Top 61 Best Songs About Cats of All Time

The cat is one of the most enthralling creatures on the face of the earth. They’re cute fluff balls, vicious predators, and comic acrobats all wrapped up into one. They’re also stoic house guards, sensitive companions, and fun play pals. Enigmas wrapped in mysteries.

But are there any songs about cats?

Of course, there are, and probably a great many more than you might expect. From musical theatre to pop, from silly tunes to love songs, cats have been written about and sung to, probably as long as they’ve been living with us humans.

So, let’s look at the best songs about cats out there, and perhaps you’ll find the perfect serenade for your feline friend.

Top 61 Best Songs About Cats

1

The Cat Came Back – Harry S. Miller

This is probably the best known cat song of them all, and it’s also the oldest on my list. “The Cat Came Back” is also known as “But the Cat Came Back,” and for good reason, too.

The song is a story by composer Harry S. Miller and tells the tale of ole Mister Johnson, who had an “Old yaller cat” he wanted to get rid of but couldn’t. The story goes through dozens of ways he tries to get rid of the cat, but none are successful.

The original song is written in a Georgia dialect, with lines like the classic chorus, “Yes the cat came back de very next day – the cat came back—thought she were a goner – But the cat came back for it wouldn’t stay away.”

This is an old song from 1893…

But, many versions have been done since, mostly softened a bit and aimed at a younger audience. It was a huge hit and a career starter for children’s entertainer Fred Penner. And the already established crack team of Sharon, Lois, and Bram also recorded a well-known version.

But remember, the original is a whole lot meaner and scarier, and not exactly a cat lover’s favorite.

2

I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat – Mel Blanc

Mel Blanc, known as the “Man of A Thousand Voices,” is a name we all should know. But, unfortunately for him, the names Tweety and Sylvester are far better recognized. Oh well, they’re a part of his legacy.

In the song “I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat,” written by Alan Livingston, Billy May, and Warren Foster, he voices them so incredibly that we’re led to believe the song is a duet and not a solo work.

In this famous song, Tweety bird laments not being able to lead a peaceful life while Sylvester hunts him constantly. Sylvester grumbles about being unable to get himself a little dinner. It’s a perfectly comedic look at the real life of a so-called domestic cat which is still one of nature’s top predators.

3

Pet Me Poppa – Guys And Dolls

Guy and Dolls was originally a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical written by Frank Loesser in 1950. The musical was so popular it was made into a movie by MGM. This was a musical film starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons, and Vivian Blaine.

It used most of the songs from the stage show. But, one in particular, “A Bushel and a Peck,” was replaced with “Pet Me Poppa,” also written by Loesser.

A lively, jazzy song…

In the film, it is sung by Vivian Blaine and a chorus of cat-costumed dancers. It’s surprisingly suggestive for the 50s, using the cat analogy to hint at activities like “Just reach over and pet me poppa.”

While it may be a thinly veiled excuse for humans to get frisky, it bears a strong similarity to how my cat seems to boss me around.

4

Cats (the whole darned musical) – Andrew Lloyd Webber

It’s not fair to have Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical, Cats, on a list of the best songs about cats. After all, there are over a dozen songs in this stage production that are, of course, all about cats and nothing else.

They deserve their own list…

The songs for the well-known Cats were composed by Webber with lyrics taken directly or adapted from a collection of poems by T.S. Eliot called Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. These poems are weird and wonderful observations of different types of cats that Eliot wrote brilliantly in 1939.

The cat-based songs here are legendary. “Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer” is a lively tune about two troublemakers. “Rum Tum Tugger” is a song about a rather randy feline. “Mr. Mistoffelees” is a magical sort of cat that seems to be able to appear and disappear at will (like my cat).

And “Memory,” sung by Grizabelle, the glamor cat, was a huge hit in the US and beyond, even being covered by Barbara Streisand. Those are some memorable cats.

5

The Siamese Cat Song – Peggy Lee (in Lady And The Tramp)

Lady and the Tramp is a romantic musical film that came out way back in 1955. And while this movie is all about a canine romance, there’s one scene in the film that is unforgettable for cat lovers.

This is when the two Siamese cats, aptly named Si and Am, slither and sneak around, creating havoc for the poor dog, Lady, who they mercilessly tease.

They do all of this while they sing a purr-fectly cattish song, known as “The Siamese Cat Song,” sung by jazz star Peggy Lee. These sly cats show that they know the lay of the land and the way things work around the house, just like any cat I’ve ever met.

