by John Tuttle
When we think of pets or domestic animals in the sci-fi genre of cinema and television, we might automatically call to mind the iconic sled dogs from The Thing (1982) or the little English-speaking alien disguised as a dog in the original Men in Black (1997). However, another fond and furry animal appears in science fiction even more so than its canine contemporaries: the humble cat.
With their graceful maneuverability and attractiveness, cats have found their way into science fiction plots throughout film history, whether as the random “guinea pig” for a mad scientist’s latest experiment or a reluctant stowaway who fights Kree soldiers in space. Some cats have become iconic emblems of science fiction, while most have become utterly crucial to the plots they partake in. And some simply serve to mystify us.
In early sci-fi, cats often keep scientists company in their isolated laboratories. One instance of this is the random pussycat in This Island Earth (1955), In the film, three scientists discuss the sketchy circumstances of their work for a mysterious man named Exeter and their apparent captivity. A cat announces its presence with a screeching meow, giving the scientists quite a start. After feeding the hungry kitty, the scientists conclude Exeter could be listening to them (indeed, he is) and change the topic of their discussion. Ultimately, the cat causes the change in conversation which limits Exeter’s knowledge of the Earthlings’ plans of escape.
Another early sci-fi flick featuring felines and scientific machinery is The Fly (1958). The story features two fine felines, M’sieur Tom and Dandelo. Unfortunately, Dandelo happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Namely, when scientist Andre Delambre needs a biological test subject for his next teleportation experiment. Though teleportation doesn’t go down too well for Dandelo, the cat serves as a necessary link in a chain of tests. After a few adjustments, Andre intends to move on to human “guinea pigs.” But another unforeseen mistake mars his test and creates a human-fly hybrid, one of the most nightmarish sci-fi scenarios seen on screen.
By the 1960s, cats or cat-inspired characters make frequent appearances in action-packed TV programs. Additionally, many of the feline characters are often portrayed as feminine. Cat Woman from the Adam West Batman series is one example. Zaybo from the 1960's show Lost in Space is another. In the episode “The Haunted Lighthouse,” an alien boy has an invisible companion he calls Zaybo. While invisible, Zaybo can create an audible meow and fits nicely in the boy’s two cupped hands. However, when visible, the cat is a ferocious lion. Then again, Zaybo also appears as a seductive woman, an example which fits that sixties stereotype mentioned earlier.
A few months after “The Haunted Lighthouse” aired, Star Trek’s “Assignment: Earth” hit TV audiences with another female shape-shifting cat. In the episode, secret agent Gary Seven has a feline for his closest companion. Her name is Isis and, as we see near the episode’s end, she seems to be more than your everyday pussycat. While resting on a couch, some see her as a woman while others still see her as a cat.
Star Trek’s feline fixation can be seen in later continuations and spin-offs. Eg: Data’s pet cat Spot in Next Generation or M’Ress in Star Trek: The Animated Series. M’Ress is actually an example of the Caitian race, which, as you might guess, is a race of cat-like humanoids. If you wish to be entertained by feline re-envisionments of the show’s main characters, check out Jenny Parks’ illustrated book Star Trek Cats (2017).
Chronologically, Star Trek carries us into the nineties, where we find Men in Black (1997), a splendid mash-up of sci-fi and comedy. In this film, an Arquilian (alien) scientist named Gentle Rosenburg owns a cat named Orion. Though a ferocious, bestial insectoid kills Rosenburg, Orion is left untouched. Only by the climax of the movie do we begin to realize the marble on Orion’s collar is something much more than a décor piece. Within the little translucent orb snuggly rests a micro-galaxy: a unique and full cosmos all of its own. Orion has been its unassuming guardian.
Most recently, a lovable “cat” appears on the big screen next to one of this year’s most significant superheroes: Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Captain Marvel. The cat named Goose shadows Danvers and Nick Fury in Captain Marvel (2019), one of the latest installments within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Goose is revealed (spoilers!) to be a Flerken, a cat-like creature whose mouth possesses Kraken-like tentacles outstripping Goose’s relative size.
Although Captain Marvel is the film’s most important character, one can make an argument that Goose runs a close second. In one scene, Goose protects the good guys by literally devouring their enemies while a shocked and two-eyed Nick Fury looks on. In another scene, we see Fury lose an eye when Goose slashes his face.
But, Goose’s most critical role is his consumption of the coveted Tesseract, an artifact containing an infinity stone. As a Flerken, Goose’s internal anatomy includes a pocket dimension which explains how he was able to swallow and keep down the Tesseract. In an after-credits sequence, we see Goose barf up the Tesseract. For decades, Goose kept the Tesseract safe, serving as a temporary, biological lockbox for an object of immense power and destructive potential. It was Goose’s quick thinking (or random craving) that allows for the Tesseract to fall back into the hands of the somewhat competent agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., making possible the whole chain of cat-astrophic events that is to ensue.
As we have explored in detail, cats have inspired many sci-fi creatures. Cats themselves frequent on-screen stories of flesh-eating blobs, secret agents, glowing celestial stones. Even more frequently, they have provided fundamentally critical aspects to the storylines of science fiction on TV and the big screen alike.