When we talk about famous cats, there’s one name that often comes to mind – Garfield. Garfield has been a part of our pop culture fabric since 1978, when he first appeared in a comic strip created by Jim Davis. Second, only to Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Davis’s comic strip has been one of the most widely syndicated and recognizable narratives worldwide.
But do we know, really, what breed Garfield is? After all, it’s something often overlooked when gushing over his lasagna-loving, Monday-hating, dog-torturing antics. Let’s deep-dive into the fascinating world of Garfield, exploring his characteristics, behavior, and breed.
It’s All In His Stripes: Tabby, not a Breed
Unlike dogs, cats have relatively few breeds. Hundreds of dog breeds cater to various characteristics, behaviors, and aesthetic differences, while feline breeds are fewer and farther between. This distinction becomes important when answering the question, “What breed is Garfield?”
Famous for his bright orange fur and bold stripes, Garfield is a representative of the “classic” Tabby pattern. But, contrary to popular belief, ‘Tabby’ does not denote a cat breed. Instead, it identifies a coat pattern prominent in many different cat breeds, including Main Coons, American Shorthairs, and British Shorthairs. The distinct mackerel (striped), spotted, ticked, and classic (swirls & whorls) patterns make tabbies instantly recognizable and dearly loved. This creates a classification problem – Garfield, although a ‘Tabby,’ needs a breed affiliation too.
The Exotic Shorthair Hypothesis
Garfield has both the physical and emotional traits of an Exotic Shorthair. These cats, often known as the “lazy man’s Persian,” have a round face, large eyes, and a flat nose, almost precisely like Garfield’s features. Furthermore, their dense and plush coat, available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including the orange classic tabby, aligns perfectly with Garfield’s look.
Exotic Shorthairs also display a calm and easy-going personality, preferring a leisurely life where they lounge around and sleep for long hours – a behavioral pattern paralleling Garfield’s legendary indolence. They’re endearing, sociable, and laid back, an accurate representation of Garfield’s audience-pleasing temperament. In fact, a closer look reveals they also love to eat, mirroring our favorite comic cat’s well-loved fascination with food.
Countering with the British Shorthair Argument
While the evidence favoring Exotic Shorthair remains strong, an equally compelling argument exists for a British Shorthair connection. Initially, the breed bears strong resemblance to the Exotic Shorthair – dense coats, round faces, and pronounced cheeks, combined with a strong, muscular build that the lazy, robust Garfield is known for. They also have the classic Tabby pattern, enveloping Garfield’s quintessential look under their breed umbrella.
British Shorthairs are famous for their easy-going, non-demanding nature, and they become somewhat aloof when they grow up – akin to Garfield’s nonchalant, detached attitude against the world around him. They are placid, self-sufficient creatures, who might occasionally show that playful kitten spirit – an approach to life that Garfield seems to practice.
Putting it all together: Creator’s Knowledge
Having considered both possibilities, it is important to touch upon a piece of significant information- the word of Garfield’s creator, Jim Davis.
Davis has on numerous occasions stated that Garfield was not conceptualized as a particular breed. Instead, he aimed to create a humorous, relatable character in the form of a cat. Therefore, while the physical and emotional attributes of Garfield resemble certain aspects of Exotic and British Shorthairs, he doesn’t officially belong to either breed.
Conclusion: Garfield, A Cat of His Own Kind
While it’s fascinating to hypothesize about Garfield’s breed specifics, the truth is, he’s created to express the universal feline-ness that all cat owners know and love. He is lazy, food-loving, and immensely witty – characteristics embraced by numerous cat breeds. So, Garfield might be a Tabby by pattern, with hints of Exotic Shorthair and maybe even British Shorthair by interpretation; it’s evidence that Garfield exists in every cat, regardless of their breed. It’s one of the reasons he remains eternal – we see Garfield in our cats, and our cats in Garfield. And isn’t that universality a triumph greater than any breed classification?
After all, as the star himself would put it, “I’m not overweight, I’m undertall”.
Just like that, we might say, “Garfield is not any breed, he’s all breeds.” Because, evidently, Garfield is not just a cat. He’s a cultural icon, bringing together all the characteristics we adore and find amusing about our feline companions.