What Kind of Cat Is Pete the Cat? Famous Cat Breeds Revealed

From Garfield to Puss in Boots, there’s no shortage of cool cats in literary history, and—since his first appearance in 2008—Pete the Cat has quickly taken his place amongst classic fictional feline stars. Though it’s never been revealed, Pete the Cat appears to be a domestic shorthair.

To learn more about Pete the Cat, keep reading!

 

Pete the Cat Books

Pete the Cat began life as the main character in a children’s book illustrated by American artist James Dean. The original series of four books were penned by Eric Litwin, though James Dean and his wife Kimberly Dean continued to write and illustrate the rest of the series.

The first Pete the Cat children’s book, titled Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, was self-published in 2008. After selling 7,000 copies over 10 months, it was picked up and re-published by HarperCollins.

To date, there are over 70 Pete the Cat books available. Pete the Cat stars in all the books as a good-natured, easy-going cat who never loses his cool. Some of the books contain catchy sing-along songs, such as I Love My White Shoes, and Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, which have both become YouTube favorites.

Pete the Cat Shows

In December 2017, an animated holiday special was adapted for television and released on Amazon Prime. Titled Pete the Cat: A Groovy New Year, it featured Elvis Costello and Diana Krall as Pete’s parents. The following year, a series was also released on Amazon, of which there were two seasons.

Why is Pete the Cat Blue?

James Dean, the illustrator of Pete the Cat, adopted a black kitten named Pete and began drawing him in 1999. He chose to paint him blue instead of black, however, as some people believe that black cats are a sign of bad luck.

What Age Group is Pete the Cat for?

Pete the Cat books are recommended for children aged between 2 and 7. The songs and the simple sentences encourage younger children to interact with the story and recognize recurring words as they learn to read.

Does Pete the Cat Ever Talk?

Pete the Cat doesn’t have a mouth—unless he’s yawning, grinning, eating, or talking. Pete tends to stay quiet, even in the TV shows, though he does sometimes say a sentence or two toward the end! Though he doesn’t speak, Pete the Cat does communicate very well through gestures, nods, and very expressive eyes.

 

Conclusion

While James Dean, the creator of Pete the Cat, has revealed that the character was inspired by his black kitten, he’s never specifically revealed what breed Pete the Cat is.

Our best guess is that Pete is a shorthair domestic cat. What we know for sure, however, is that Pete is a cool cat, starring in a series of groovy children’s books that impart wisdom on self-love, forgiveness, happiness, friendship, determination, and more!

See Also: 

• What Kind of Cat Was Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter? Cinema Felines Presented
• What Kind of Cat Is Garfield? Famous Cat Breeds Revealed

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Featured Image Credit: tasukaran, Pixabay