Simon's Cat

2008animated seriesclassic

Published September 15, 2026

Simon's Cat is an animated web series created by British animator Simon Tofield that debuted on YouTube in March 2008. The black-and-white cartoon features a mischievous cat constantly pestering its owner for attention and food, winning multiple animation awards and becoming one of YouTube's earliest viral animation successes.

Internet CultureAnimationYouTubeCats

Overview

Simon's Cat features a simple black-and-white animation style that captures the everyday antics of cats with minimal dialogue. The titular cat communicates through expressive body language and occasional meows, making the humor universally accessible. Each episode typically runs between two and four minutes and shows the cat scheming to get food, attention, or access to places it shouldn't be1.

The series stands out for its observational comedy rooted in real cat behavior. Tofield based the character on his own cats, incorporating authentic feline quirks like knocking items off tables, demanding food at inconvenient times, and getting into territorial disputes with other animals2. Over time, the cast expanded to include additional characters like the kitten, the hedgehog, and other neighborhood cats.

Origin & Background

Platform
YouTube
Creator
Simon Tofield
Date
2008

Simon Tofield uploaded the first Simon's Cat video, titled "Cat Man Do," to YouTube on March 4, 20081. The two-minute animation shows a cat repeatedly attempting to wake its sleeping owner through increasingly desperate measures, from gentle pawing to hitting him with a baseball bat. On the same day, Tofield launched SimonsCat.com as an official hub for the series2.

The debut video struck a chord with cat owners worldwide and quickly went viral. Within ten days, "Cat Man Do" won the Best Comedy award at the 2008 British Animation Awards3. Tofield had previously worked as an illustrator and animator, and the series represented his first independent web project.

How It Spread

After the initial viral success of "Cat Man Do," Simon's Cat grew into a consistent YouTube presence with new episodes released regularly. By late 2009, Tofield had won YouTube's Blockbuster Award for the channel's performance3. The official Facebook page launched on July 3, 2009, and gathered over 677,000 likes within three years3.

The series crossed into traditional media when The Daily Mirror began running Simon's Cat as a comic strip on November 23, 20103. Two illustrated books expanded the franchise: "Simon's Cat: In His Very Own Book" released in September 2009, followed by "Simon's Cat: Beyond the Fence" in June 20113. These book deals were arranged through Canongate Books, which purchased the publishing rights in early 2009.

By July 2012, the YouTube channel had produced 22 episodes averaging 12 million views each, with over 960,000 subscribers and 260 million total video views3. The Fine Bros featured the series in a "Kids React" video that same month, introducing Simon's Cat to a younger audience unfamiliar with its earlier success1.

How to Use This Meme

Simon's Cat functions primarily as an animated series rather than a remixable meme format. Fans typically share episodes or clips to express relatability about cat ownership. The distinctive hand-drawn style has inspired fan art and tributes, and the character appears on merchandise ranging from mugs to clothing.

Frequently Asked Questions