A catgirl, a charming blend of the feline and the feminine, is a kemonomimi character with endearing cat traits like adorable ears, a swaying tail, or other feline features seamlessly integrated into an otherwise human form. Widely embraced in diverse fictional realms, catgirls gracefully tread the landscapes of Japanese anime and manga, becoming iconic figures primarily in fantasy narratives. These captivating characters hold a special place within otaku communities, and for enthusiasts seeking these whimsical feline personas, we present the curated list of the 35 best anime cat girl characters
35. Catherine
Franchise: Gintama
Catherine is a middle-aged Neko girl, a former thief whom Otose took under his wing and hired into his bistro. She speaks with a weird accent and has cat ears. She was a member of a group of Amanto thieves called Cat’s Punch. She has a habit of imitating poses of Otose, for smoking, for example. She is one of the beloved characters in both anime and manga.
34. Felicia
Franchise: Darkstalkers
Felicia, a popular anime cat girl, is adopted by a Catholic nun named Rose and embarks on a journey to become a musical star after Rose’s passing. Along the way, she encounters other Catgirls, and together, they aim to fulfill Felicia’s dreams. In Darkstalkers 3, she becomes a nun, establishing an orphanage called Felicity House. Known for her distinctive ears and tail, Felicia’s adventures lead her to unexpected alliances, such as with John Talbain and Morrigan, who defend her against adversaries.
33. Persia
Franchise: Gate
One of the characters from Persia. An anime cat girl with glasses, cat ears, and a tail who is romantically involved with Kurata. She is recognizable for her purple hair.
32. Nuku Nuku
Franchise: All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku
The central character in All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku anime and manga series, Nuku Nuku, begins as a stray cat discovered by Ryunosuke and his father Kyusaku. To prevent the misuse of a stolen android prototype, Kyusaku merges the dying cat’s brain with the android, granting it feline intellect and emotions. Nuku Nuku sees Ryu as a brother and Akiko and Kyusaku as parents, acting as Ryu’s nearly indestructible bodyguard. Despite her naivety and childlike nature, Nuku Nuku remains devoted to her newfound family.
31. Melwin
Franchise: Cat Planet Cuties
Cat Planet Cuties is a treasure trove of cat girls. Melwin is the Catian Starship First Officer. She is slimmer and smaller-chested than the other anime girls and has short blue hair while sporting cat ears. Nevertheless, she made it onto our best anime cat girl list.
30. Shizuka Nekonome
Franchise: Rosario + Vampire
Shizuka Nekonome, a teacher at Yokai Academy, serves as the journalism club’s advisor. As a cat-woman and a charming anime cat girl, she displays a carefree and forgetful demeanor. With a love for fish, particularly Gold-Fish, Shizuka stands out due to her feline characteristics. Unlike some of her monster colleagues, she doesn’t harbor strong animosity towards humans and promotes peaceful coexistence between demons and humans at the academy.
29. Chloe Lolo
Franchise: DanMachi
Chloe, a character from DanMachi in both anime and manga, has a sad backstory. Born into a criminal organization, she learned lethal skills from a young age. However, after her mother’s sacrifice, Chloe grew resentful of her family. Granted permission from her goddess to leave, she embarked on a journey, undertaking challenging tasks, including assassinating a Level 3 Empire Knight with only a knife. Despite the difficulty, she succeeded and eventually arrived in Orario about nine years before the story’s events. After several failed missions, Chloe joined the Fertility Hostess, refusing assignments to kill esteemed adventurers. Chloe is one of the most beautiful DanMachi characters.
28. Haineko
Franchise: Bleach
Haineko, featured prominently in both Bleach anime and manga, is portrayed as a playful and mischievous anime cat girl who delights in annoying those around her and seeking attention. Characterized by a short attention span, she easily becomes bored and loses interest quickly. Described as self-centered and superficial, much like her wielder Matsumoto, Haineko is portrayed as a lazy yet lively character with a penchant for getting easily annoyed.
