June 19th is Garfield Day! The fluffy, lasagna-loving feline has been making us laugh and melting our hearts since his very first appearance, which took place on June 19, 1978. Here, a local Hendersonville, NC vet goes over some highlights of the Flabby Tabby’s career.
Born To Eat Lasagna
Garfield’s love of lasagna was evident from Day One. The orange furball was born in the back room of Mama Leone’s Italian Kitchen, and quickly discovered his love for the irresistible layered pasta dish. He ate so much lasagna that the restaurant almost went under!
Moving On
Speaking of Mama Leone, Garfield fans have been speculating for years about whether this could possibly be the same Mama Leone mentioned in the Billy Joel classic, Movin’ Out. There’s never been any official acknowledgement of this. However, it is worth pointing out that Movin Out was released in 1977 … nearly a year before Garfield’s birth. But wait … turns out there is an actual Mama Leone’s Italian restaurant. We’ll leave that kitty mystery to the pundits.
What’s In A Name?
We always love seeing how people choose names for their pets. Ever wonder how the Monday-hating feline got his moniker? Cartoonist Jim Davis named the kitty after his grandfather, James A. Garfield.
A Different Breed
One thing Davis has never clarified is what breed Garfield is. Fans have pondered that the furball could be a Persian, British Shorthair, Maine Coon, or a mix of several breeds. Garfield’s mother hasn’t shed any light on the matter, either. However, we do know that Mama has quite a large family. That tree includes her brothers Arno, Barney, Berle, Bernie, Bob, Ed, Harry, Hubert, Leo, Morty, Nick, Patrick, and Roy; and sisters, Edna, Evelyn, Rockelvia, and Reba. Notice that there are way more boys than girls? This is actually true to life: ginger cats are much more likely to be male than female.
Supporting Cast
Like many other beloved characters, animated or otherwise, Garfield has both allies and enemies. Aside from Jon, the kitty can count on Odie, his slobbery canine roommate; Pooky, his beloved teddy bear; his buddy, Squeak; and, on occasion, the adorable kitten, Nermal. As far as antagonists go, well, those include various spiders, plants, and fish; every Monday ever; and Binky the Clown. The strip is still running, so we can only hope there are many more adventures to come!
Do you have an orange cat that’s terrified of spiders? Contact us, your Hendersonville, NC animal clinic, today!