A bit dated, though…

They do sing lines like, “We are Siamese if you please – We are Siamese if you don’t please – Now we lookin’ over our new domicile – If we like we stay for maybe quite a while,” with intentionally bad grammar to highlight that they’re foreign cats. Well, remember this was written in the 50s… <sigh>.

6

Everybody Wants to Be A Cat – The Aristocats

Another incredibly memorable cat-based story is none other than The Aristocats. This cartoon movie musical came out in 1970 and has been a standard for cat lovers ever since.

It tells the story of an alley cat’s involvement with an aristocratic cat family involved in an inheritance scandal. It’s a lovely movie for cat lovers, young and old. And the best song from this movie has to be “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat,” a jazzy, swinging number that’s as cool as the hip cats it talks about.

In it, the character Scat Cat (Scatman Crothers) sings that “Everybody wants to be a cat – Because a cat’s the only cat – Who knows where it’s at.” Come on, how true is that?

7

Phenomenal Cat – The Kinks

The Kinks were a 60s and 70s Rock band from the UK, best known for their gender-bending song “Lola.” But, they also did some weird and wonderful experimental music, including “Phenomenal Cat” from their 1968 album, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.

This is a floaty, folksy song with a weird gibberish chorus and some medieval overtones. The song tells the story of a phenomenal cat who lived “a long, long time ago in the land of idiot boys.” This clever cat was fat and contented and had traveled the world collecting experiences and knowledge.

Sound familiar? Eventually, he learned the secret of life and became something like a stoic bodhisattva. That’s a pretty cool cat, alright.

8

What’s New Pussycat? – Tom Jones

Is this really a song about a cat? Like a lot of songs that use the word ‘cat’ in them, it’s a bit hard to tell. It sounds more like a love song, and “pussycat” is just a pet name.

You have to consider that the lyrics include lines like, “So go and powder your cute little pussycat nose” and “I’ll soon be kissing your sweet little pussycat lips.”

I mean, do cats even have lips?

But, if you want to sing it as a love song to your cat, go right ahead. Not everything in the world has to make sense.

This song was written for the movie What’s New Pussycat, a 1965 bizarre comedy by Woody Allen and directed by Clive Donner. The song was written by Hal David and the legendary Burt Bacharach.

But, it was the smooth crooning of Tom Jones that made this song a hit. Jones still uses this tune in concert, and it has become his signature tune. It’s also one of the most popular songs about cats.

9

Cat Scratch Fever – Ted Nugent

The late 70s were a mecca for Hard Rock, and Ted Nugent’s “Cat Scratch Fever” was one of the most rocking tracks of 1977.

It comes from his hard-hitting album of the same name and was sung by vocalist Derek St. Holmes who had recently returned to the band. And, of course, it features Ted Nugent killing it on lead guitar.

Have you noticed a theme here?

There sure are a lot of cat songs that have sexual overtones, and this one’s no exception. The lyrics go:

“Well I make a pussy purr – With the stroke of my hand – They know they’re gettin’ it from me – And they know just where to go – When they need their lovin’ man – They know I’m doin’ it for free.”

Boy, howdy, that guy sure is nice to cats, ain’t he? I guess that is why this is one of the best songs about cats.

10

All Cats Are Grey – The Cure

In 1981, another cat track got out of the bag. From the album Faith, The Cure’s “All Cats Are Grey” was one of the first dark and gloomy tracks from the band that we’d later know as a goth favorite.

This track has a long, wistful introduction with a slow beat and atmospheric fat chords. Robert Smith’s voice comes in for a single verse and a chorus, making this one of the band’s more lyrically thin songs.

The lyrics aren’t all about cats…

But, they do play with the old saying that at night all cats are grey. Here, it’s phrased “In the caves, all cats are grey – In the caves, the texture coats my skin – In the death cell, a single note rings on and on and on.” 

While this plays up the mysterious nature of cats, it’s a whole lot darker than the poppy, upbeat “The Love Cats” that would come out just a few years later.

11

Stray Cat Strut – Stray Cats

Here’s a classy, strutting song for your feline friends. The swinging retro rockabilly group, Stray Cats, put this out on their first album, Stray Cats, in 1981. After another single, “Rock This Town,” took off, the “Stray Cat Strut” zoomed up the charts and made it a minor hit for the group.

The lyrics have some deliciously accurate stray cat imagery. “Stray cat strut, I’m a ladies cat – I’m a feline Casanova, hey man that’s that – Get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old man – Get my dinner from a garbage can.”

And while the song isn’t all that unusual, Brian Setzer’s guitar solo here has been rated as one of the best solos in rock history. Not too shabby for a trio of strays.