27. Natsuki Sasahara
Franchise: Hyper Police
Natsuki is a 17-year-old character in Hyper Police, an anime series, who is a half-human/half-Nekomata anime cat girl. Born to a human father and a Nekomata mother, Natsuki exhibits feline traits, such as grooming herself, playing with objects, and having cat ears in her human form. She is kind, friendly, and committed to protecting the weak and upholding the law. Despite her young age, Natsuki has electric shock abilities, leading to her recruitment into the police force by Batanen.
26. Lin Xiao-Mei
Franchise: Shining
Lin Xiao-Mei, also known as Lin Lin, is a recurring character in The Shining anime series, featuring as a secondary character in Shining Hearts and the main character in Shining Blade. In Shining Hearts, she is an antique saleswoman of the beast race. Lin Xiao-Mei has a dual identity as the Phantom Thief “Black Tail.” She is introduced in the first episode when Rick questions her identity, and Airy reveals her name as Xiao-Mei, mentioning that she is a fan of Rick’s bread and occasionally brings it to him.
25. Kuune
Franchise: Cat Planet Cuties
Kuune is the Catian Starship captain. She is in charge of the contingent responsible for establishing diplomatic relations with Earth’s leaders.
24. Chaika
Franchise: Chaika: The Coffin Princess
Chaika is a young teenage anime cat girl with silver hair and purple eyes on a quest to collect the pieces of her father’s body for a proper funeral. Her weapon is a Gandr, a large coffin that also serves as storage for her father’s remains. Chaika lacks memories of the past 5 years, only retaining the mission to gather her father’s body since the fall of the Gas Empire.
23. Ichigo Momomiya
Franchise: Tokyo Mew Mew
Ichigo Momomiya, the protagonist of Tokyo Mew Mew anime series, is introduced during a visit to a Red Listed Animals exhibit with her love interest, Masaya Aoyama. A mishap leads to an accidental kiss between Ichigo and Masaya. Mint Aizawa, who witnesses the incident, rudely interacts with Ichigo and offers her a handkerchief. Later, Ichigo comes to the aid of Lettuce Midorikawa, who is being harassed at the museum.
22. Ibaraki Dōji
Franchise: Onigiri
Ibaraki is a half-Oni anime cat girl in Onigiri anime series, sharing a connection with the main player character. She runs a traveling bar, similar to the main character’s role as a traveling merchant, fostering a sense of camaraderie. Despite her half-Oni heritage, she is often mistaken for a cat due to her cat ears.
21. Misaki / Yoriko Sagisawa
Franchise: Da Capo
Misaki/Yoriko Sagisawa from Da Capo is a young anime cat girl who observes the world from her bedroom window, with Yoriko as her cat companion. In the game, the Sakura Magic Tree grants Misaki’s wish, allowing her to possess Yoriko’s body, transforming it into a copy of her original form with added cat ears. In the anime, Yoriko, transformed into a maid cat with cat ears, jumps out of Misaki’s window to explore the world on her behalf.
20. Eris
Franchise: Cat Planet Cuties
The protagonist in the Cat Planet Cuties anime, Eris is an alien from the Catians race. A cheerful and somewhat innocent anime cat girl, Eris exhibits a friendly and relaxed demeanor. Her curiosity about Earth is insatiable, and she eagerly seeks to understand human culture, although she often struggles to grasp certain concepts, especially those of a more perverted nature. Eris is chosen to represent the Catians on Earth, tasked with learning everything about the planet to facilitate a friendly relationship between humans and Catians.
19. Chocola
Franchise: Nekopara
Chocola, a dark-haired Neko anime cat girl from the Nekopara anime series, possesses a cheerful and energetic personality. She forms a close bond with Kashou, affectionately referring to him as “Master.” Unable to bear the idea of being apart from him, Chocola follows Kashou when he relocates to his new store. Notably, she is the twin sister of Vanilla.
