This yellow cartoon cat is very stylish with his purple vest and hat. He often finds himself in trouble with the law because of his scheming ways, but he somehow always comes out on top. Who is this famous feline? Why it’s Top Cat, of course.
Top Cat was the star of his very own cartoon show from 1961 to 1962. Top Cat was the leader of a gang of Manhattan Alley Cats, which consisted of Benny the Ball, Spook, Choo-Choo, Brain, and Fancy Pants.
In the cartoon, Top Cat’s gang of cats were always trying to make a quick dollar by using illegal get-rich-quick schemes. Unfortunately, these plans would often be foiled by the local police officer, Charles Dibble. Because of these illegal scams, officer Dibble would constantly try to evict Top Cat and his gang of alley cats from Hoagy’s Alley. Want to relive one of these adventures? Check out a clip from the very first Top Cat episode Hawaii, Here We Come HERE.
Although the Top Cat cartoon show only lasted one year, the Top Cat franchise continued to grow. Top Cat comic books were issued from 1961 to 1973, Little Golden Books and Durabooks both released Top Cat hardcover books, and there were even 3 Top Cat View-Master reels created in 1962 (for those of you who aren’t familiar with the view master, it was THIS great children’s toy).
Interesting Facts:
- Top Cat was inspired by the “East-Side Kids” found in many 1940s B-movies, which were films that where based on the misadventures of a gang of “tough kids.”
Congratulations to one of our past Black Cat Contest winners - Bandit! Click 
