Analysis / Cats Are Mean

How This Trope Varies by Species and Breed

"Big Cats" Pantherinae

Lions

Probably the biggest exception to this trope. Lions are often portrayed as heroic because of the whole King of Beasts thing in the Western world (Europe first and the Americas later on). The male’s mane contributes greatly to the whole King of Beasts thing. Lions have portrayed positively even when domestic cats (Felis catus or Felis silvestris catus, depending on whether they're a separate species or subspecies of the African wildcat) in Europe have been pegged as demonic familiars to witches and burned to the stakes. However, as there have been plenty of tyrannical kings throughout history and the due to the lion’s King of Beasts portrayal in the Western world, the two tropes have been put together at times. This often takes the form of a good king lion and an evil king lion who is a pretender to the throne.

Tigers

Have a similar reputation to lions in many Asian cultures. In Western works, tigers are portrayed as the Unpleasant Animal Counterpart to lions— if a lion and a tiger are on opposing sides, the lion will usually be the hero and the tiger will usually be the villain. There is a certain amusing irony at play here, though - a tiger's roar, considered to be much more vicious compared to the lion's deep, booming roar, is often used as a Stock Sound Effect to represent all big cats, including lions!

Leopards

Often portrayed as the Unpleasant Animal Counterpart to cheetahs, as well as lions. They were once common predators of humans as well as other primates and, due to hunting best on moonless nights, are largely responsible for how common nyctophobia (fear of darkness) is.

Jaguars

Usually portrayed as a hazard to explorers in the American tropics. Although attacks on humans are not unheard of in real life, they are much rarer compared to those by lions, tigers, and leopards.

"Small Cats" Felinae

Bobcats

Cheetahs

Rarely portrayed as villainous, most likely because they do not come off as particularly "threatening" compared to other large cats. (Truth in Television — cheetahs aren't aggressive towards humans because we're too slow for them to hunt.)

Cougars/Pumas

They are usually portrayed as Super-Persistent Predators that attack people unprovoked in stories featuring them, which is not entirely Truth in Television. ^note Real life cougars are quite elusive cats, but are more likely to be docile when around humans - but not always. Exotic pet people who want to keep larger cats tend to choose cougars over actual big cats (lions, tigers, e.t.c.).

Domestic Cats

In European and American culture, often depicted as sinister or at least morally ambiguous, especially when contrasted with dogs and mice. In medieval Europe, cats as a whole were assumed to be demonic, and were thus persecuted. In more recent years, this portrayal tends to vary somewhat. In general, what moral pegging a cat character is given is often dependent on its breed or its fur color. Persians, Siamese cats, Sphinxes, and other stereotypically "fancy" breeds are the ones most likely to be depicted as villainous, often being shown as evil even by cat standards. Black cats also tend to be portrayed as evil in fiction, due to the superstition about them bringing bad luck. By contrast, mixed-breed cats, especially tabbies, are more likely to be good or at least neutral.

Kittens are also more likely to be good than adult cats, since they are seen as cute and harmless and therefore innocent. Even works that otherwise subscribe to this trope (i.e. Tom and Jerry) will often make an exception for kittens.