Paws for thought: Top 5 cat-themed cars

Some meow, others roar, but all these motors draw inspiration from the feline family. Wait until you see what’s at number one…

The automotive world is overflowing with references to the animal kingdom. Whether it’s streamlined sea life or prehistoric lizards, most marques have at least one animal-inspired model in the range. Today, though, we’re diving into the (surprisingly peculiar) world of four-wheeled felines.

From subtle moggy references to full-scale meowdels including all but the fur, welcome to our top five cat-themed cars.

5. Ford Puma 

Ford’s best-selling Puma kicks this list off gently, with its obvious but inoffensive link to growling big cats. Unfortunately, though, any similarities to the carnivorous mammal extend to the name alone. Given the blue oval’s  recent decision to tame the spicier ST Puma with a 30 bhp power reduction, is Ford’s branding department writing checks the engineering team can’t cash?

4. Seat Leon

Confused? Well, while British readers might not clock the Leon’s cat-themed name, SEAT’s family hatch means lion in its native Spanish. And much like the Puma, we’re struggling to see how that apex predator has influenced this C-segment runabout. Thankfully, if you’re after something with a little more growl, the 296 bhp, 155-mph CUPRA Leon is a more worthy beneficiary of the lion title.

3. Jaguar E-Type

Given the entire brand is predicated on feline-inspired sportscars, we had plenty of Jaguar models to choose from. However, with its sleek, cat-like stance, the E-Type epitomises the Jaguar name in a way many modern Jags can’t.  

At 62 years old (or 260 in cat years) this moggy might be getting on a bit, but it’ll still crack 150 mph and hit 60 in under seven seconds. But, putting either of those claims to the test on the original cross-ply tyres might have hair-raising consequences.  We recommend fitting a more modern radial equivalent from the likes of Michelin, Continental, or Hankook, for a more assured driving experience.

2. Mercury Cougar

Granted, the styling of Mercury’s slab-sided Cougar might not evoke much cat imagery, but its 7.0-litre, 335-bhp Cobra Jet V8 gave it a positively feral attitude.  

Like most 1960’s muscle cars, the Cougar doesn’t boast the most athletic chassis (comfort was the name of the game back then), so it’s really more of a lazy lion than an agile cougar. Nonetheless, you can’t deny the Mercury’s connections to the species.

1. Toyota Cat Bus

Yes, really. Toyota’s Cat Bus does exist and there’s something bizarrely unsettling about its feline form — especially from the rear. On a more positive note, the Studio Ghibli-inspired creation really does function as a car, with underpinnings borrowed from Toyota’s Accessible People Mover EV.  

We can’t help but wonder what sort of reactions the Cat Bus would elicit on the school run or commute to work, but we’ll probably never get the chance to find out: the anime-flavoured oddity isn’t billed for mass production. Oh, and the eyes double up as headlights… that’s enough weirdness for today.  

Has our list whet your appetite for a moggy-themed motor? Let us know which is your favourite.

Hero image credit: Jaguar