He's a wisecracking, nap-taking, coffee-guzzling, lasagna-loving, Monday-hating, dog-punting, spider-whacking, mailman-mauling fat cat. He's Garfield...the world's feistiest and funniest feline! Born in the kitchen of Mamma Leone's Italian Restaurant on June 19, 1978, Garfield has grown into a worldwide (and I do mean wide) celebrity. His antics with his owner, Jon, his drooling doggy pal, Odie, and his beloved teddy bear, Pooky, bring laughter to millions daily in over 2600 newspapers worldwide.
But what's so appealing about a tubby tabby with a rude attitude? What makes Garfield so lovable? It's simple...people relate to him because he is them. Jim Davis's grandfather, James A. Garfield Davis, had the same sarcasm and personality as our favorite orange cat. It seemed to be the perfect name. Jim said in a Garfield.com interview: "He's just a human in a cat suit." Maybe that's why we love him! Hence, a star is born. Garfield loves TV and hates Mondays and raisins. He'd rather pig out than work out; in fact, his passion for food and sleep is matched only by his aversion to diet and exercise (he prefers lay-downs to sit-ups). As Garfield says, "Diet is 'die' with a 't.'" He'd like mornings better if they started later and believes that coffee ("Strong enough to sit up and bark") is the only way to start the day. What could be more human?
People also identify with, and revel in, Garfield's sassy brand of humor. Garfield is quick-witted--and the first to admit it. He never hesitates to say the things that people--young or old-- ould like to say, in a way they'd like to say them. But he's never socially unacceptable... just tastefully outrageous! And, after all, as Garfield says, "Maturity is overrated."
But Garfield is not all sass and sarcasm; he also has a soft side. He really loves his teddy bear, Pooky, and deep down, he loves Jon and Odie, too (just not as much as he loves himself, of course).
It's easy to see that Garfield is a well-rounded character. Whether he's feeding his face, snatching a snooze, or just spouting a one-liner, Garfield is a classic -- and classics are always in style.
Garfield's hobbies include eating, sleeping, kicking Odie off the table, terrorizing the mailman, doing stand-up comedy on the fence, sending Nermal to Abu Dhabi, and of course, munching on the occasional fern. (Have you ever seen a cat that doesn't?) Much has been made of Garfield's size. So what if he's a little rotund? So what if he's been mistaken for a small planet? So what if he's so big he has his own zip code? But in Garfield's opinion, he's not overweight, he's undertall. He's not fat, he's experiencing a cell surplus. And lazy? Garfield listens to his inner slug and always takes life one nap at a time.
One good thing about lethargy is that you don't have to work at it. People often ask Jim Davis if he is like Garfield. Well, yes and no. He's not overweight--though he is fat inside. He loves food--especially lasagna! And he doesn't really care for exercise. he's a ex-jogger. It's a pretty sweaty proposition.
Here are some quotes from everybody's favorite fat cat: