National Garfield Day

June 19th is National Garfield Day! This grumpy orange feline has won over the hearts of millions with his sarcastic, unimpressed ‘purrsonality.’ Below, a Cornelius, NC vet discusses this lasagna-loving furball below.

History

If you were wondering why June 19 th is National Garfield Day, the answer is simple. It’s his birthday! Back in 1978, a little orange ball of cynicism was born in the kitchen of Mamma Leoni’s Italian Restaurant, where he instantly developed a lifelong lasagna craving. In fact, the kitten ate so much of it that the owner of the restaurant, faced with going out of business, had to sell the food-loving feline to a nearby pet store. Fortunately, cartoonist (and lifelong nerd) Jon Arbuckle saved the day by adopting Garfield. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Friends and Enemies

Although Garfield has always been the star of the show, he’s had his fair share of co-stars over the years. This list includes Arlene, his crush; Odie, Jon’s slobbery, eternally gullible dog; a mouse named Floyd; Nermal, the World’s Cutest Kitten; Pooky, his beloved teddy bear; and, of course, his vet, Liz, with whom Jon is hopelessly in love. Of course, this fluffy (okay, he’s really just fat) furball also has a few enemies. Given the option, Garfield would probably list Nermal and Odie as his main nemeses. However, he’s also found himself at odds with trees, raisins, the occasional spider, screen doors, several dogs, and, of course, every Monday ever.

Rising Star

By the early 80s, Garfield had become a worldwide sensation. He soon made the leap from comic strips to TV, starring in such classics as The Garfield Show, Garfield Originals, and Garfield’s Halloween, to name just a few. His first book, Garfield at Large, was released in 1980, and made its way to the silver screen in 2004 with Garfield: The Movie.

The flabby tabby has been voiced by the esteemed actor Bill Murray, and was once the subject of the biggest Macy’s parade float ever. In the 1990s, Garfield got his own amusement park ride at Kennywood in West Miffin, PA. In 2011, he even launched his very own musical! Currently, the lovably lazy kitty holds the Guinness World Record for being the world’s most syndicated comic strip. Not bad for a cat that spends most of his time sleeping!

Is your cat obese, lazy, and/or orange? Does your feline friend torment innocent house spiders or love cuddling teddy bears? Reach out to us, your trusted Cornelius, NC pet clinic!