Several elements from Fists of Furry make a return in War of the Whiskers (such as the Power Stone-esque gameplay, the complete cast of playable characters from Fists of Furry and their respective mugshots and Palette Swaps, nearly all Power-ups, a Single Player arcade mode with the final stage (usually) being a laboratory, a kitchen stage, a cruise ship stage, etc.), but it also comes with a fair share of new ideas and improvements: the arcade mode (renamed Challenge) has been condensed so each stage only has one match, and features revamped bosses (which can actually be unlocked as playable characters for the Multiplayer mode), two more additional playable characters, a couple of Multiplayer-only stages and character costumes, four-player Multiplayer, and Berserk Mode, a revamp of the Double Damage power-up that is now a Limit Break that can be built up during the fight, and unleashed once its bar is full.
Just like in Fists of Furry, War of the Whiskers also features a soundtrack completely made of jazz-style music, reminiscent of the classic Tom and Jerry shorts.
Tropes in this game include:
- American Kirby Is Hardcore: In the original American/European release, Jerry has an angry face on the cover. In the Japanese version, Jerry has a happy face.
- And Your Reward Is Clothes: Destroying everything in a level with a specific character may unlock an alternate costume for that character. Costumes include musketeers Tom, Jerry and Nibbles, devil Spike and junkyard mechanic Butch.
- Beach Episode: "Paws" takes place on a seaside with a gift shop and has sharks that will attack the player come high tide.
- Bee Afraid: "Ciao Meow" has bees that sting anyone who gets too close.
- Big Fancy Castle: "Luncheons and Dragons" takes place in a giant castle.
- The Boxing Episode: "Raging Mouse" takes place in a boxing ring.
- Cartoon Bomb: "That Sinking Feline" has a bomb that players can pick up and throw at opponents for massive damage.
- Construction Zone Calamity: "Towering Inferno" takes place on a construction site.
- Down in the Dumps: "Scrapyard Scrape-Up" takes place in a scrapyard full of cars.
- Expressive Health Bar: The life meters in the game include icons of the character they belong to. Said icons will change expression when taking damage or turning berserk.
- Final Boss: Monster Jerry or Robot Cat, depending on the character chosen for the arcade run.
- Fire and Brimstone Hell: "Some Like It Hotter" takes place in hell itself.
- Fragile Speedster: Jerry, Tyke, Nibbles and Duckling don't hit very hard, but are extremely fast.
- Frying Pan of Doom: "A Fridge Too Far" has a frying pan that players can pick up and attack with.
- Ghastly Ghost: In "Haunted Mouse", ghosts will come and attack the players.
- Haunted House: "Haunted Mouse" takes place in a haunted house full of ghosts.
- Jack of All Stats: Tom and Butch have well-rounded attack power and speed.
- Killer Robot: In certain characters' arcade routes, a robotic cat called Robot Cat appears as the Final Boss.
- Mad Scientist Laboratory: "Frankenmouse" takes place in a mad scientist's laboratory.
- Mechanically Unusual Fighter: Robot Cat operates on a completely different level from everyone else. While every other playable character has punch and kick jab combos, a Ground Pound and the ability to pick up and throw items and other characters, Robot Cat completely lacks the latter three abilities and only has a single jab combo. In exchange, it has completely unique attacks only it can use: it can shoot fireballs from far away and set opponents running away on fire with a rotating flamethrower attack at close range. Its Berserk Mode is also completely different from everyone else; while most characters gain an attack/speed boost for the mode's duration on top of becoming invincible, Robot Cat instead flies into the air and can shoot fireballs with no cooldown instead (though it still retains invincibility).
- Mighty Glacier: Spike, Eagle, Lion and Monster Jerry are all very slow, but hit hard up-close.
- No Plot? No Problem!: There's no plot in-game, and the Excuse Plot in the manual is literally described in a couple of sentences:Tom and Jerry are ready for the final smackdown and have rounded up friend and foe alike to participate! Spike, Tyke, Nibbles, Butch, Duckling and others all represent in this war on land, sea, and skyscraper to determine who will be the Top Whiska’!
- One-Winged Angel: In some characters' arcade routes, the Final Boss is a mutated form of Jerry called Monster Jerry.
- Practical Taunt: While taunting does leave you open to attack, it also charges up your berserk meter for as long as the taunt is active, something that otherwise can only be done by attacking opponents.
- Psycho Electric Eel: An eel appears as an secret item in "Paws", where you can use it to electrify your opponent.
- Secret A.I. Moves: An odd case where the moves are detrimental to the AI. When controlled by the AI as a boss, Monster Jerry can turn back into regular Jerry after enough time passes or when hit by a thrown potion, and can regain the stronger form by drinking a potion or activating berserk. When controlled by a player (Or the AI outside of boss fights), Monster Jerry is permanently in his stronger form.
- Swordfish Sabre: A swordfish appears as a weapon in "That Sinking Feline".
- Squashed Flat: You can perform a Ground Pound in the air to crush your opponent.
- The Wild West: "Unfurgiven" takes place in a town in the Wild West, featuring a saloon, a livery, a blacksmith, a marshal's office, and a "Wanted!" Poster. Occasionally, a tornado will appear, sweeping up anyone it catches and throwing them into the air.
- Threatening Shark: Sharks appears as hazards in "Paws", where they bite players when the wave comes.
- Unlockable Content: if you destroy everything in each stage, you'll receive a secret weapon.
- X-Ray Sparks: When a character is electrified, their cartoonish skeleton will briefly appear.
- Wrench Whack: A wrench appears as a weapon in "Towering Inferno" and "Scrapyard Scrape-Up".
