Who is the cat in tom and jerry

Who is the cat in tom and jerry

It’s interesting looking at cartoon cats and trying to figure out what cat breed they’re based on. Some are surprising, some less so, but it’s always fun to find out! And there are plenty of famous cartoon cats out there to look into—Garfield, Heathcliff, Felix, and more.

Then there’s Tom, from the cartoon “Tom and Jerry”—one of the most famous cartoon cats to ever exist. Have you ever been curious about just what kind of cat Tom from “Tom and Jerry” is? Well, according to the Wiki for “Tom and Jerry,” Tom is a Domestic Shorthair (though there are some who believe he was based on a Russian Blue).1

What is Tom and Jerry?

You’re probably already familiar with “Tom and Jerry”, but just in case you’re not, it’s a classic American cartoon. Featuring a hapless cat that’s always trying to get the best of a clever mouse, the characters of Tom and Jerry debuted back in 1940. Born from the minds of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, “Tom and Jerry” featured lots of visual humor and cartoon violence as Tom constantly tried to catch Jerry. The show is so popular it’s still around today; in fact, 2021 saw a big-screen version of the show come to life!

What is a Domestic Shorthair?

The Domestic Shorthair isn’t actually a breed in and of itself; it’s a mixed breed cat. That means the Domestic Shorthair comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns (though, at times, they may look exactly like certain cat breeds depending on their ancestry). They often get mixed up with the American Shorthair, partially due to the name but also because they both have muscular builds. However, the American Shorthair is an actual recognized breed and not a mix of breeds like the Domestic Shorthair.

The Domestic Shorthair’s personality can be just as varied as its appearance. You’ll find a mixture of sweet and affectionate, bold and daring, shy and aloof, and more. No matter their personality, though, the Domestic Shorthair is a popular pet to have.

The Domestic Shorthair is also quite easy to care for, which is another reason it makes a great pet. They are a very low-maintenance cat that rarely needs grooming, is relatively healthy, and is super friendly no matter the personality type.

Image Credit: Editor77, Shutterstock

Final Thoughts

It can be fun and interesting to find out what kind of cat breed cartoon cats are based on. When it comes to Tom from the famous classic cartoon, “Tom and Jerry”, it appears that he is a gray and white Domestic Shorthair. Not to be confused with the American Shorthair, which is a cat breed, the Domestic Shorthair isn’t a breed but is a type of cat made up of a mix of breeds. This enables them to be wildly varied in color, pattern, and personality. However, one commonality you’ll find amongst the Domestic Shorthair is that they make great pets. No matter what type of personality they have—shy, energetic, affectionate, reserved, or a mix—these cats are known for being exceptionally friendly. They’re also easy to care for and generally healthy. And with the color combos of Domestic Shorthairs out there, maybe you’ll find your own Tom!

Featured Image Credit: Bicanski on Pixnio

Tom Cat, from the famous Tom and Jerry cartoon series, is a determined feline that’s always on the hunt for Jerry Mouse. His appearance and personality change slightly depending on the artist, but he’s often believed to be inspired by a Russian Blue or a Domestic Shorthair.

Let’s take a look at Tom’s appearance and temperament and see how they compare to the Russian Blue and Domestic Shorthair.

Tom Cat’s Appearance

Tom is a gray tuxedo cat with short hair. He usually has a dark gray overcoat and a light gray underside and paws. However, there are also some drawings of him with a white underside and paws. Tom also has a long, skinny tail with a tuft of white or light gray at the tip. He’s also often drawn with eyes containing yellow scleras with black irises or yellow scleras with green irises.

Tom Cat’s Personality and Temperament

Tom is often portrayed as a mouser assigned to hunt Jerry Mouse. He must use his brains to try and outwit Jerry. Their chases are quite intricate, and Tom must be very quick and agile to keep up with the mouse.

Although Tom is often not successful with chasing Jerry, there are some episodes where he does catch him. So, overall, he’s an athletic, intelligent, and determined cat with a strong prey drive.

While both Tom and Jerry can appear to be enemies, there are a few moments where they listen to their good conscience and help each other out. It’s safe to say that Tom does have a soft and kind side to his personality.

Russian Blue Appearance and Temperament

Tom’s coat color closely resembles the blue-gray and slate-colored coat of Russian Blues, especially when he’s drawn without the white accented features. Some drawings of Tom show him having green eyes, which is another physical trait that Russian Blues share.

Russian Blues are also athletic and intelligent. They tend to be very playful even when they reach an older age. They’re known to be extremely social as well, so they do best in homes where they aren’t left on their own for many hours.

  • You may also like: What Kind of Cat Breed Is Sylvester From Looney Tunes?

Domestic Shorthair

Image Credit: Pxhere

Tom can also be a Domestic Shorthair, especially if he’s drawn with his gray and white tuxedo marking. Domestic Shorthairs are mixed-breed cats and are able to have bi-color coats.

Since they’re mixed breeds, Domestic Shorthairs can have varying appearances. However, most Domestic Shorthairs have rounded heads and medium-length tails. They can also have yellow or green eyes, which is a feature that Tom Cat also often has.

Domestic Shorthairs can also have varying personalities, depending on their genetics. So, they can easily be tough and independent and have a strong prey drive, like Tom Cat. They can also be quite agile and athletic. Most Domestic Shorthairs aren’t known to be aggressive, but some can be depending on their ancestry and lineage.

Conclusion

Tom Cat isn’t explicitly stated to be a Russian Blue or Domestic Shorthair, but his appearance and personality are good indicators that he’s either of these cat breeds or a mix of them.

All three of these cats have provided plenty of fun and entertainment for people with their curiosity and goofy antics. So, whether it is through funny animations or in real life, you can always expect to see more fun adventures when you have any of these cats around.

Featured Image Credit: Review News, Shutterstock

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Are they kitten us? Tom and Jerry, the cartoon cat and mouse enemies who've been feuding since the 1940s, have a secret. Apparently their full names are Thomas Jasper Cat, Sr., and Gerald Jinx Mouse, and as CNET sister site ComicBook.com points out, some fans weren't expecting that name game.

Tom and Jerry are characters in MultiVersus, a 2022 platform fighter video game developed by Warner Bros. that features many of the studio's famed animated personalities.

Other characters include Finn and Jake the Dog from Adventure Time; Steven and Garnet from Steven Universe; Superman, Wonder Woman and Harley Quinn from the DC Extended Universe; Shaggy from Scooby Doo; Bugs Bunny; and Arya Stark from Game of Thrones. But it was Tom and Jerry who started fans buzzing when Warner Bros. issued a graphic showing their full names.

"How many people are gonna freak out when they see Tom and Jerry's real names in the game?" tweeted one person.

Not only the names, but another intriguing fact. 

"If Tom Cat is a 'Sr'...where the heck are his kids?" asked one fan.

Cartoon history buffs knew Tom and Jerry were originally dubbed Jasper and Jinx in their very first appearance, 1940's Puss Gets the Boot, so it's satisfying those original names are honored here as middle names. It's also a little bit disconcerting to hear Tom become Thomas and Jerry become Gerald -- like when your mom is mad at you and uses your entire given name.

"Bro you telling me Tom and Jerry had whole ass names????????" asked one person.

Said another, "Seeing Tom and Jerry described as a 'Mage' is very funny to me. Also being reminded of their full legal names."

MultiVersus will be available in 2022.