Disney animated film about a pampered, rich, and very refined Parisienne momcat named Duchess, and her three kittens, Marie, Berlioz, and Toulouse, who inherit a fortune and become the targets of a fiendish kit-napping plot by a scheming human. But never fear, a streetwise cool cat named Thomas O'Malley helps them return home and foil the evildoer. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, the film features a bouncy score from the Sherman brothers and the voice talents of Eva Gabor, Phil Harris, Scatman Crothers, and Sterling Holloway. Guinevere, Rapunzel, and Scarlett all enjoy the song "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat," and wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed therein.

This short animated film was the first independently produced effort from Disney competitor Don Bluth (who had worked for the Disney studio); Bluth and his creative team went on to such successes as All Dogs Go to Heaven, The Land Before Time, and Anastasia. Featuring the voices of Scatman Crothers (who also lent his voice to Disney's The Aristocats) and Beah Richards, the story is based on a cat Bluth remembered from his childhood.

An animated film from Hungary, Cat City features the never-ending war between cats and mice. Here, those upstart mice sneakily and most underhandedly scheme to shrink cats down to size--literally. This spy spoof was directed by Béla Ternovszky. We haven't seen it, but we certainly expect the superior feline species to triumph over a passel of silly mice.

See Cartoon Characters: Cat in the Hat.

Directed by Mark Dindal, Cats Don't Dance is the story of a young, ambitious song-and-dance cat named Danny, who travels from Indiana to Hollywood to seek fame and fortune on the big screen. But, alas, poor Danny finds quite a caste system in casting: nonhuman animals are relegated to stereotypical bit parts, and the starring roles are reserved for the humans, like that awful child star Darla Dimple. This animated film features the voices of Scott Bakula, Jasmine Guy, Kathy Najimy, and Natalie Cole, and songs by Randy Newman.

See Cartoon Characters: Cat in the Hat.

See Cartoon Characters: Felix the Cat.

Animated film in which purr-fectly fine feline warbling of the E. Y. Harburg-Harold Arlen songs is mysteriously dubbed by humans such as Judy Garland, Robert Goulet, Hermione Gingold, and Red Buttons. Directed by Abe Levitow, this charming film depicts the perils of Paris when a naive country cat named Mewsette ventures into the City of Lights.

Disney's terrific animated film about the coming of age of lion cub Simba, the son of the great lion Mustafa, is a popular and artistic masterpiece. Simba's story--with its similarities to Hamlet--is both touching and triumphant, as the cub learns to take his rightful place in the Circle of Life. With songs by Elton John and Tim Rice and a score by Hans Zimmer, The Lion King features an amazing cast of voices, including Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Guillaume, and Nathan Lane; the directors are Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.

Engrossing sequel to The Lion King, this direct-to-video musical animated film continues the story of Simba and the lions. Now the ruler of the pride, Simba is concerned about antics of his stubborn daughter, Kiara, who is just as adventurous as Simba himself had been, and who falls in love with the outcast lion Kovu, who has been groomed by the pride's rivals to seek revenge against Simba. Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, and Robert Guillaume reprise their roles in this film, which was directed by Rob LaDuca and Darrell Rooney.

Exciting Disney story based loosely on Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist, with innocent orange orphan kitty Oliver getting mixed up with a pack of street-smart dogs in New York City. With songs from Billy Joel, Bette Midler, and Huey Lewis, the film also features the voices of Joey Lawrence, Cheech Marin, Richard Mulligan, Robert Loggia, and Dom DeLuise. Oliver and Company was directed by George Scribner. Scarlett especially enjoys watching the story of a sweet little orange kitty who looks just like her--well, sort of.

See Cartoon Characters: Sagwa.

See Cartoon Characters: Sylvester and Tweety.

Winnie the Pooh's bouncy pal Tigger gets his very own feature film, as he searches for his Tigger family and learns what family really means. Of course, all the old A. A. Milne gang from the Hundred Acre Wood is around, from Pooh and Piglet, to Roo and Rabbit, to Eeyore and Owl. The movie was directed by Jun Falkenstein.