18. Ao Nanami
Franchise: Yozakura Quartet
Ao Nanami is a 16-year-old satori who works in Hiizumi’s office and serves as a city announcer. Concealing her cat ears under her hat, Ao possesses the unique ability to read the minds of living beings, allowing her to understand animals as well. Additionally, she can predict the future steps a person is likely to take. Ao utilizes a special device to read the thoughts of all the citizens in the city, although it strains her considerably.
17. Cyan Hijirikawa
Franchise: SHOW BY ROCK!!
Cyan Hijirikawa is the main character in the Show By Rock anime series, renowned as the best anime cat girl. Passionate about music, Cyan is initially a shy girl who, after getting pulled into the video game she was playing on her smartphone, mysteriously lands in Midi City. Upon an invitation from Retoree, she becomes a member of the band Plasmagica.
16. Nozomi Kiriya
Franchise: Mayoi Neko Overrun!
Nozomi Kiriya, a notable character in the Mayoi Neko Overrun anime, is celebrated as the best anime cat girl. Initially lost, she is found by Otome, who mistakes her for a giant cat and provides her with shelter in her house. Despite occasionally appearing a bit lost and distracted, Nozomi showcases the intelligence and athleticism characteristic of cat girls.
15. Vanilla
Franchise: Nekopara
Vanilla, a character from the Nekopara anime series, is another charming cat girl. She is a silent and calm Neko with white hair, fitting the archetype of a kūdere character due to her infrequent expression of feelings. Despite her reserved demeanor, Vanilla harbors deep affection for her sister Chocola, valuing their bond immensely. Their sisterly connection is evident as Vanilla is willing to follow Chocola anywhere, showcasing a strong and devoted sibling relationship. Notably, Chocola and Vanilla are the youngest among the Minaduki family Nekos in the series.
14. Merle
Franchise: The Vision of Escaflowne
Merle, a thirteen-year-old cat girl in The Vision of Escaflowne anime series, serves as Van’s companion puppy and childhood friend. Initially harboring intense jealousy toward Van’s relationship with Hitomi, she eventually comes to accept the Earth girl’s presence and even forms a friendship with her. Despite being an orphan, Merle was raised by the Fanel family, and she demonstrates unwavering loyalty to them, particularly to Van.
13. Leone
Franchise: Akame ga Kill!
Leone is a lively and fun-loving girl who enjoys partying with her team, even during missions, making her somewhat of a spoiler. With blonde hair and yellow eyes, she possesses the ability to transform into a lion and has a unique Imperial weapon called Lionelle, which grants her the power of regeneration.
12. Coconut
Franchise: Nekopara
Coconut, the third youngest among the Nekos of the Minaduki family in the Nekopara anime series, is praised by others for her “cool” personality. However, she harbors a desire to be perceived as cute rather than cool, struggling with low self-esteem due to her perceived clumsiness and self-proclaimed lack of abilities. Despite her efforts to act like an older sister and not burden Kashou and the other catgirls, it is revealed that she often tries to be someone she is not. As a Maine Coon, Coconut faces an internal conflict between her self-perception and the image she strives to project.
11. Alicia Rue
Franchise: Sword Art Online
Alicia Rue, a cat girl in Sword Art Online, holds the position of chief within the Cait Sith clan. Kirito intervenes during an attack by the Salamanders, rescuing her and subsequently supporting her faction by defeating their champion, Eugene, and providing financial assistance. In gratitude, Alicia Rue collaborates with her friend Sakuya, chief of the Sylph clan, to organize an expedition aiming to conquer the “Great Quest” in ALfheim Online, reaching the pinnacle of the World Tree to save Asuna.
10. Rem Galleu
Franchise: How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord
Rem Galleu is a prominent character in the How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord anime, belonging to the “Pantherian” race—a hybrid of half-man and half-feline demons. As a level 40 summoner, Rem becomes an adventurer with the goal of increasing her strength for a specific purpose. She possesses the ability to summon and contract seven powerful beasts.
