Cats of Pokémon

While some Pokémon are more feline than others (who tend to be a bit more canine), you'll love learning more about these cat-inspired pocket monsters and their evolved selves too. Some are from the first generation, and others are from subsequent ones, but you can find all of them in the current game.

As a beloved character from the original game, Meowth is a bonafide OG of the Pokémon series and as such is highly desirable. Meowth is based on the Japanese Maneki Neko charm that's meant to attract monetary luck. Aptly, Meowth's signature move is "Pay Day," involving the hurtling of coins at an opponent. Meowth's sleeker evolution, Persian, also specializes in the Pay Day move and is the pet of Giovanni, leader of the Team Rocket Mafia.

In newer versions of the game from generation VII, you'll also find Alolan and Galarian versions of Meowth. Each of them is more of a dark-type Pokémon. Galarian Meowth evolves into Perrserker, and Alolan Meowth evolves into Alolan Persian, both badass and desirable catlike Pokémon.

Are they mice? Are they cats? This is a question that has plagued many a Pokémon fan until official sources confirmed that Mew and its clone Mewtwo are, in fact, feline. Just look at their names! They're both gifted with psychic abilities.

Are they mice? Are they cats? | Courtesy of Pokémon

Another fan-favorite Pokémon who is quite catlike is Eevee from generation I. Although Eevee herself is a combination of a cat mixed with a dog, fox, and rabbit, many of her evolutions are feline. You can create adorable Pokémon-based costumes for your cat based on her character.

Though not officially confirmed as feline, the ambiguous Espeon has enough catlike qualities to merit inclusion on this list. As an evolution of Eevee, the way to capture Espeon (a psychic) is to befriend an Eevee and allow it to evolve during the day, not at night.

You'll also find that Eevee's other evolutions, including Flareon, Glaceon, Jolteon, Leafeon, Sylveon, Umbreon, and Vaporeon, have very catlike qualities. Plus, these are all some great girl Pokémon names for you to consider for your own four-legged pet.

Unlike most other felines in the series, Skitty and Delcatty aren't dark types. Nope, these two are cute as buttons (Skitty loves to chase her tail!) and are sweet to boot. To inject your collection with some instant happiness, capture Skitty and her elegant evolution Delcatty. Both specialize in the move Assist, allowing them to appropriate their opponents moves.

Psychic Espurr (ESP + purr), with those wide Scottish-fold eyes and intense stare, looks cute but don't underestimate this Pokémon's power. It can blow everything within a 300 foot radius to smithereens — but get this, Espurr has no control over when it happens. Its psychic evolution Meowstic can either be male or female, with each specializing in different types of attack techniques.

Though cute, this electric wildcat line can pack a powerful punch! Super adorable cub Shinx evolves into Luxio who then matures into Luxray, who is an awesome hunter with powers of X-ray vision.

Another set of evolving cats is Purrloin and Liepard. Cat owners will definitely recognize their own kitties in this mischievous pair. Purrloin and its evolution Liepard are master manipulators with advanced cat-burglar skills. Their specialty moves are Night Slash, Sucker Punch, and Play Rough.

Normal-type Glameow and Purugly are an interesting evolutionary line for obvious reasons. In fact, many trainers would prefer to keep Glameow (who purrs when happy) from evolving into the considerably less glamorous Purugly (whose name kind of says it all).

Step aside, Simba! Litleo and Pyroar have the fiery looks and attack moves to dethrone the reigning king of the savannah. These Pokémon live in prides and will come at you with scorching moves, like Hyper Beam, Overheat, and Incinerate. They're not the only fire-cat Pokémon that you'll find because adorable little Litten from the Alola region evolves into Torracat and finally into Incineroar.

Part of the second generation beast trio (with fellow cat-like Pokémon Suicune and Entei), the saber-toothed electric-type Raikou has the Thor-like ability to ride clouds during thunderstorms and seems quite cat-like. Raikou also makes an appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee as a trophy and a Pokéball attack.

Just look at that Bowie-esque lightning flash across Zangoose — a cat ferret hybrid with Wolverine type claws. How can you not want this supercool monster in your collection? A rival of snake-like Seviper, Zangoose specializes in the Crush Claw move (which it pretty much invented).

Fans aren't sure whether Absol has any cat DNA, but we think that those almond eyes are a dead giveaway. This dark monster (complete with a creepy scythe), is something of a harbinger of doom. If Absol shows up, you can be sure some misfortune will soon follow! Which, of course, is nothing like cats IRL. Most of the time, at least.

Solgaleo is, like the name implies, is a sun-powered lion-like Pokémon who is the evolution of Cosmoem (who isn't cat-like at all). An electric Pokémon from the seventh generation, Zeraora, resembles big cat Raikou and has lightening-strike speed. Both of these Pokémon look like regal and battle-ready big cats.

The cutest of the large cat-like Pokémon you'll find are the rotund Munchlax and Snorlax who love nothing more than to eat. In fact, they eat all the time and will eat anything in the game. Munchlax is a generation IV addition who evolves into the equally snuggly Snorlax, an original from generation I who weighs over 1,000 pounds.

Images: Courtesy of Pokémon