12

Cat People (Putting Out Fire) – David Bowie

Things take a bit of a darker turn in our next tune. David Bowie’s “Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” still has some pop elements, but you can also hear some darker influences reminiscent of Lou Reed and Joy Division. Especially at the beginning of this tune.

Cat people can relate to lines like “See these eyes, so green – I can stare for a thousand years,” but also to the dark aspects of this song. After all, cats are known to be busy and mysterious creatures who have a whole other life while we’re all asleep.

This is one of the strongest recordings Bowie made in the 80s. It was originally made in support of the 1982 erotic horror film Cat People, and Bowie also re-recorded it in 1983 on Let’s Dance. His second version was more aggressive and featured legend Stevie Ray Vaughn on lead guitar.

13

Cool Cat – Queen

Bowie was busy with his cat songs in 1982, but his contributions to the Queen song “Cool Cat” didn’t work out.

Bowie originally recorded backing vocals for this track off 1982’s Hot Space but wasn’t happy with how they worked out and asked for them to be removed. This was in contrast to the smash hit “Unhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kToCuYfkGI4der Pressure,” which retained his vocal work.

It all worked out in the end…

Queen’s “Cool Cat” chilled-out tune isn’t exclusively about cats, or at least, it depends on your interpretation. Here, a cool cat could just be referring to a cool person (sarcastically, actually).

But, if you want to look at it another way, the lines “Cool cat tapping on the toe with a new hat – Ooh just cruising – Driving along like the swing king – Feeling the beat of my heart” is a pretty lovely thing to sing to your kitty.

14

The Love Cats – The Cure

So, I guess cats were a theme all across the UK in the early 80s. They were certainly picked up by The Cure in one of their snazziest tracks as a single in 1983.

“The Love Cats” is a bouncy, jazzy-sounding song with a cool walking bass line and a sing-along chorus. It’s also a sweet song for this otherwise somewhat gloomy band.

Kudos to cats for that…

Cats are represented in this song as innocent and vulnerable, just like young lovers. Of course, the feline imagery here is used to describe a human romance, but that doesn’t take away from its kitty content.

Lines like, “We should have each other to dinner – We should have each other with cream – Then curl up in the fire – Get up for a while” create delicious images of a cat-like romance.

15

Wild Cats of Kilkenny – The Pogues

You know, every list has to have a wildcard. But, my list of the best songs about cats has a wild cat instead. Ha! See what I did there?

Well, the surprise here is that while this is a song about cats, it’s an instrumental song. Yep, no lyrics. This song from 1985’s Rum, Sodomy & the Lash is a fast and powerful traditional-sounding Irish jig that you can get up and dance wildly to.

The energy of this song comes from the Punk Rock influence of The Pogues on their Irish tunes. But, it also comes from the inspiration for the song – the wild cats of Kilkenny.

The story of the Kilkenny Cats…

It goes back at least 200 years. This old story tells of two ferocious tom cats that fought so hard that nothing was left of either of them at the end except their tails.

The term “Kilkenny cats” came to mean a conflict that would destroy both sides (think about the Irish independence movement). However, for the people of Kilkenny, Ireland, it can also mean tenacity. Either way, this ode to these wild cats is perfectly distilled in the energy of this song.

16

Pads, Paws and Claws – Elvis Costello

The year 1989 saw Elvis Costello, one of the UK’s feistiest singer-songwriters, collaborating with Paul MacCartney. This resulted in a couple of tracks from his album Spike, including “Pads, Paws and Claws.”

This track cleverly uses these cat parts. While they’re all parts, they’re all used in the song as verbs as well. This swinging song has a rockabilly feel very reminiscent of the Stay Cats. You get Costello’s unique voice here, and the lyrics are filled with some quite brilliant wordplay.

“She pads, pads around the bedroom, practicing ways to flirt – He paws, paws another drink and anything in a skirt” is pretty clever, right? It might not be explicitly about cats, but then again, maybe this is an ode to a feline relationship. Who’s to say?

17

Black Cat – Janet Jackson

Here’s a big song from an even bigger name. Janet Jackson received a Grammy for “Black Cat,” which was also certified Gold when released as a single. The song was part of Janet’s breakthrough album, Rhythm Nation 1814. But, the Hard Rock sound was a departure from her dancier tracks.

The song is a combination of Hard Rock and Pop, with an arena attitude. It helped to win Janet more fans who weren’t so into her Pop-Dance work.

