comic relief, from sidekick to solo star.
6. Why Did We Forget Them?
A mix of reasons contributed to these cats being forgotten:
- Short series lifespans
- Network closures (like Fox Kids and Jetix)
- Lack of streaming revival
- No major merchandise
- Overshadowed by global giants like Garfield, Hello Kitty, or Tom and Jerry
Some shows were too ahead of their time. Others were under-promoted despite their charm.
7. The Enduring Appeal of Animated Cats
Despite being forgotten, these cats still:
- Represent the creativity of 80s-00s animation
- Provide comfort and nostalgia
- Influence current cartoon design trends
- Reside in fan memories and rare reruns
Cartoon cats are timeless because they blend human emotions with feline curiosity and freedom.
8. Where Are They Now? Streaming & Merch
Some of these cartoons have resurfaced:
- Heathcliff is on retro streaming services like Pluto TV and Tubi
- Eek! The Cat has clips on YouTube
- Felix the Cat has a cult merchandise revival
- Sagwa is being rediscovered by educators
Collectors sell retro toys, VHS tapes, and even lunchboxes on Etsy and eBay, keeping the memory alive.
9. Fan Communities Keeping the Memories Alive
Dedicated fans on Reddit, Tumblr, and YouTube:
- Share episodes, trivia, and fan art
- Re-edit theme songs and mashups
- Petition for reboots or streaming additions
- Write nostalgic blog posts (like this one!)
There’s even growing interest in forgotten cartoon cats as meme templates, aesthetic content, and “weirdcore” nostalgia.
10. Final Thoughts: Reclaiming Our Animated Cat Nostalgia
Forgotten doesn’t mean gone. These cartoon cats still live in our collective memories. Whether they were goofy, mysterious, elegant, or just downright bizarre, they made childhood a little more colorful — and a lot more fun.
Next time you hear a meow or see a cartoon rerun, remember that behind every whisker is a story you once loved.
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