Meowth (Pokémon)

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Pokémon

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Meowth ニャース Nyarth #052
Artwork from FR/LG
Type Normal ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Scratch Cat Pokémon
Abilities Pickup or Technician Technician Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #052 Johto #138 Hoenn #241 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 1'04" Imperial 0.4 m Metric 1'04"/0.4 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 9.3 lbs. Imperial 4.2 kg Metric 9.3 lbs./4.2 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Yellow	Catch rate 255 (33.3%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 50% male, 50% female
Breeding Ground group 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 1 Base Exp.: 69 Battle Exp.: 691*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Meowth (Japanese: ニャース Nyarth) is a Template:Type2 Pokémon.

It evolves into Persian starting at level 28.

Biology

Physiology

Meowth has a distinctly feline appearance, resembling a small house cat. It has cream-colored fur, which turns brown at its paws and tail tip. Its oval-shaped head features prominent whiskers, no nose, black-and-brown ears, and a gold oval coin (also known as "charm") embedded in its forehead.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Meowth are valued for their ability to collect coins using Pay Day, as it is the only Pokémon that learns it.

Behavior

Meowth are very fond of anything round and shiny. As such, they have been known to wander about city streets and pick up anything that is round and shiny—coins in particular. Although they are apparently not nocturnal, they spend most of the daytime napping. Meowth are considered rivals of Murkrow, because Murkrow are also known for stealing round and shiny objects and these two Pokémon have been known to steal from each other's hordes.

Wild Meowth tend to live in groups in urban areas.

Habitat

File:Urban.gif

Urban Pokémon

Meowth usually live in towns and cities. They can also occasionally be found in vibrant forests or near beaches.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime

File:Meowth tr.jpg

Team Rocket's Meowth

Major appearances

Team Rocket's Meowth

Meowth is one of two main Pokémon in the series (the other obviously being Ash's Pikachu). Meowth is a member of Team Rocket, and he is unlike ordinary Meowth in that he can speak human language and walk on two legs instead of four. His first appearance was in Pokémon Emergency!.

His background story, including another female Meowth named Meowzie, was told in Go West Young Meowth.

Meowth was cloned in Mewtwo Strikes Back, but his clone couldn't talk or walk on two legs, likely due to the fact that Meowth needed to learn how to do this. The Meowth clone is encountered again in Mewtwo Returns.

Tyson's Meowth

Tyson's Meowth debuted in Like a Meowth to a Flame. This Meowth was dressed up like Puss in Boots.

Other

Over 100 years ago, The Black Arachnid had a Meowth.

Minor appearances

Ash used a Meowth during the Pokémon League entrance exam in The Ultimate Test. The Meowth was defeated by the instructor's Vaporeon.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry AG109 Meowth Ash's Pokédex Meowth, the Scratch Cat Pokémon. Meowth loves to roam at night to gather coins and other objects that sparkle, but it spend most of the daylight hours sleeping.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry DP002 Meowth Dawn's Pokédex Meowth, the Scratch Cat Pokémon. It sleeps a lot during the day time and during the night-time it becomes active, moving around its territory.

In the manga

Pokémon Special

Meowth's first appearance is a cameo in Bulbasaur, Come Home! as one of the Pokémon that escapes from Professor Oak's Laboratory.

In the TCG

Main article: Meowth (TCG)

In the TFG

One Meowth figure has been released.

• Next Quest: Meowth

Other appearances

Pokémon Snap

Multiple Meowth can be found during the Beach Level. These Meowth are prone to accident and injury, as Pidgey is easily evoked to use Gust on them. Snap can also knock Meowth off a rock, making it fall to the ground.

Super Smash Bros.

Meowth appears from a Poké Ball. It attacks opponents with Pay Day.

File:MeowthGame.jpg

Meowth using Pay Day in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Meowth returns as a Poké Ball Pokémon, attacking opponents with Pay Day.

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Adores circular objects. Wanders the street on a nightly basis to look for dropped loose change. Blue Yellow Appears to be more active at night. It loves round and shiny things. It can't stop from picking them up. Stadium Sleeps in the daytime. At night, its eyes glow as it happily collects coins, its favorite things.
Generation II Gold It is fascinated by round objects. It can't stop playing with them until it tires and falls asleep. Silver It loves anything that shines. It especially adores coins that it picks up and secretly hoards. Crystal It loves things that sparkle. When it sees a shiny object, the gold coin on its head shines too. Stadium 2 It is fascinated with round objects. It can't stop playing with them until it tires and falls asleep.
Generation III Ruby Meowth withdraws its sharp claws into its paws to slinkily sneak about without making any incriminating footsteps. For some reason, this Pokémon loves shiny coins that glitter with light. Sapphire Meowth withdraws its sharp claws into its paws to slinkily sneak about without making any incriminating footsteps. For some reason, this Pokémon loves shiny coins that glitter with light. Emerald Meowth withdraw their sharp claws into their paws to silently sneak about. For some reason, this Pokémon loves shiny coins that glitter with light. FireRed All it does is sleep during the daytime. At night, it patrols its territory with its eyes aglow. LeafGreen Adores round objects. It wanders the streets on a nightly basis to look for dropped loose change.
Generation IV Diamond It is nocturnal in nature. If it spots something shiny, its eyes glitter brightly. Pearl It is nocturnal in nature. If it spots something shiny, its eyes glitter brightly. Platinum It is nocturnal in nature. If it spots something shiny, its eyes glitter brightly. HeartGold {{{heartgolddex}}} SoulSilver {{{soulsilverdex}}}
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue Common Routes 5, 6, 7, and 8 (Blue only) Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow None Trade
Generation II Gold Silver Many Routes 5, 6, 7, 8, 38, and 39 (Silver only) Crystal Many Routes 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 38, and 39 (night)
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald One Trade Skitty FireRed LeafGreen Common Routes 5, 6, 7, and 8, Bond Bridge, Canyon Entrance, Cape Brink, Five Isle Meadow, Kindle Road, Ruin Valley, Sevault Canyon, Treasure Beach, and Water Path Colosseum None Trade XD One Phenac City (Shadow)
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Rare Trophy Garden Platinum ? Trophy Garden HeartGold SoulSilver None Trade Pal Park Field Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Snap	Beach
Pokémon Channel	Upgrade binder
Pokémon Trozei!	Secret Storage 9 Secret Storage 18 Endless Level 22 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Starter Pokémon Western Cave (3F-6F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Starter Pokémon Marine Resort (B1-B19) Happy Outlook (B1-B19)
Pokémon Ranger	Fall City Dusk Factory
Pokémon Rumble	Cold Meadow

