Meowth

A Maneki-neko-inspired cat who learned human speech to impress a mate, only to find family with Team Rocket.

Meowth, known in Japanese as Nyarth, is a Normal-type Pokémon first introduced in Pokémon Red and Blue. Based on the Maneki-neko lucky cat, it features white fur and a gold koban coin on its forehead. This Meowth is capable of human speech, a rarity among Pokémon, having taken the time to learn it. It serves as a recurring antagonist alongside Jessie and James in Team Rocket. The franchise has since expanded Meowth's presence with regional variants: the Dark-type Alolan Meowth from Pokémon Sun and Moon and the Steel-type Galarian Meowth from Pokémon Sword and Shield, which evolves into Perrserker.

Quick Facts

Series: Pokémon
First game: Pokémon Red and Blue (1996)

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.

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?

A pre-evolution form with a five-yen coin was planned for Pokémon Gold and Silver but cut before release.
Meowth was one of eleven Pokémon selected as Japan's mascot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.