7 purrfect video game cats

Cats are unique, mysterious creatures capable of making wonderfully entertaining pets, as indicated by the wealth of funny cat videos and memes available online. Not only do they grace our homes with their quirky presence, they also leave a lasting mark on the video game realm. 

With the creative freedom developers are given, cats are able to occupy diverse roles in games that help them stand out – or in some cases, blend in. While there aren't as many cats in games as there are dogs, the cats that you do encounter are often visually striking and full of personality.

For example, we couldn't imagine The Elder Scrolls series without the enigmatic Khajiit, and Monster Hunter just wouldn't be the same without its adorable little Palicoes. To celebrate the majestic creature that is the cat, we thought it'd be fun to look at 7 "purrfect" felines in video games who captured our hearts... and our wallets (looking at you, Khajiit). 

Khajiit – The Elder Scrolls Series

Over the years, the Khajiit have become a recognizable staple in The Elder Scrolls series, and for good reason. They’re intelligent, cunning, and incredibly useful if you need to sell or purchase items. Utilizing a sort of roving caravan, players will have little trouble locating the Khajiit and exchanging coin for wares.

Additionally, should you opt to play them as a race, you’ll be able to take advantage of their natural stealth, agility, and mischievious thievery. While the Khajiit may have a bit of a bad reputation in Tamriel, we can’t help but love them all the same. As long as you don't turn your back on a Khajiit, you'll get along with them just fine. 

King Tom – Ni No Kuni

Every time we play Ni No Kuni, we feel like we're stepping into a Studio Ghibli film. In particular, we can't help but be reminded of the film, The Cat Returns, whenever we encounter King Tom Tildrum. As reigning monarch of Ding Dong Dell, King Tom is a memorable face you can't help but admire. He's also a sad soul who could use a few snuggles.

Encountered during your first visit to town, you'll quickly learns that Tom suffers from a broken heart that's left him sullen, depressed, and kind of useless. Playing as Oliver, you’ll need to cure Tom of his emotional ailment and help him deal with King Hickory Dock of the Mice. As a reward for helping Tom, you’re given his old wand and a page for your spellbook. What a kind and benevolent feline King! How can you not love him?

Kabegami – Okami

Not only is Kabegami one of the best video game cats, she’s also a god. In Okami, Kabegami occupies the role of the Celestial Brush God of Catwalk. She can be found at the very top of Catcall Tower (after you feed the cat), and sports similar red markings as other gods in Okami. Not only is she memorable for her regal appearance, she also grants the Catwalk skill to Amaterasu.

Using this skill, Amaterasu can climb walls in locations where Kabegami statues are found. One thing that’s interesting is that all of the Brush Gods in Okami are based on the Chinese Zodiac... aside from Kabegami. According to legend, the Chinese Zodiac’s rat tricked the cat and took its place.

However, because of the cat’s inclusion in the legend, it remains notable, with the cat and rat forever bound as mortal enemies. With all this history backing this beautiful feline, we couldn’t help but add Kabegami to this list. After all, she’s one of our favorite Brush Gods in Okami! 

Palicoes – Monster Hunter: World

Like the Khajiit, we’re including all of Monster Hunter: World’s cute little Palicoes to our list of best video game cats. In Monster Hunter: World, you'll get a Palico as a combat companion, and they're particularly useful thanks to their diverse selection of offensive, defensive, and restorative abilities.

While you can’t acquire a gigantic team of Palicoes (like those working under the command of the Meowscular Chef), you’ll find that your personal Palico is more than capable of accomplishing all of the tasks and quests you assign to it. Additionally, the Palicoes you encounter during your time in the game have this uncanny ability to bring a smile to your face.

Don’t believe us? Watch the trailer above and tell us Palicoes aren’t the all-time cutest video game cats. 

Rover – Animal Crossing Series

If you’ve ever played Nintendo’s Animal Crossing series, you’ll likely know Rover. While his role changes with each Animal Crossing installment, Rover is primarily responsible for helping set players up in the opening stages of the game (with the exception of Wild World). In terms of appearance, Rover is a friendly looking blue and white cat who sports a fashionable red sweater.

For those who haven’t played Animal Crossing, you may expect Rover to be a dog based on his given name. One theory, however, is that his name is in reference to the fact that he enjoys traveling either by train or bus. Regardless of why Nintendo opted to name him Rover, he remains one of our favorite video game felines as he always goes out of his way to make the player feel welcome in Animal Crossing.

Mao – Shadow Hearts

Mao can be seen as a somewhat obscure choice given the fact that it’s been over 18 years since Shadow Hearts released for PlayStation 2. Nevertheless, Mao continues to stand out in our minds as one of the most memorable video game cats we’ve ever encountered. This is without a doubt due to her larger-than-life personality and hardcore love of alcohol.

Mao has a laundry list of unique traits that help her stand out, including a secret desire to be a movie star, and the fact that she uses alcohol to fuel her “Drunken Fist” fighting style. She also has a fascinating backstory that includes friendships with Al Capone and Frank Goldfinger. Even if you’ve never played Shadow Hearts, Mao’s character design and the fact that she’s a raging drunk are more than enough to earn her a spot on this list.

Meowth – Pokémon Series

Meowth may not possess the same Brooklyn-style accent in the games as he does in the animated series, but he’s nevertheless managed to retain an impressive amount of popularity over the years. In fact, he’s one of a select few non-starter Pokémon that players consistently gravitate towards.

Out of the ever-expanding catalogue of Pokémon, Meowth is undoubtedly the most easily recognizable cat. In the video game series, Meowth can evolve into Persian – one of Giovanni’s beloved Pokémon – and have a notable attraction to shiny objects. This obsession with shiny objects is further emphasized with the move Pay Day, which can produce coins (he'd fit in well with the Khajiit).

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Meowth was reportedly introduced to the land of Alola as a gift to royalty, which is a pretty impressive way to make an appearance. Overall, we feel like this list would be woefully incomplete without Meowth’s presence, but we also want to know what you think. Are you a Meowth fan, or do you prefer a different Pokémon feline, like Litten? Let us know down in the comments below!