My Top 8 Cats from books, film and television!

Those who follow my social media will know that I adore cats and am a feline enthusiast. Even as a child I adored cats (one of my first memories is a gorgeous stray ginger cat coming into our house and rescuing me from a spider!) and I believe part of this was influenced by the books I read and the films I watched. For that reason, I have compiled a list of my Top Eight Cats from books, films and television shows I enjoyed growing up.

1. Salem! Although I didn't watch much of Sabrina (I mostly read the books), I absolutely adored Salem and thought he was hilarious. I mean, who doesn't want a sarcastic, talking cat?

2. Fat Louie from The Princess Diaries

I read all of the books and always identified with Princess Mia, not because I wanted to be a princess but because I too am awful at Maths and am quite clumsy and I love cats. If I am honest, I did not enjoy the films (Grandmere was far too nice) but I adored Fat Louie so felt he deserved an honoury mention!

3. Everyone's favourite fat cat: Garfield! I loved the cartoons and the film, both hilarious. I think we can all identify with Garfield in the second GIF! (or maybe it is just me).

4. Now for something a little more unusual, I read a lot of Beatrix Potter as a child and adored the characters she created. The book (and the 1993 animated film version) 'Tailor of Gloucester' was one of my absolute favourites (it still is and was apparently Beatrix Potter's favourite).

The story is about a poor tailor whose work on an important waistcoat is finished by the mice that he rescued from his cat Simpkin. Simpkin goes out to buy 'twist'(a type of ribbon I believe) for his owner but rerturns to find his mice gone and hides the twist in anger. The tailor falls ill but thanks to the mice he finds a mostly completed waistcoat but with one buttonhole to finish! Simpkin then produces the twist and the tailor makes his fortune with the success of the waistcoat. Although Simpkin is a little naughty, he does love his owner and ultimately helps him.

5. Church The Cat

Now I do enjoy my horror and 'Pet Semetary' by Stephen KIng is a firm favourite.

Spoiler, Church the cat is an undead feline and in the 2019 adaptation was played by five different cats but Leo was the cat used predominantly in the film and promotional material. What I love about this film is that all of the cats were adopted from pet shelters and all found owners after the film was completed. Each of these cats were trained to act, Leo (the cat featured above) was my favourite actor, just look at his evil stare!! Although Leo sadly passed away after finding his forever home, he will be remembered for his stare and for this adorable image of him posing at the premiere.

6. Crookshanks!

As a fan of the Harry Potter world (but not J.K Rowling), I loved the fact that Hermione chose a grumpy ginger cat to be her companion and Crookshanks never failed to amuse me both in the books and films. If I am honest, I was sorely tempted by a Crookshanks soft toy when visiting Orlando, but the price and size put me off!

7 Bagpuss! Although the show is somewhat out of my era, I have fond memories of watching Bagpuss with my lovely Grandfather (I cannot wait to see my grandparents after lockdown 2.0, I miss them greatly) and Bagpuss is such a lovely character, I felt he had earned his place on my list.

8. Aslan

As a child I read the entire Chronicles of Narnia (I used to love the idea of finding a new world in a wardrobe) and absolutely adored Aslan. Even after not reading the books for years, I remember vividly the passage in 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' where he is resurrected and revives the Narnians that had been turned into stone and the relief that I felt.

As ever, I preferred the books to the film but would like to give an honoury mention to Tilda Swinton who played the part of the White Queen to perfection! (I am a big fan of Tilda) and I did adore Aslan also.

I hope you all enjoyed reading about my Top Eight Cats, I had great fun writing it!

Katherine

P.s Have another photo of Neil and I!