9. Himari Noihara
Franchise: Omamori Himari
Himari Noihara is the female protagonist in the anime series Omamori Himari, characterized as a bakeneko, a shapeshifting demon cat. She takes on the role of Yuto’s bodyguard, compelled by an ancient oath made by his ancestor, sparing her from death when he refused to kill her. Known as the Crimson Blade of Noihara among other ayakashi for her exceptional swordsmanship, Himari sees herself as the sword dedicated to protecting Yuto.
8. Millianna
Franchise: Fairy Tail
Millianna is a childhood friend of Erza from their time at Heaven’s Tower, displaying a fondness for cats and the Exceed named Happy. Following her rescue from Gerald and the Tower of Heaven, she initially forgoes joining Fairy Tail to embark on a world tour. However, after Fairy Tail’s seven-year absence, she becomes a member of Mermaid Heel with the aim of seeking revenge on Jellal, following Kagura.
7. Karyl (Kyaru)
Franchise: Princess Connect! Re:Dive
Kyaru from Princess Connect! Re: Dive is a member of the Beast Race, characterized by long black hair with a distinctive white streak in her bangs and green eyes. Despite exhibiting tsundere traits, often complaining about Pecorine, she consistently follows her. Kyaru possesses a sharp tongue and frequently displays anger or embarrassment. As a member of the ‘Gourmet Edifice’ guild, she plays an active role in the game.
6. Neko
Franchise: K
Neko is a 16-year-old girl and a strain who coexists as Shiro’s cat in K anime series. Possessing a childlike demeanor, she wields the power to create illusions, granting her the ability to change shape, turn invisible, manipulate the environment, and even alter people’s memories. Utilizing sensory interference, she affects the senses of others to create illusions of environmental changes.
5. Tsumiki Miniwa
Franchise: Acchi Kocchi
Tsumiki is the main protagonist of Acchi Kocchi characterized by a small and delicate stature. She embodies a combination of Tsundere and Kuudere personalities, presenting a strong, sarcastic, and cold exterior while harboring deep affection on the inside, particularly for Io. Whenever Io pats her on the head or she experiences something she likes, she sprouts cat ears.
4. Kaneko Toujou
Franchise: High School DxD
Koneko from High School DxD is a little girl in first grade; she is the high school mascot thanks to her cute little girl appearance. Being the “Tower” of Rias, she boasts superhuman strength and ironclad defense. In Japanese animation jargon, she is considered a Tsundere. She is not very talkative and is the one of the group who gets along the least well with Issei; when she speaks, it is most often to insult her, blame her, or humiliate her for her perverse nature.
3. Neferpitou
Franchise: Hunter × Hunter
Neferpitou, a genderless Chimera Ant (female in the anime) with a cat-like appearance, is one of the three royal guards in the manga. Belonging to the “Nen” Specialist category, Neferpitou possesses extraordinarily powerful abilities. During an infiltration attempt by Kaito, Gon, and Killua into the Chimera Ant nest, Neferpitou kills Kaito and manipulates his corpse into a puppet using the Hatsu ability “Doctor Blythe.
2. Blair
Franchise: Soul Eater
Blair from Soul Eater is a feline magician and a cat girl known for her alluring appearance, featuring a curvaceous figure and a notably well-endowed chest. Initially mistaken for a witch and killed by Soul and Maka during the prologue, Blair possesses a humanoid form. She enjoys playing with Soul and has a particular attraction to him, residing with him and Maka.
1. Yoruichi Shihōin
Appears in: Bleach
Yoruichi Shihōin, initially introduced in the manga as a black cat with a male voice (in the anime, the male aspect of the voice is emphasized during broadcasts outside Japan), is eventually revealed to be a woman. She holds the titles of ex-commander of special operations and ex-captain of the 2nd division. Additionally, Yoruichi is the 22nd head of the Shihōin family, a noble family in Soul Society. She fled Soul Society after Kisuke Urahara’s banishment.
Have a cat girl to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!
