Man, cats are adorable! I mean, what's not to love about them? As if they weren't cute enough in real life, anime also has a wide variety of adorable (not to mention iconic) cats. For example, the ones who follow young magical girls around, giving them advice. Or the ones that follow pink haired dragon slayers around, saying "aye sir!" and other cute lines. Come on, you know what cats I'm talking about. I bet just thinking about them puts a smile on your face. Well, prepare to squeal with delight as you read this list honoring the top 20 cutest cats in anime!
Chi from Chi's Sweet Home
Cat lovers will love Chi's Sweet Home- I mean it's literally all about little Chi's antics at home and outside in the big scary world! Her human family loves her, but she loves to get herself into trouble. But all she wants is to play and be petted! Chi's also one of the few "normal" cats on our list- she doesn't talk (she sure tries though!), have magical powers, and doesn't have any unusual markings either. But that doesn't make her any less special in our hearts!
Happy and Carla from Fairy Tail
Happy is very different from Chi. He can dance, talk, fly, do magic－oh yeah, and he's blue. Technically speaking, Happy and fellow Fairy Tail character Carla (Charles) are not anime cats, but magical beings called Exceed, but we thing their furry features are certainly feline enough to count.
Madara from Natsume's Book of Friends
Also known as Nyangoro, Nyankichi, Nyanko-sensei, or Ponta, he's Madara of the many nicknames. While he appears to be a lazy, fat cat, he's actually a powerful youkai that protects Natsume. Not without ulterior motives, however－Madara is set on getting his furry paws on Natsume's Book of Friends (Demons). Despite being a demon, Madara has many catlike behaviors. He likes to play with toys (or small animals), and eats until he's a giant lump of furry flab! Sound like a cat you know?
Sakamoto from Nichijou
This cutie with a red kerchief used to just your run-of-the-mill stray until kid genius Hakase gave him the power of speech. Now he spends his time trying to assert his authority as the oldest (he's twenty in cat years, okay?) over the household consisting of a pint-sized evil scientist and a robot high school girl.
Jiji from Kiki's Delivery Service
No witch is complete without her feline familiar! People probably like Jiji for different reasons: in Japan, he's a sweet, helpful companion to Kiki, while in the US dub, he's more of a cheeky buddy who can't resist a good wisecrack or two. Either way, he's one of the most lovable cats we know!
Luna and Artemis from Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Luna is probably one of the most famous cats in anime ever. She and her counterpart Artemis are in charge of guiding the Sailor Scouts in their quest to find and protect the princess, granting them magical gadgets to help them along. They're smart and cute, not to mention easily identifiable by the crescent moons on their foreheads! Plus, who doesn't want a furry, cuddly alarm clock?
Jibanyan from YouKai Watch
Again, not really a cat. Technically, Jibanyan is the ghost of a cat that got squished by a truck, and now vows vengeance on all things large and wheeled. Good luck with that, Jibanyan. While he may not win against trucks, he's definitely won our hearts!
Kuro from Ao no Exorcist (Blue Exorcist)
Kuro is Rin Okumura's partner familiar. Like Jibanyan, Kuro is a spirit cat modeled after the mythological Japanese nekomata. You can recognize them by their split or double tails! Don't make this cat angry－his true form is humongous!
Tama from Sazae-San
The oldest kitty on our list, Tama is no less cute for it! From the beloved Sazae-san comic strips hailing from the post-WWII era, Tama and the rest of the Sazae-san cast are too important to not be mentioned in "Top" lists! Also, in an idiosyncratic twist, Tama hates mice.
Kamineko from Azumanga Daioh
Maybe this cat is better admired from afar. That doesn't stop Sakaki, a cool beauty whose love for cats knows no bounds. Kamineko is a sneaky one, though. He'll nap or look at you innocently, just inviting headpats, until you approach tentatively. That's when he strikes. Even though you don't want to be on the receiving end, his bitey nature is what makes him charming!
Arthur from Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch
Suzaku has a soft spot for this kitty, even if all he ever does is swat at him. Fun fact: in the radio drama, they contemplate naming him "Lelouch the Second" before deciding on "Arthur"!
Poyo from Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki
You may not have seen this anime about this cuddly looking, literal furball, but its hard to deny Poyo's cuteness! Oddly enough, every other cat in this show is drawn slightly more realistically. I have to admit, I prefer Poyo's marshmallow-y roundness!
Buyo from Inuyasha
Fat kitty Buyo is either the world's best matchmaker or a dumb ol' troublemaker－he's the whole reason his owner Kagome got stuck in feudal Japan! But it's thanks to this lazy cutie that our main characters fall in a love that crosses the centuries. Plus his cat-and-dog interactions with Inuyasha aren't to be missed!
Kuroneko-sama from Trigun
Not to be confused with the gothic lolita girl in Oreimo, this black cat is a famous photo-bomber, popping in with a "Nyaa" when you least expect it!
Takkun from FLCL
Not to be confused with the similar-looking cat from Trigun (heh), Takkun is a cute lil' kitten that Mamimi takes in. Although he's only present for half of the six-episode series, Takkun has a permanent place in our hearts.
President Aria Pokoteng from Aria the Animation
President Aria is the namesake for the Aria water-guide company, and therefore the namesake for the entire series! This cat may look a little silly, but his big head might be because he's very smart and can actually understand human speech! His tubby body, on the other hand, is just because he's spoiled.
Nekobasu from Tonari no Totoro
So maybe he isn't the most traditionally cute cat on our list. But how many other furry, many-legged buses that run on powerlines do you know? Although he is frequently overshadowed by his buddy Totoro, in our eyes, Catbus is meowvelous!
All of Nekotalia from Hetalia: World Series
Okay, they're not actually cats. They're not humans either－our beloved characters are the personifications of countries! Episodes featuring Nekotalia have quickly become fan favorites since their first appearance in the fourth season of the show, because who doesn't enjoy lots of cute cats doing silly things?
The world of anime is filled with a variety of amazing animals: some cute, some majestic, and all loyal to either their master or their cause. If you enjoyed this article, why not come visit our "anime zoo" filled with all kinds of wonderful anime animals!