Held items

Game	Items
Gold, Silver, and Crystal	Berry (trade from Generation I)
FireRed and LeafGreen	Nugget (5%)
Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum	Quick Claw (5%)

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 40		100 - 147	190 - 284
Attack: 45		45 - 106	85 - 207
Defense: 35		36 - 95	67 - 185
Sp. Atk: 40		40 - 101	76 - 196
Sp. Def: 40		40 - 101	76 - 196
Speed: 90		85 - 156	166 - 306
Total: 290	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature. This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 40.

Learnset

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | normal | style="background:#9FA19F" |  normal 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 1 | style=" background:#FFF" | Meowth | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By tutoring

|- style="background:#C1C2C1" | colspan="13" | Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an Evolution of this Pokémon
A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game,
while a colored background indicates that the move is available. |} |}

Special moves

Shadow moves	<span style="color:#{{{2}}};">Level 22+	Purified moves
Shadow Hold	File:Box xd 052.png	Sing	Normal
Shadow Rush		Slash	Normal
--		Pay Day	Normal
--		Bite	Dark

Evolution

Unevolved Meowth  Normal

Level 28 →

First Evolution Persian  Normal

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Meowth images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• In the Pokémon anime episode Go West, Young Meowth, it was stated that Meowth of Team Rocket had to learn and practice standing on his hind legs like a human, implying that Meowth as a species are not naturally able to stand on their hind legs. However, almost all sprites in the games and the Pokédex in the anime depict it standing on its hind legs, suggesting Meowth has the natural ability to walk on two legs. Tyson's Meowth is also able to walk on two legs, seemingly naturally.
  • It is possible, however, that all Meowth must learn to walk on their hind legs.
  • Strangely, the Meowth sprites outside of the Poké Ball in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions show it walking on four legs.
• Meowth is the first Pokémon in the Pokémon anime to talk.
• In Pokémon Platinum, Meowth is the one of the few Pokémon not in the Sinnoh Dex, and not introduced in Generation IV, to have a new sprite. Muk, Oddish, Hitmonlee, Ninetales, Primeape, and Registeel are the others.

Origin

Meowth seems to be based upon the Japanese legend of the 招き猫 Maneki Neko, also known as the lucky cat or beckoning cat. According to one legend, a cat raised its paw to welcome a lord and saved his life when a lightning bolt hit the spot where he had been standing. Maneki Neko are often used as charms in restaurants and shops to bring customers or fortune and good luck. Statues of the cat are usually depicted holding a koban, an ancient coin used in Japan, like the one on Meowth's head.

Junichi Masuda states that Meowth is based on Satoshi Tajiri's own pet cat.

Name origin

Meowth's name appears to be a combination of meow, the sound a cat makes, as well as mouth, possibly referring to the anime version's gift of gab. Nyarth is similar, with nyā being the Japanese equivalent of meow.

In other languages

• German: Mauzi
• French: Miaouss - From miaou (meow).
• Korean: 나옹 Naong
• Chinese (Taiwan): 喵猫 Miao Mao - 喵 is the sound a cat makes, pronounced like "meow". 猫 means "cat".
• Chinese (Hong Kong): 喵喵怪 Miao Miao Guai - 喵 is the sound a cat makes (meow). Literally "meow meow monster".

Related articles

• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Meowzie
• Tyson's Meowth

External links

• Pay Day, the fanlisting for Meowth

Notes

First partner trios

Kanto

Bulbasaur

Charmander

Squirtle

Johto

Chikorita

Cyndaquil

Totodile

Hoenn

Treecko

Torchic

Mudkip

Sinnoh

Turtwig

Chimchar

Piplup

Unova

Snivy

Tepig

Oshawott

Kalos

Chespin

Fennekin

Froakie

Alola

Rowlet

Litten

Popplio

Galar

Grookey

Scorbunny

Sobble

Paldea

Sprigatito

Fuecoco

Quaxly

See also: List of the player's first Pokémon • Pikachu (Yellow) • Partner Pokémon (LGPE) • Hisui first partner Pokémon

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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.