Meowth has a feline appearance, resembling a small house cat. While a few have the ability to walk on two legs, most Meowth are quadrupeds. It has cream-colored fur, which turns brown at its paws and tail tip. Its oval-shaped head features four prominent whiskers, no nose, black-and-brown ears, and a glimmering gold oval coin (also known as a "charm") embedded in its forehead. Like Persian and "real-life" cats, Meowth is capable of retracting the claws on its fore- and hind-paws and bringing them out again when needed.
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.
Meowth usually live in towns and cities. They can also occasionally be found in vibrant forests or near beaches. It is normally native to Kanto and Johto, with some rare appearances in Sinnoh.
Meowth is one of the two main Pokémon in the series (the other being 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!.
Meowth was cloned in Mewtwo Strikes Back, but his clone couldn't talk or walk on two legs, just like an ordinary Meowth, likely due to the fact that its progenitor needed to learn how to do this. The Meowth clone is encountered again in Mewtwo Returns.
Meowzie is the main reason behind Meowth's ability to talk and walk on two legs. He fell in love with her when he was still a stray Pokémon on the streets of Hollywood.
In Days of Gloom and Glory, an unnamed Meowth based on Meowzie appears. Like in the anime, Meowzie finds Meowth's ability to speak human language "creepy". In the manga, she has at least one kitten, which she captures into a stolen Poké Ball to protect it from an impending flood.
Multiple Meowth can be found during the Beach level. These Meowth are prone to accident and injury, as Pidgey is easily provoked to use Gust on them. Snap can also knock Meowth off a rock, making it fall to the ground.
Meowth returns as a Poké Ball Pokémon, attacking opponents with Pay Day.
Melee trophy information
This... is Meowth's dream. Meowth strides all over the globe, scattering invitations to other Pokémon insisting they come to "Meowth's Party." At this wonderful party, guests are packed in like sardines as Meowth climbs up the stage with its faithful guitar. It strikes a chord, pauses, and then rocks their world!
Brawl Trophy Information
"A Scratch Cat Pokémon. It's one of the most famous Pokémon and very fond of things that glitter--the gold medallion on its head could be seen as an indicator of this infatuation. There are many Pokémon that resemble cats, but Meowth is the only one that can use Pay Day to receive coins at the end of battle. It evolves into Persian."
Game data
NPC appearances
Pokémon Pinball: A Meowth appears in a bonus stage that is accessible from the Blue Table. The player must hit the Meowth and get it to drop gold coins which must be collected.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
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.
Niue released a one-dollar coin featuring Meowth as part of a commemorative promotion for the Pokémon franchise, with Meowth on one side and the nation's coat of arms on the other.
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.
Meowth, along with Ekans, Koffing and their respectiveevolutionaryfamilies, are all unaivalable in Pokémon Yellow. These three Pokémon represent the core of the Team Rocket Trio's team, and thus it makes sense that—because Yellow is based on the anime, wherein the Trio are major antagonists—these three Pokémon would be uncatchable.
Junichi Masuda states that Meowth is based on Satoshi Tajiri's own pet cat. 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.
Name origin
Meowth appears to be a combination of meow (the sound a cat makes) and mouth. The -th may also be borrowed from Nyarth, as both meow and nyā are onomatopoeia of a cat's cry.
Nyarth is possibly a combination of ニャー nyā (the sound a cat makes) and the switched sounds of シャム Syamu (Siam, former name of Thailand), becoming ミャス Myasu. Siam relates to a cat breed, the Siamese, which in turn relates to Nyarth's evolution, Persian, and the Persian cat breed. Su is verbally compatible with th, as s and th are often interchanged in some speech impediments.
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.
Nugget (5%)
Quick Claw (5%)
Pink Scarf (100%)
Glitter Mail (100%)
Amulet Coin (100%)
Smoke Ball (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Meowth images on Bulbagarden Archives.