It’s surprisingly well-produced…

…and it contains one of the late 80s’ most singable choruses: “Black cat, nine lives – Short days, long nights – Livin’ on the edge – Not afraid to die – Heart beat, real strong – But not for long – Better watch your step – Or you’re gonna die.”

Surprisingly, this song was written by Janet herself and is actually a warning against the dangers of substance abuse. That should help you understand why it’s one of the best songs about cats.

18

Kittens Got Claws – Whitesnake

Also, in 1989, cats were being featured over the pond. The UK Hard Rock band Whitesnake recorded “Kittens Got Claws” as part of their eighth album, Slip of the Tongue.

The track starts with some wild cat meowing and then becomes a solid, straight-ahead rocker. And, like most everything else Whitesnake did, there’s a lot of thinly veiled sexual innuendo here.

I mean, how would you interpret “Dressed to kill in diamonds and fur – You get what you want – With your pussy cat purr”? If you love your big hair stadium rock, you’re going to love this song. It’s full of the energy of a kitten. But, just remember, “The kittens got claws – She’ll tear your heart out.”

19

Like a Cat – Cyndi Lauper

It’s possible that 1989’s “Like a Cat” was a tongue-in-cheek reply to Madonna’s 1984 hit “Like a Virgin.” But, aside from the titles, there’s not much in common between these two songs.

Lauper’s song came from her third album, A Night to Remember, and does have a similarly pop-rock beat, but that’s about it. Cyndi’s song is a lot twangier and features less of that 80s synth polish. It’s also funny, with Lauper comparing herself to a cat but in unexpected ways.

She’s singing to a lover that spurned her, but she says she landed on her feet. And in the chorus, she explains, “Hey mister you can never own me – I only let you hold me like a cat – And mister you can never know me – I only let you stroke me.” That sounds just about right to me.

20

Smelly Cat – Phoebe Buffay (from Friends)

Right, so Phoebe Buffay isn’t a real person. But “Smelly Cat” is a real song, albeit one that was written as a running joke for the TV sitcom Friends. Phoebe Buffay is actress Lisa Kudrow, and the song wasn’t truly picked up as an advertising jingle for a kitty litter commercial.

But who cares? It was still a comedic song about a pungent cat that is one of the most memorable parts of the Friends series.

The song is short and to the point…

The chorus, “Smelly cat, smelly cat – What are they feeding you? – Smelly cat, smelly cat – It’s not your fault” says it all. The song appeared several times throughout the sitcom.

And it was popular to the point of being re-recorded by Kudrow and the Pretenders, billed as Phoebe and the Hairballs, as the “Smelly Cat Medley” on the 1999 soundtrack album Friends Again.

Pretty good for a fake song from a fake singer.

21

Cleopatra’s Cat – Spin Doctors

The Spin Doctors had unbelievable success with their 1992 album, Pocket Full of Kryptonite. Their 1994 follow-up, Turn It Upside Down, though, wasn’t anywhere near as popular despite starting with a song called “Big Fat Funky Booty.”

But, the third track on that album, “Cleopatra’s Cat,” still got some attention. This is a true cat-lover song. It’s an ode to Cleopatra’s cat and how it messed with Julius Caesar. It’s a light, funky, groovy song that you can at least dance to.

I like it for its alternative history. Poor Caesar sings, “Friends, Romans, can’t you see – My girlfriend’s cat is smarter than me.” And, while it’s hard to see a big man fall from grace, we’ve all been bested by a cat more than a few times, right?

22

Kitty – Presidents of the United States of America

Up next is a bizarre and slightly wicked song from the odd band, Presidents of the United States of America. You might remember them from “Lump” and “Peaches” on their 1995 self-titled album.

Well, “Kitty” comes from that album, too, and was almost as big a hit. The only thing that prevented it may have been the swearing. This song may have also suffered from misinterpretation since they said, “Touch it, I wanna touch it,” about their pussy cat.

A fun and weird song…

It starts well by admiring a lovely cat. But, things quickly go downhill when the “Kitty rear up and scratch me through my jeans – Fuck you, kitty, you’re gonna to spend the night outside!” 

Whatever. It’s a hilarious, fast, and fun song from this band already known for their uniqueness and electric, energetic live shows.

23

My Cat’s Name Is Maceo – Jane’s Addiction

This next song is a true tribute song to a cat. The story goes that Jane’s Addiction lead singer, Perry Farrel, wrote this song about his cat, who he named after funk/soul saxophonist Maceo Parker.

Later, the band even convinced the ‘real’ Parker to play sax on the track when they recorded it for their 1997 album Kettle Whistle.

