If you’re looking for a list of the best cat Pokémon, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a list of the finest felines in all of the Pokémon world, from famous chatty cats like Meowth to underappreciated kitties like Delcatty. The only way to find out if you agree with our list or not is to keep on reading.
For more Pokémon inspired by real-world animals, check out our dog Pokemon, bird Pokémon, fish Pokémon, bunny Pokémon, and snake Pokémon guides. Or, if you’re a trainer in need of a new experience, see our list of the best free Pokémon games.
Who are all the cat Pokémon?
Before picking out our favorite cat Pokémon, we thought it was worth reminding you of all of the felines from across the series. With more than 1,000 Pokémon overall, there are more cats than you might think, but if you can’t remember them all, check out the list below:
- Meowth / Persian
- Alolan Meowth / Alolan Persian
- Galarian Meowth / Perrserker
- Espeon
- Skitty / Delcatty
- Shinx / Luxio / Luxray
- Litten / Torracat / Incineroar
- Glameow / Purugly
- Purrloin / Liepard
- Espurr / Meowstic
- Litleo / Pyroar
- Sprigatito / Floragato / Meowscarada
- Solgaleo
- Zeraora
The best cat Pokemon
Meowth
You can’t have a list of the best cat Pokémon with Meowth. Thanks to consistent appearances in the anime as part of Team Rocket, this iconic feline is one of the most recognizable Pokémon across all generations, sitting alongside Pikachu and Jigglypuff in the category of Pokémon your mom might know. Meowth isn’t just famous for its TV work, though. It’s also a popular in-game option when replaying the first-generation games, as access to the move Pay Day can boost your in-game coffers before heading to the nearest Pokémart.
Over the years, Meowth has also shown itself to be a very versatile Pokemon, showing up in different forms across various regions, including the Alolan Meowth, Galarian Meowth, and a special Dynamax form in Galar that pays tribute to the infamous ‘long cat’ internet meme. While, personally, we hate its Alolan evolution that makes Persian look like emo Garfield, it does have one special form that we love.
Perrserker
There’s just something so great about taking Meowth and giving it a Norse-inspired flavor, only to then have an evolution that takes this further as it pays tribute to the infamous berserker soldiers of the time. Perrserker has such a weird design, but it is just so loveable with its little Viking horns, and the new steel typing makes it an interesting version of what came before. Regional forms and evolutions are fairly hit-and-miss, but this one was a joy to discover in Galar.
Litten
While Incineroar might be something of a terrifying beast, it starts life as the lovely Litten. This little black cat is a simple design, as is often the case with starter Pokémon, but has just enough design flare to stand out from the crowd. While it’s always a difficult choice to decide between Rowley and Litten during a Pokémon Sun and Moon playthrough – sorry Popplio – I almost always choose this fire-type tabby.
Espurr
I think what makes me love Espurr so much is that with those wide, glistening eyes, it looks like it’s being haunted by the ghost of a Victorian child. Espurr is a psychic-type cat-like ‘mon that is as freaky as it is lovable, but don’t all the best cats have something a little kooky about them? It also evolves into the cool Pokémon Meowstic, known best for having distinct differences in design between the two genders. I just want to hug an Espurr and let it know everything is going to be alright.
Solgaleo
Not content with just having one great cat Pokemon, Sun and Moon delivered this chunky boy, as box legendary Solgaleo represented the Sun side of the two games. Based on a lion, this psychic and steel-type hybrid is a really interesting mix that actually provides nice type coverage, and its signature move Sunsteel Strike is one you don’t want to get in the way of. A split evolution from the adorable little Cosmog, considering that Pokémon can also somehow turn into the bat-like Lunala, it’s one of the most exciting evolution paths in all of Pokémon.
Espeon
Okay, so this might be a controversial one, but whether you like it or not, Espeon is a cat Pokémon. Look at those ears, look at that tail, and those sweet little paws, and tell me this psychic type isn’t a cat. If you need more evidence, it’s a little-known fact that Espeon’s design is influenced by the Nekomata, a specific feline belonging to Japanese folklore. It’s also just too elegant not to include on this list, especially if Solgaleo makes the cut.
Sprigatito
Sprigatito was a favorite of the Pocket Tactics crew from the moment we first saw it in the build-up to the release of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. It’s another cat Pokémon starter, yes, but it’s an incredibly cute one, and the first grass type to fall under the category of feline. Its final evolution, Meowscarada, might be a bit more divisive, but few can grumble at Sprigatito’s adorable design.
Delcatty
Delcatty gets a lot of hate, mainly due to its underwhelming typing and move pool, as well as its slightly weird triangular cheeks. However, I am a Delcatty defender. What other cat Pokémon comes with its own neck pillow? Okay, that’s not a great reason, but Delcatty’s unique ability is. With Normalize, Delcatty turns every move into a normal-type move, giving you STAB – same type attack bonus – every time, which can be handy in a pinch.
Is there a legendary cat Pokémon?
If you were paying close attention to our list, you’d already know the answer to this, but yes, there are a couple of legendary cat Pokémon. Solgaleo, of Pokémon Sun fame, is a lion, so it’s more of a big cat Pokémon, but it counts. There’s also Zeraora, a fellow generation seven Pokémon. Mew might look like a skinless kitty, but the mythical ‘mon’s design is supposed to represent an ancient species, rather than any cat species.
There you have it, the best cat Pokémon, at least, in our opinion anyway. If you’re still looking for more Pokémon content, keep your kittens alive with our normal Pokémon weakness, grass Pokémon weakness, psychic Pokémon weakness, and steel Pokémon weakness guides. Or, if these aren’t the monsters you’re looking for, see our list of the best Digimon games.