You’re either a cat person or you’re not right. For centuries, humans have relied on furry friends, making it only natural that these animals find a home in video games, both in anthropomorphic and realistic guises. We was uniquely qualified to make this list because we have so many cats of our own, and there are literally hundreds of cats in video games. In other words, you’re very much appreciated. There have been many scrapes and chewed controller cables that we’ve had to endure over the years in order to make this a reality.

The final quality of the games was not a major consideration when making this list. Even if a game is terrible overall, if it features a particularly awesome cat, we might consider adding it to our roster. A great game with a mediocre cat wouldn’t be included either. But there was usually a lot of crossover, with the worst cats often appearing in the worst games. But it has nothing to do with them.

You won’t find Bubsy on this list of the greatest cats in video games. Put your thoughts on your preferred feline below.

Your actual cat (Mario Kart Live)

Would you play a video game if your cat were a playable character? Yes, if you own a cat and have played Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. With Mario Kart Live, you can transform your living room into a racetrack, complete with real RC cars racing across the floor and virtual items and checkpoints. Knowing cats, they’ve probably made an appearance in your game because they wander around doing whatever they want. As a matter of fact, they are currently the game’s most lethal obstacle. It doesn’t change the fact that they’re still a cute infant to us. Indeed, indeed, we do.

Blinx

Microsoft seemed to think it needed a lovable character like Mario, Sonic, or Crash Bandicoot to be the face of the brand when the original Xbox was first establishing itself in the market. Blinx the Time Sweeper, a time-traveling cat with a powerful vacuum cleaner and mental powers, was proposed as that character. There’s no denying that Blinx is a cute little fella, but the gameplay loop in Blinx was very satisfying, and the game overall wasn’t great due to the camera and fairly generic world-building. Look at his whiskers and how he’s sneering on the box cover—very DreamWorks. He is fully aware of his own awesomeness.

The stray

Although Stray has just been released, we have no doubt that this adorable kitten will go down in gaming history as a classic. After all, he’s the lead in a game in which the player assumes the role of a small, furry cat—rather than an anthropomorphic cat-like creature. This cat doesn’t appear to be too concerned about living in a post-apocalyptic world where robots rule everything. He accomplishes this through a combination of dexterous puzzle solving and stealth, demonstrating that cats are among the world’s most formidable creatures in the process.

Palico (Monster Hunter World)

Cats are the obvious reason why Monster Hunter World is Capcom’s best-selling game ever. We’re willing to overlook the fact that these cute critters are larger than common housecats and use only two legs because of how useful and adorable they are. Your trusty feline companion will be there for you in Monster Hunter World whether you’re playing with friends or solo, and will give you the edge you need to take on the game’s toughest monsters. Sure, it makes us feel bad to put them in danger by making them fight monsters, but they do have multiple chances at survival, right?

Dusty (Gravity Rush)

Dusty from Gravity Rush exemplifies the idea that a great video game cat doesn’t have to be a super hero. Gravity Rush wouldn’t exist without Dusty, a supernatural being who grants the protagonist Kat (yes, the human’s name is Kat) the ability to manipulate gravity and fly. Kat may be the one who gets recognized, but without that teeny guy, she’d be forced to run around her floating city like everyone else. The release of Gravity Rush 3 is imminent if only someone could persuade Sony that Dusty deserves a second chance at fame.

Alvina (Dark Souls)

In the Souls series, cats have appeared for quite some time, even appearing as a graphical user interface (GUI) icon. However, the ultimate feline being in the games has to be Alvina from Dark Souls; she is an absolute unit and looks like what would happen if you pumped the Chesire Cat from Alice in Wonderland full of caffeine and whey protein. Since she is an actual cat, Alvina can be found in the first Dark Souls game lazing on a massive windowsill.

Trap The Cat

Trap The Cat is a fun puzzle game in which you must prevent the black cat from jumping off the playing field. You’ll be on a platform with many tiles, and the little cat has only one goal: to get away as soon as possible. You can stop it by clicking on the tiles, which will block them. However, the cat will move one tile further with each click of yours, so you must be strategic or it will escape from you.
Trap the cat mythology is a game at temple run and other locations. Playing frequently will be both relaxing and enjoyable. To win in Trap The Cat, you must capture a cat and keep it from escaping. We’ll teach you Cat Trap and give you tips on how to improve. It’s a simple game. There are dark places where cats can be captured. The cat moves when you click on the panel, and you must keep it from escaping.

Cat Bowser (Super Mario 3D World)

Even though Mario and his pals in their kitten costumes were adorable in Super Mario 3D World, things really heated up when Bowser joined the fray. A cat version of Bowser, complete with whiskers and ears, is hard to dislike, and the big “Meowser” still poses a serious threat to our plumber hero. Nintendo was also astute in saving his introduction for the very end of the game, where it served as the cherry on top of an already delightfully whimsical and delectable experience.

Judd and Li’l Judd (Splatoon)

In Splatoon 2, Judd and Li’l Judd, his son (or clone), serve only one purpose: to reveal the victor. Their cute little faces will make you forget which team got the most ink coverage, despite the fact that they play such a minor role in the game. We won’t probe too deeply into the question of how reproduction has changed in the wake of the apocalypse, but the fact that Li’l Judd is apparently a clone rather than an actual child of Judd is a little unsettling.

Cat (A Little to the Left)

Knocking things off tables when there’s no reason to is one of the few things cats enjoy more than cuddling and chasing laser pointers. As a game mechanic, this will come in handy in the upcoming A Little to the Left, where you’ll be tasked with arranging your home in ways that are both efficient and satisfying. It’s not always up to you where things go on the screen; sometimes a kitty paw will pop up from the side and mess everything up. We don’t understand the cat’s motivations, but we can’t help but laugh at its antics.

Red XIII (Final Fantasy VII)

Is Red XIII, the main character of Final Fantasy VII, a feline? The GameSpot staff had some reservations, but ultimately decided that Red XIII is a cat because of his lion-like appearance. He is a brave warrior and a dependable friend, born of science and growing to become Cloud and company’s ally. Since he is, after all, still a cat, the slightest provocation, such as a scratch behind the ears or a can of tuna dropped to the ground, could prove disastrous for the Shinra soldiers’ noble mission.