See Cartoon Characters: Tom and Jerry.

When curious little Milo the cat is accidentally swept away by a raging river (he's orange; of course he gets into trouble!), his best buddy Otis, a pug dog, sets off from their farm home to rescue him, and the two animals have a series of exciting adventures. Originally made for Japanese television and directed by Masanori Hata, the American version of the film is narrated by Dudley Moore.

Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and an absolutely beautiful leopard--how can you go wrong? This delightful, hilarious screwball comedy features Hepburn as the wacky human pet of a lovely leopard named Baby--played by Nissa the leopard--and Grant as a rather goofy paleontologist from whom Hepburn's dog steals a dinosaur bone. Well, what can you expect from a dog! The legendary Howard Hawks directed this classic black-and-white film.

A Purry, um, make that Perry Mason outing featuring mysterious murders and a treasure hunt. Ricardo Cortez plays the clever attorney, with June Travis as loyal Della Street. This black-and-white film, directed by William McGann, is based on Erle Stanley Gardner's The Case of the Caretaker's Cat.

As if cats on Earth aren't smart enough already, here comes one fabulous feline visitor from another planet, with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal cats. This Disney comedy stars an adventuresome alien cat--a spaceship pilot--who enlists Sandy Duncan and Ken Berry in his attempt to return home. Directed by Norman Tokar, and featuring a host of veteran actors (Roddy McDowall, Hans Conreid, Jesse White, Harry Morgan), this pre-E.T. film has a number of E.T.-like elements and special effects.

If nicely subtle horror and edgy suspense are your cup of catnip tea, this classic Val Lewton horror film, starring Simone Simon as a conflicted catwoman, is just the thing for a dark and stormy night. But why should the ability to turn into a cat be considered a curse, rather than a blessing? Directed by Jacques Tourneur, this haunting black-and-white film preys exquisitely on the imagination. It was remade in a distinctly inferior version in 1982, with Natassja Kinski and Malcolm McDowell.

A remake of Val Lewton's marvelously creepy 1942 horror classic, this 1982 version offers Natassja Kinski and Malcolm McDowell as a brother-sister combo with distinctly pantherlike tendencies. Directed by Paul Schrader, it is a visually striking but ultimately disappointing film that falls far short of the high standard set by the original movie.

If you're in the mood for a truly awful science-fiction movie, and you can't track down a copy of Plan 9 From Outer Space, you might want to try Cat-Women of the Moon as a worthy alternative. In glorious black-and-white, with all the cheesiness you could want, this hokey film was directed by Arthur B. Tilton and stars Sonny Tufts and Marie Windsor.

The short stories of prolific horrormeister Stephen King--who also was responsible for the screenplay--are featured in this movie anthology. The three tales ("Quitters, Inc.," "The Ledge," and "The General"), are loosely linked by a mysterious catly presence. Directed by Lewis Teague, Cat's Eye features Drew Barrymore, James Woods, James Naughton, Alan King, and Candy Clark.

Humans attempt to imitate the feline of the species--which is always a good idea; after all, why not mimic the superior species?--in the video version of the long-running musical that marries T. S. Eliot's words and Andrew Lloyd Webber's music. This video, directed by David Mallet, features the London production of the show. On hand are the catly crew of Rum Tum Tugger, Gus the Theater Cat, Skimbleshanks, Macavity, and, of course, Grizabella (Elaine Paige), singing the show's signature song, "Memory."

We hear the cats are the villains in this movie, which clearly indicates that it must be pure fantasy. When the fragile truce between canines and felines is threatened, cats and dogs begin acting like ... well, like cats and dogs. Lawrence Guterman directed, and Jeff Goldblum and Elizabeth Perkins star. The film also features the voice talents of Susan Sarandon and Alec Baldwin.

