# Why are cats always getting dissed in cartoons? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 2, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386 "2001-09-02T05:36:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/1 "2001-09-02T05:36:21Z")
Garfield’s lazy and is always making snide remarks about Jon and Odie…Heathcliff’s portrayed as a belligerent malcontent…Sylvester and Tom are always getting squashed and humiliated. It seems as though cartoon cats are almost always portrayed in a pejorative light, while little vermin rodents and annoying yellow birds get all the clever lines. ---
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/2 "2001-09-02T05:37:39Z")
Ever see “The Aristocats?” ---
**Author:** ![LoverBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@LoverBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoverBoy)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/3 "2001-09-02T05:53:00Z")
Because no one likes cats except for those crazy cat ladies. \ 😉 - Rob ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/4 "2001-09-02T06:14:48Z")
In real life, it’s always the mice and birds who end up the losers and cats the winners (ever had your cat bring home a present?). Cartoons give the mice and birds a chance to kick some ass. They’re cheering for the underdog (this would be a better pun if we were talking about dogs, but we aren’t, so ignore it). Maybe the individual cats just happen to have these specific character traits (laziness, crabbiness) and you shouldn’t assume that all cartoon cats act like that. 😉 Anyway, they’re just cartoons, yo. They’re aposta make you laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/5 "2001-09-02T07:58:40Z")
That is why I liked Pumpkin’ Puss & Mushmouse. Pumpkin’ Puss always started out winning then Mushmouse would figure out a scheme and beat him then at the end of the cartoon Pumpkin’ Puss would figure out that scheme and win. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/6 "2001-09-02T08:16:37Z")
Because cats suck. QED. ---
**Author:** ![NutWrench](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nutwrench/32/20193_2.png) [@NutWrench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutWrench)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/7 "2001-09-02T13:34:41Z")
“Herman and Catnip” was the forerunner of the more deeply-realized “Itchy and Scratchy” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/8 "2001-09-03T02:30:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*Because cats suck. > > QED. \*\* [hijack] What does QED mean, anyways? I’m not going to bother manny by asking such a simple question in GQ. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/9 "2001-09-03T02:40:53Z")
_quod erat demonstrandum_ which means, “thus it is demonstrated” or “that which is to be demonstrated” or something along those lines. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/10 "2001-09-03T02:48:34Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Philosophocles** _ > Garfield’s lazy and is always making snide remarks about Jon and Odie Oh, _sure_, blame it all on me… That dog, sheesh, you’ve never seen him slobbering all over me while I’m trying to sleep? Come on! And Jon! Jon, who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. Please. Don’t even get me started on Nermal. . . . ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/11 "2001-09-03T02:58:09Z")
Cats do suck mostly, but you gotta love **Mr. Jinx.** “Like, eehhhh, I hates meeces to pieces!” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/12 "2001-09-03T04:32:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > > \*\*Because cats suck. > > > > QED. \*\* > > [hijack] > What does QED mean, anyways? I’m not going to bother manny by asking such a simple question in GQ. > [/hijack] \*\* Well, I always thought it meant “Quickly Ends Dat.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/13 "2001-09-03T04:46:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > > > \*\*Because cats suck. > > > > > > QED. \*\* > > > > [hijack] > > What does QED mean, anyways? I’m not going to bother manny by asking such a simple question in GQ. > > [/hijack] \*\* > > Well, I always thought it meant “Quickly Ends Dat.” 😃 \*\* Or “Quite Easily Done”. Anyway, cats are cool. Not as cool as pussies, but cool. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/14 "2001-09-03T12:23:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LoverBoy \* > **Because no one likes cats except for those crazy cat ladies.** a la “Space Jam”, “Hey! I resemble that remark!” ---
**Author:** ![RenMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecb155/32.png) [@RenMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RenMan)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/15 "2001-09-03T16:58:23Z")
Ever read the [Get Fuzzy](http://www.comics.com/comics/getfuzzy/) strip? Bucky the cat is the best portrayal I’ve ever seen of the odd animal we like to call the common housecat. Sure, he’s a weird character, but he’s not insulted or put upon, just represented faithfully with all of his quirks. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/16 "2001-09-03T21:49:09Z")
The cat in “Pickles” does pretty well…and is very authentically cat-like 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/17 "2001-09-04T03:42:06Z")
No, no, the Maharisishi Yoga cat in _Rose is Rose_ is a most faithful portrayal of the transcendancy of the cat. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/18 "2001-09-04T04:19:21Z")
Cats are always getting dissed in cartoons because they deserve it, and because that’s what they like, and let me tell you, you may care about this issue but they don’t. That’s the kind of individualistic, devil may care, attitude laden little critters they are. And they (and I) wouldn’t have it any other way. If you don’t understand that, you don’t understand cats. Whaddaya think cats are? Some sort of whining, whingeing, attention seeking, fawning canine? Why don’t you just go off and get yourself a puppy or a poodle. Now there’s an animal that would get all upset if naughty nasty Mr Cartoonist said nastywasty things about it, diddums diddums. Don’t be such an overprotective milksop. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@King\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cats-always-getting-dissed-in-cartoons/79386/19 "2001-09-04T04:31:38Z")
In the Warner Brothers cartoons it was the dogs who were dumb. Like the dumb ol’ bulldog. The cats were much smarter. Even though Sylvester occasionaly got bushwacked by the dumb ol’ bulldog, he was certainly smarter, not drooling all over himself.