Hello lovelies, 

Since I am a proud cat lady and cat mom to Pinky, I thought it would be fun to do a video about famous old Hollywood actresses and their cats as well as some of the most famous cats in old Hollywood. 

Cats were everywhere in silent films. The earliest cat film is from 1901 called The Sick Kitten, and it a black and white silent film filled with cute kittens. Famous stars like Mary Pickford, Clara Bow, and Charlie Chaplin often had cats in their movies. Pioneering filmmaker Mack Sennett even had his cat star, a Maltese named Pepper, who appeared in seventeen films and became so popular that she was often featured in fan magazines.

One of the most famous cats in Hollywood was Audrey Hepburn’s Cat from Breakfast at Tiffany’s named Orangey. New York City party girl Holly Golightly’s orange tabby, Cat, is a symbol of her independent nature: “We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us,” Holly says at one point in the movie. The Cat was played by a feline actor named Orangey, who was owned by legendary animal trainer Frank Inn. He made his film debut in the sweet film, Rhubarb (1951), about a cat who inherits a fortune, but his most famous role is probably in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Orangey was a real pro, and he won the animal Academy Award, the Patsy, twice who could spend long hours on the set, but he was known to be temperamental, sometimes running away and biting and scratching his human co-stars. 

Famous Old Hollywood Cat Ladies:

Grace Kelly:

In 1948 the actress was photographed with a cute kitten while working as a part-time model.

Betty Grable: 1935

The actress was often seen with her pet cat Whitney around her neck like a fur scarf.

Elizabeth Taylor: 1961

There are numerous photos of Elizabeth Taylor with her beloved Siamese cat. In 1961 she was photographed. Signing an autograph while holding her Cat.

Eartha Kitt: 1953

The singer and actress were photographed checking her makeup with her cat jinx lounging on her vanity table. 

Mia Farrow: 1965

Mia Farrow and her cute white fluffy Cat.

Brigitte Bardot: 1976

 The French actress-singer turned animal-rights activist with a cute tiger.

Kay Kendall:1958

Kay with a cute Siamese cat named Pyewacket. This name was a reference to a witches’ spirit. The name became popular for Siamese cats from the film Bell, Book, and Candle. 

Dolly Parton:

A photoshoot from the 190s called “Dolly Parton and Friend.”

Lana Wood: 1966

Former Bond girl walking a leopard of a chain leash in the American suburbs. 

Ewa Aulin: 1968

Ewa and a cute tiny cat named Hurricane.

Zsa Zsa Gabor: 1969

The socialite was posing with her darling Cat in 1969.

Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac: 1960

A portrait series from the 1960s with Catherine and her sister in matching striped outfits.

Vivien Leigh: 1960

Vivien was a huge cat lover and seen many times with her Cat in her shoulder and a studded collar.

Ann-Margret: 1964

Ann- Margret with her Siamese kitten to promote her upcoming film 

 Kitten With a Whip.

Josephine Griffin:

The English actress is posing for a photo with her Cat. 

Mary Philbin: 1935

The silent film star is posing with her Cat.

Joan Collins: 1957

Joan Collins is lounging on a boat with her kitten. 

Jean Parker: 1935

The actress is posing for a studio portrait. 

Anita Ekberg: 1966

Swedish model posing with her Cat.

Vera-Ellen: 1944

Actress laying alongside the beach with her black Cat.

Gladys George: 1934

The Maltese Falcon actress hugs her tortoiseshell cat, whom she named Monkie.

Lauren Bacall: 1940s

Lauren is posing with her two black cats. 

Kim Novak: 1959

Kim is hugging her Siamese cat. 

June Lockhart: 1963

June is blow drying her cat, George. 

Jean Simmons: 1954

Hanging with her siamese on set.

Tippi Hendren: 1970s 

Tippi lives on an animal sanctuary she established in Acton, California. 

In 1971, LIFE photographer Michael Rougier spent time with Hedren; her teenage daughter, Melanie Griffith (from Hedren’s first marriage to Peter Griffith), her then-husband agent and movie producer, Noel Marshall; and others at their home in California. In attendance, Neil, a 400-pound mature lion, who occasionally slept in the same bed as Griffith and, as these pictures attest, had the run of the house, from the kitchen to the living room to the swimming pool.