The World’s Most Finicky Cat

Today, Let Us Now Praise Famous Cats celebrates Morris the Cat, a celebrated brand advocate (or, perhaps, evangelist), author, and activist whose career started in 1968 when he was discovered in a Chicagoland animal shelter. In true Horatio Alger fashion, he leapt from life on the margins to a prominent commercial acting career, starring in numerous 9Lives Cat Food commercials over the ensuing decades. The 9Lives commercials proved to be the perfect forum for Morris to showcase his sardonic humor and they remain, to this day, classics of the genre. I have included a representative video sample for your viewing pleasure.





While the above is certainly what this famous cat is best remembered for, I would be remiss if I failed to mention some of his other work. One of my personal favorites has to be his supporting role in the 1973 Burt Reynolds vehicle, Shamus. While the film itself has never received more than lukewarm praise from critics, Morris’ contribution has gone down in history as one of the definitive moments in animal acting; introducing a gritty realism that had been lacking in the performances of previous cat (and dog) actors. Burt Reynolds as recently as 1993 has even listed the time spent on set with Morris as one of the defining experiences of his career.



Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of Morris’ career has been his work as an author and activist forcefully calling upon humans to usher in a new era of more responsible and respectful cat ownership. The Morris Method (pictured to the left) was the first of three books authored by Morris advancing this cause.

In recent years, Morris has moved into direct action politics, launching his Million Cat Rescue struggle with the adoption of a cat from a Los Angeles area animal shelter. In 2007, he returned to the very Chicagoland shelter where he had spent his early years to launch the second leg of the campaign.

Thank you, Morris, for all that you have done and are continuing to do for your species and mine!