A loosely related sequel to Cat People, with Simone Simon back, now as the fantasy friend of a lonely little girl--her former husband's imaginative child. Directed by Gunther V. Fritsch and the great Robert Wise (his directorial debut), this black-and-white film doesn't really feature any kitties, more's the pity, but we like it a lot anyway.

Disney remake of the studio's own earlier film, The Incredible Journey, following a trio of house pets who embark on a hazardous journey through the beautiful but terrifying wilderness. Since humans lack the intelligence to understand animal speech, the film has been dubbed with the human voices of Michael J. Fox (Chance), Sally Field (Sassy), and Don Ameche (Shadow). The film was directed by Duwayne Dunham.

Disney film that is a sequel to Homeward Bound. We haven't seen this movie that continues the adventures of an intrepid cat and her two canine companions, but we are quite sure that somehow managing to get lost again must be the dogs' fault. Under the direction of David R. Ellis, Michael J. Fox and Sally Field reprise their roles as the voices of Chance and Sassy; Ralph Waite takes over as the voice of Shadow from Don Ameche (who had died in 1993).

Black-and-white Disney film about a clever cat and two dogs who embark on a long and perilous journey through the wilderness to find their humans, who have stupidly managed to become lost. Based on Sheila Burnford's lovely story, the film was directed by Fletcher Markle. Disney remade the story in an equally absorbing version (this time with dubbed animal voices) as Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey in 1993.

This made-for-TV movie, directed by Simon Wincer, is a light-hearted mystery, with clever cat Mrs. Murphy and incorrigible corgi Tee Tucker helping their "mom," postmistress Mary Haristeen (known as Harry), solve a murder in their small Virginia town. Based on the Mrs. Murphy series by Rita Mae Brown and her cat Sneaky Pie, this film, which originally aired as part of The Wonderful World of Disney TV series, stars Ricki Lake as Harry, Blythe Danner as the voice of Mrs. Murphy, and Anthony Clark as the voice of Tee Tucker.

Comedy about a stray cat who is adopted by eccentric millionaire T. J. Banner and inherits a sad-sack baseball team called the Brooklyn Loons when Banner dies. Surely this clever kitty does a better job than most of the current team owners. Based on the novel by H. Allen Smith, this black-and-white film was directed by Arthur Lubin, and stars Ray Milland and Jan Sterling.

Directed by Greg Beeman, this Disney film tells the story of a talking cat whose five-million-dollar inheritance is eyed by evil, grasping, villainous humans. Alas, it seems that noble cats who inherit big bucks often find themselves in jeopardy from nasty humans, especially in the movies.

Horror film about a fiercely loyal feline who methodically avenges her mistress's murder. And, just think, some silly people still say that cats have no loyalty. Directed by John Gilling, this black-and-white film features Andre Morell, Barbara Shelley, and William Lucas.

D.C.--short for Darn Cat--is a stylish and clever Siamese kitty who brings home a wristwatch one night; his human, Hayley Mills, believes that the watch is the key to a kidnapping caper and before long the FBI is involved, in the person of cat-allergic Dean Jones. Also in the cast of this Robert Stevenson-directed film are Dorothy Provine, Roddy McDowall, Frank Gorshin, Elsa Lanchester, and Ed Wynn.

A Disney remake of its 1965 film, with The Addams Family's Christina Ricci and Doug E. Doug in the roles originated by Hayley Mills and Dean Jones (Jones also appears in the remake). This time around, D.C. is played by a alleycat rather than a Siamese, which we think is an appropriate example of open-minded casting. Others in the cast include Peter Boyle, Bess Armstrong, Dyan Cannon, and Estelle Parsons. Bob Spiers directed.

Disney film, directed by Don Chaffey, about the bonds of love between a cat and her human girl, who is the daughter of a dastardly widowed veterinarian (Guinevere insists that all veterinarians are dastardly!). Set in the Scottish Highlands and based on Paul Gallico's Thomasina, this heartwarming film stars Patrick McGoohan and Susan Hampshire, and introduced Karen Dotrice, who later starred as one of the Banks children in Mary Poppins.