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Garfield was “born” in 1978 and he’s been entertaining us with his black humor and surly attitude ever since. He’s gone on to inspire TV shows, books, and movies. As his fan base grows, so does one question – what breed is our Monday-hating cat?
A Feline Cold Case
The quick answer is that nobody really knows. Garfield’s long-suffering owner, Jon Arbuckle, never mentions his breed and the creator of the cartoon, Jim Davis, never gave any solid clues either. So, after some serious sleuthing, we came up with the most likely breeds.
Did You Know?
Jim Davis named the famous orange cat after his grandfather James Abraham Garfield.
A Purrfect Persian
There’s a strong consensus among Garfield fans that he’s a Persian cat. They have the same flat faces, short legs, and crabby (yet adorable) appearance. There are indeed orange Persians. But when most people think of this breed, they might go, “Hold on, Persians have long hair and Garfield has a smooth coat!” Read on…
An Exotic Shorthair
This lovely cat breed is close in appearance to the bushy Persian we all know and love. They have the same smushed faces but as their name suggests, these felines have a short coat. The latter is a great thumbs up to possibly identify Garfield as a ginger exotic shorthair cat.
A Type of Tabby
Tabby describes coat patterns and it’s a trademark of several breeds. While most people are still scratching their heads over whether Garfield is a Persian or a cat from Mars, he’s almost certainly a tabby of sorts.
Maine Coon
The suggestion that Garfield is a Maine Coon is a popular one but unlike the Persian and exotic shorthair options, there are a few problems with this breed. Maine Coon cats are known for one thing – they are magnificently large felines! They are also known for their shaggy fur. Garfield has neither of these features. In proportion to his owner, he seems to be a normal-sized cat and of course, he sports a short coat.
A Turkish Angora
These cats appear in many colors including orange tabby. The main features that could make them a bunch of Garfields are their large, expressive eyes and robust frame. While they do lack the flat facial features that Garfied is known for, Turkish Angoras are very emotion-driven and Garfield is certainly not shy about what he hates and when it’s time to eat, his joy is contagious!
Maybe a Munchkin?
This breed has shorthaired orange tabby individuals. Check. Short-ish legs? Check. In possession of an amazing personality – check! Okay, it seems like the Munchkin breed is another strong contender for our Garfield. They are also noteworthy for their high intelligence and Garfield has a particular knack for hatching effective plans to have fun at poor Odie’s expense!
Maybe He’s Just a Cat
Jim Davis might never have had a specific cat breed in mind when he created Garfield. The only clue Davis ever gave was that he drew inspiration from all the cats he’d encountered during childhood but he’s not specific about what their breeds might’ve been.
Perhaps he did it on purpose to allow his readers to put their own spin on Garfield and thus make him more relatable to everyone. The thing is; we just don’t know. One thing is for certain, though. Garfield is one of the most unforgettable cats ever invented. For that alone, perhaps we should admire the fact that he’s definitely one of a kind!
FAQ
Q: Is Garfield male or female?
Garfield has always been depicted as a male cat.
Q: Garfield eats lasagna. Is it safe to feed this dish to my cat?
Sadly, no. Lasagna contains components that are unhealthy for pets to consume. These include things like cheese, onions, garlic, tomato sauce, and pasta. Several of these ingredients are toxic to cats.
Q: How old is Garfield in the comic strip?
Garfield’s age is unknown. His owner never mentions his age nor does the creator offer clues. However, one can guess that Garfield is an adult in his prime because he’s neither a kitten nor an elderly cat.
Q: Why is Garfield always mean to Odie the dog?
Garfield never gives a specific reason why he always plays mean tricks on Odie. It seems to happen plainly because Garfield finds it amusing to poke fun at the overly-trusting dog.
Q: Did Garfield die in the “No More Mondays” comic?
In this controversial comic, Garfield passed away at age 30. Although he woke up and the whole thing appeared to have been a dream, many readers were left wondering whether the following comics were just a recollection of his life and that he was well and truly deceased.