Meowth

Lore & Background

The original Meowth's design is rooted in the Japanese proverb about a cat unknowingly carrying money on its head. Its creator, Satoshi Tajiri, noted that no similar concept existed in the United States, leading to the name change from Nyarth. In the anime, this specific Meowth recounts learning human speech and walking upright after falling in love with a female Meowth who rejected him for being 'unnatural.' This rejection drove him to join Team Rocket, where he serves as the trio's translator and strategist. The character has been voiced by multiple actors: Inuko Inuyama in Japan; Matthew Sussman (who imagined a mix of an old-movie gangster and Jerry Lewis); Maddie Blaustein; and James Carter Cathcart, who held the role from 2006 until his retirement in 2023. The character uses the first-person pronoun 'nyā' in the Japanese version.

In Their Own Story

Introduced in the second episode of the Pokémon TV series, Meowth joined Jessie and James to form the core of Team Rocket's operations. Their primary goal is capturing Ash Ketchum's Pikachu, a mission they pursue with a Meowth-themed balloon and various disguises. While their plans typically end in failure, the trio remains united; near the end of Ash's journey, they reunite with all Pokémon caught over the years for one last attempt to capture Pikachu. Although they considered breaking up after failing again, they chose to stick together. In the games, Meowth appears as a regular Normal-type in Red and Blue but is only obtainable via trading in Yellow. In Sun and Moon, only the Alolan form is accessible without trading, while Sword and Shield introduced both Galarian Meowth (found wild) and Gigantamax Meowth, a transformation that makes it incredibly long.

Reader's Guide

Trainers can encounter Meowth in various forms across the franchise. In Pokémon Red and Blue, it appears only through trading. In Yellow, it is an enemy with Jessie and James but cannot be caught in the wild. For Sun and Moon players, the Alolan variant (Dark-type) is the standard form found in the region, while the original Normal type requires a trade. Sword and Shield introduced Galarian Meowth (Steel-type), which evolves into Perrserker rather than Persian, alongside the Gigantamax form that alters its shape drastically. The character has appeared in spin-offs like Pokémon Snap, Mystery Dungeon (where players can play as or partner with one), Pinball, and Channel. In Super Smash Bros., Meowth acts as a Poké Ball summoner scattering coins, appearing from the Nintendo 64 title through Ultimate.

Did You Know?

• Meowth's Japanese name, Nyarth, comes from a proverb about a cat unknowingly having money on its head.
• Matthew Sussman based his voice performance on a combination of an old-movie gangster and Jerry Lewis.
• A pre-evolution form with a five-yen coin was planned for Pokémon Gold and Silver but cut before release.
• In the anime, Meowth learned to speak human language specifically to impress a female Meowth who rejected him.
• Meowth was one of eleven Pokémon selected as Japan's mascot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.