That guy is one cool cat…

“My Cat’s Name Is Maceo” is a fun, boisterous track that features Parker (not the cat) blasting on the sax, a cool rhythm from drummer Stephen Perkins, and of course, Farrell’s unique voice.

He sings about how Maceo is “a little man in a cat’s body – He yawns just like I do – He’s convinced I won’t eat him – I think he thinks that I’m his dad – Because I saved him from the pound.” Sound like anyone you know, perhaps?

24

When He Calls Me Kitten – The Kelly Deal 6000

The Deal twins have had a lot of their musical plates. While Kim played bass in The Pixies and both sisters rocked in The Breeders, Kelly had her own band, the Kelly Deal 6000.

Her songs were considerably more relaxed and chilled out than most of what she did with Kim. And the 1997 tune from Boom Boom, “When He Calls Me Kitten,” is one of her quietest, sweetest songs of all.

A lovely, loving song about a pet name, not so much a pet…

But, it’s still something you can sing to your purring pussy to help put it to sleep. Romantic lyrics like “When he calls me kitten, kitten – When it’s quiet and dark – I say, “Yes, yes, yes – What is it my heart?” can be a lovely lullaby for a baby cat trying to fight off sleep.

This song also featured in the psychological horror movie May in 2002 with a bit of a creepy effect.

25

Alley Cats – Hot Chip

Hot Chip is a groovy Synth-Pop band from the UK. They’ve dabbled in Alternative Dance, Disco, House, and more. But, with their 2010 album, One Life Stand, they created an ultra-warm and soulful sound they’d not previously achieved. It was the perfect soundscape for a song about cats.

In “Alley Cats,” Hot Chip created one of the warmest, most chilled-out tunes on the whole album. You’ve got lazy, lilting vocals, dreamy synth sounds, and a super-chill beat. And the lyrics are a perfect encapsulation of cats.

Vocalist Alex Taylor sings, “Well we wear each other’s heads like hats – Speak in tongues like alley cats – Cradle them in both our laps” and you get a perfect image of a couple of alley cats curled up together against the night’s cold.

26

Lovecats – The Cure

27

Honky Cat – Elton John

28

Alley Cat – Bent Fabric

29

Cat’s In The Cradle – Harry Chapin

30

Cool for Cats – Squeeze

31

Cat House Blues – Jelly Roll Morton

32

Black Cat Blues – Jesse Fuller

33

Tabby’s Blues – The Memphis Jug Band

34

What’s The Matter With The Mill – Memphis Minnie

35

Stray Cat Blues – The Rolling Stones

36

Cat People – Giorgio Moroder

37

The Cat – Jimmy Smith

38

The Cat Crept In – Mud

39

Siamese Cat Song – Walt Disney Records

40

The Cat Walk – RJD2

41

Siamese Cat – Mark Lanegan

42

The Lion Sleeps Tonight – The Tokens

43

Alley Cat – Lee “Scratch” Perry

44

Puss In Boots – Adam Ant

45

Black Cat Moan – Seasick Steve

46

The Cat’s Pyjamas – A.R. Kane

47

Tom Cat – Muddy Waters

48

Top Cat – Hoyt Curtin

49

A Cat Called Domino – Roy Orbison

50

Mysterious Cat – Thelonious Monk

51

Feline – The Soul Cages

52

Cat’s Squirrel – Cream

53

Catman – Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps

54

Slinky Cat – The Shadows

55

El Gato Triste – Roberto Carlos

56

The Cat’s Meow – The Brian Setzer Orchestra

57

Catgroove – Parov Stelar

58

Cat People (Putting Out Fire) – Giorgio Moroder

59

Alley Cat – Bent Fabric

60

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof – Brian Setzer

61

Cat Ballou – Nat King Cole

Looking for More Unique Music?

If so, take a look at our detailed articles on the Best Songs About Ice Cream, the Best Songs about Friday, the Best Songs About Tequila, the Best Songs About Witches & Wizards, and the Best Songs with Colors in The Title for more interesting song selections.

The Best of the Best Songs About Cats

That just about wraps up this list of the best cat songs. I hope at least a few of them were new surprises for you as they were for me, too. We got to take a listen to songs about cats, written to cats, sung to cats, and inspired by cats.

And, why not? 

These furry friends are some of the most interesting creatures on the face of the earth. One thing is certain, though. Songs for cats are all over the place, expressing the varied nature of these magical mammals.

From friendly and warm, to snobby and aloof, to loveable, to downright mean. There are just as many emotions expressed in songs about cats as there are in songs about people. That sounds just right to me.

Until next time, happy listening.