Counterfeit Cat

Premise

The series centers on Max, a lazy, pampered yellow Manx cat, and his best friend Gark, a blue alien disguised as a purple-knitted cat who crashed his spaceship in the laundry room of Betty, Max's kind but klutzy owner. Betty believes Max is a tiger, the bravest species on Earth, despite his cowardice. Gark's unstable powers often drag the pair into surreal and dangerous situations, which Max exploits without considering the consequences.

Characters

Max (voiced by Marc Wootton) is a 12-year-old yellow pet Manx cat living a cushy life with Betty. He dislikes the dangerous adventures Gark pulls him into but occasionally shows he cares for his friend. His full name is Maximillian Fluffybottom III. Gark (voiced by Alex Kelly) is a 9-year-old blue tentacled alien disguised as a purple knitted cat.

His dangerous powers and curiosity cause misadventures because he genuinely thinks Max is a tiger. Betty (voiced by Kayvan Novak) is a kindhearted but klutzy old lady who owns both Max and Gark. She had Jackson and Max before Gark arrived, and has a daughter named Jeanette and several deceased husbands. Throckmorton (voiced by Kayvan Novak) is the artificial intelligence of Gark's ship, overprotective of Gark and clashing with Max.

Staring Dog is a Maltese dog with big eyes and greyish brown shaggy fur who rarely speaks but unnerves Max. Ranceford (voiced by Katherine Ryan) is an odd-eyed Persian cat who leads The Sunshine Circle of Cats and denies Max membership; she prefers Gark. The Kid (voiced by Kyle Soller) is a brown teenage flying squirrel troublemaker with a sidekick named Nelson. The Squirrels (both voiced by Kyle Soller) are a trio of flying squirrels living near Betty's apartment.

Nelson (voiced by Katherine Ryan) is a green pigeon and The Kid's sidekick. Cutter (voiced by Kayvan Novak) is a cyan British Shorthair with yellow eyes and purple hair. Anton (voiced by Kayvan Novak) is an olive green pug who initially bullies Max but later is not a threat.

Production

Aardman Animations began development for the show on 3 December 2010, marking the studio's first series to use traditional animation. Wildseed Studios co-produced the development, while Atomic Cartoons handled animation production and Tricon Films & Television committed to distribution until Sonar Entertainment took over. Designs were provided by Antoine Birot and Raphael Chabassol based on original designs by Nick Edwards. Ben Marsaud directed the series, and Sarah Mattingley produced it.

The first season comprised 52 ten-minute episodes and 11 two-minute shorts. Marsaud previously worked as a storyboard artist on The Amazing World of Gumball and is the current director of Netflix's F is for Family. Executive producer Miles Bullough also executive produced Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time, Chop Socky Chooks, and the Wallace & Gromit short A Matter of Loaf and Death. Animation services used Adobe Animate.

Broadcast

In the United Kingdom, Counterfeit Cat debuted on Disney XD on 12 May 2016, later aired on Pop from 2 October 2018, and is slated for CBBC and BBC iPlayer on 19 January 2026. Canada saw its premiere on Teletoon on 1 November 2016. In the United States, a sneak preview aired on Disney XD on 31 May 2016, with an official premiere on 20 June 2016. Latin America began airing on Disney Channel on 19 June 2017, and Germany on Disney XD on 17 October 2016. Sonar Entertainment acquired global distribution rights as of May 2017.