History Main / RightHandCat

* Ahuizotl in ''JustForFun/DaringDo'', from the episode [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E16ReadItAndWeep "Read It and Weep" of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''.

* She doesn't hold her cats in her hand, but [[Characters/HarryPotter Dolores Umbridge]] from ''Literature/HarryPotter'', probably the second most sadistic person in the series behind Voldemort himself, is seemingly addicted to cats. Her office is lined with plates and pictures depicting cats. As well, her Patronus was in the shape of a Persian cat, and it paced in front of her during the courtroom scene in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]]'' to protect her from the dementors. Averted in the case of Professor [=McGonagall=], a good character in the same series, who also has a cat Patronus and can transform into a cat (an ordinary tabby rather than something fluffy and expensive). In between the two is [=Argus Filch=], the {{Jerkass}} caretaker at Hogwarts, with his unpleasantly scrawny and dust-colored [=Mrs. Norris=]. His genuine love and affection for her (to the point of being driven to tears when she was nearly killed) is one of his few redeeming traits.

* ''Film/TheGodfather'': The VillainProtagonist is seen stroking a cat in the opening scene. This was not in the book or script; Brando just made friends with a cat and they decided to ThrowItIn.

* Parodied in ''Series/HappyEndings'', when Jane (once again cast in a loveable villain mode) is shown sitting ominously in a chair while petting the neighbours' white cat.

Why do bad guys like cats? Maybe because CatsAreMean -- [[PredatorsAreMean they kill birds and mice, just so they can offer you the corpse]]. Cats are lap-sized and perfect to pet while scheming. Or maybe it's because cats also (reputedly) believe they are entitled to be worshipped and revered by humans, or deserve to TakeOverTheWorld themselves. Dogs are faithful and loyal, but cats are fickle with a superiority complex. Villains and cats just fit. It's the perfect accessory for a CardCarryingVillain.

* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'', Maleficent has {{Pete}}, who is a large anthropomorphic cat. Just replace the stroking with yelling at how he always screws up.

* In Flannery O'Connor's short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find" an escaped convict called the Misfit murders an entire family, who is stranded by an isolated road after an accident,and afterwards picks up and strokes their pet cat (that had caused the accident).

[[caption-width-right:210:[[CatsAreSuperior The cat looks more dignified than its owner]].]]

* She doesn't hold her cats in her hand, but [[Characters/HarryPotter Dolores Umbridge]] from ''Literature/HarryPotter'', probably the second most sadistic person in the series behind Voldemort himself, is seemingly addicted to cats. Her office is lined with plates and pictures depicting cats. As well, her Patronus was in the shape of a Persian cat, and it paced in front of her during the courtroom scene in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]]'' to protect her from the dementors. Averted in the case of Professor [=McGonagall=], a good character in the same series, who also has a cat Patronus and can transform into a cat (an ordinary tabby rather than something fluffy and expensive). In between the two is [=Argus Filch=], the {{Jerkass}} caretaker at Hogwarts, with his unpleasantly scrawny and dust-colored [=Mrs. Norris=].

* Mistress Leevil, the president of BET in ''ComicStrip/TheBoondocks'', has her own cat. The twist here? The cat is ''dead''.

* ''Film/LicenceToKill'' BigBad Franz Sanchez is sometimes seen with an iguana. It even has a little diamond necklace, which might be a call back to the one Blofeld's cat had in ''Film/DiamondsAreForever''

* She doesn't hold her cats in her hand, but [[Characters/HarryPotter Dolores Umbridge]] from ''Literature/HarryPotter'', probably the second most sadistic person in the series behind Voldemort himself, is seemingly addicted to cats. Her office is lined with plates and pictures depicting cats. As well, her Patronus was in the shape of a Persian cat, and it paced in front of her during the courtroom scene in ''[[HarryPotter/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]]'' to protect her from the dementors. Averted in the case of Professor [=McGonagall=], a good character in the same series, who also has a cat Patronus and can transform into a cat (an ordinary tabby rather than something fluffy and expensive). In between the two is [=Argus Filch=], the {{Jerkass}} caretaker at Hogwarts, with his unpleasantly scrawny and dust-colored [=Mrs. Norris=].

** The Boss is first shown via a Blofeld-style lap-cam, until he gets tired of this and leans down to speak directly into the camera.

* Gargamel's cat, Azraël, from ''TheSmurfs''. Leans into RightHandAttackDog territory, since the Smurfs are small enough to be frequently chased by Azraël.

* Junkman in the ''TheIncredibleCrashDummies'' (a 1993 half-hour CG movie) has the Hubcat.

* Ernst Stavro Blofeld, from the early ''Film/JamesBond'' films, as pictured above. His ever-present fluffy white cat is probably the TropeCodifier, being responsible for most, if not all, of the parodies and references listed below.

* ''Film/AustinPowers'':

* In the modern film verson of ''{{Hairspray}}'', Velma von Tussle gets a fluffy white Persian to stroke in one scene.

* She doesn't hold her cats in her hand, but [[Characters/HarryPotter Dolores Umbridge]] from ''Literature/HarryPotter'', probably the second most sadistic person in the series behind Voldemort himself, is seemingly addicted to cats. Her office is lined with plates and pictures depicting cats. As well, her Patronus was in the shape of a Persian cat, and it paced in front of her during the courtroom scene in ''[[HarryPotter/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]]'' to protect her from the dementors. Averted in the case of Professor [=McGonagall=], a good character in the same series, who also has a cat Patronus and can transform into a cat (an ordinary tabby rather than something fluffy and expensive). In between the two is [=Argus Filch=], the JerkAss caretaker at Hogwarts, with his unpleasantly scrawny and dust-colored [=Mrs. Norris=].
* Inverted in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''. The protagonist Harry Dresden lives with a gigantic grey cat named "Mister," whom he (Harry) rescued from a dumpster as a kitten.
* Completely averted in Tamora Pierce's fantasy novel Wolf Girl (book 2 of The Immortals). The villian HATES cats.
* Discussed on several occasions in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''.
** When introducing [[MagnificentBastard Lord Vetinari]] in ''Discworld/{{Sourcery}}'', he's described as the type of person you ''expect'' to have a RightHandCat, but he actually has a small, old, and ridiculously bad-smelling dog named Wuffles.
** In ''Discworld/NightWatch'', Lady Meserole (Vetinari's aunt) has a cat, but Vetinari thinks that if you're going to have a RightHandCat, it should be white and fluffy. It's a scruffy orange "street tom."

* Referenced in ''YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries''; Ishizu tries to tell Marik that he's not really evil, because evil people do things like stroke cats while sitting in revolving chairs. Shortly thereafter, Marik tells his henchman to drive to Wal-Mart so he can purchase a revolving chair and a kitten.

* Ahuizotl in ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Daring Do]]''.

* Subverted in ''TheKingInYellow''. Evil psychopath Mr. Wilde has a cat. At the end, it tears out his throat, thus [[SpannerInTheWorks foiling]] [[VillainProtagonist Hildred Castaigne's]] evil scheme. To express his annoyance, Hildred [[KickTheDog kills the cat]]. So the Right-Hand Cat made the HeroicSacrifice to save the day.

* In RiversOfLondon Peter imagines the faceless man with a right hand CatGirl sitting on his lap and chatting on the phone.

* Parodied in ''HappyEndings'', when Jane (once again cast in a loveable villain mode) is shown sitting ominously in a chair while petting the neighbours' white cat.
* ''PoliceSquad''

* The ''DirtyHarry'' parody ''SledgeHammer'' has one episode where a crime boss is always seen with a cat and ends up throwing the cat out of the window when he is upset. It is not surprising when Sledge [[KarmicDeath kicks him out the window]] at the end of the episode (and even more ironically, the cat lands safely on the crime boss' chair).

* ''LaFemmeNikita'': A villain is shown holding a white Right-Hand Cat, before demonstrating nerve gas on him for buyers.

* Played with in ''UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'': Bernkastel (a CatGirl to boot) has a seemingly infinite number of cat minions that she can use. But it's later revealed [[spoiler:that she is herself the pet cat of the BiggerBad Featherine. A very snarky cat.]]

* Parodied in [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-02-16 this strip]] of ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' (note the title of the strip at the bottom).
* Referenced in the commentary of [[http://darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0275.html this strip]] of ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids''.

* In ''{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4291 the World Domination Manual prescribes getting a pet and petting it menacingly as the first step.]] Lil' E tries.

** Emperor Palpatine has Luke's lightsaber hilt.

* In ''Goblin Moon'' and ''The Gnome's Engine'', the Duchess keeps a tiny indigo-furred ape which she pampers and pets. [[spoiler: WasOnceAMan is implied, which makes it much creepier.]]

* In ''Webcomic/{{Niels}}'', Niels has spent way too much time at home due to a work-related "accident," so when Agent 300 comes to check up on him, he [[http://nielsg.com/househusband/ prepares to have a little fun.]] Of course, Niels doesn't have any pets, so he [[spoiler: uses Kiddo instead.]]
-->'''[[spoiler: Kiddo:]]''' Woof!
-->'''Agent 300:''' He's supposed to be a ''dog''?
-->'''Niels:''' Mayyyyyybe...
-->'''[[spoiler: Kiddo:]]''' Oink oink!

* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] to the extreme in ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls''. The girls once defeated an archetypal [[TheFaceless faceless]] villain who stole a valuable jewel to power a laser, and took his pet cat home afterwards. The ''cat'' [[TheDogWasTheMastermind was actually the villain all along]] and hypnotized TheProfessor into almost finishing the mass [[{{Brainwashed}} brainwashing]] project.

** Evil Harry Dread, from ''Discworld/TheLastHero'', had ''wanted'' to play this trope straight, but is allergic to cats. The closest he could come was a fluffy white hamster in a diamante treadmill.

** Played with in that the Evil Lord Harry Dread, who would like to be the kind of villain that has a white cat, is allergic to them and has to settle for a pet Hamster instead.

* Discussed on several occasions in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''. When introducing [[MagnificentBastard Lord Vetinari]] in ''Discworld/{{Sourcery}}'', he's described as the type of person you ''expect'' to have a RightHandCat, but he actually has a small, old, and ridiculously bad-smelling dog named Wuffles. In ''Discworld/NightWatch'', Lady Meserole (Vetinari's aunt) has a cat, but Vetinari thinks that if you're going to have a RightHandCat, it should be white and fluffy. It's a scruffy orange "street tom."