Common Sense Media Review
A chaotic show about obnoxious cats.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say that this show offers a blend of humor and surreal visuals that makes it memorable, although opinions vary widely. While some appreciate its unique charm and lessons about self-acceptance and family, others criticize its violent elements and poor role models, suggesting the content may not be suitable for all young viewers.
- mix of humor
- surreal visuals
- poor role models
- violence concerns
- nostalgia factor
- unique charm
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In CATSCRATCH, a rich old lady leaves her entire estate to her three cats, Mr. Blik (he's bossy), Gordon (he's seems tough but is really a softy and has a crush on the human girl next door), and Waffle (he's goofy and confused). With the assistance of her butler, who has stayed on, they create various kinds of mayhem. The stories are silly in the extreme, but still manage to be amusing -- Mr. Blik turns green (he falls into a bathtub that Gordon is using to make pickled cabbage) and when no one takes him seriously anymore, he heads out for a life with the hobos on the rails. Of course everything turns out well in the end, and sometimes the cats even behave nobly -- Gordon, for instance, gives his wish (granted by a giant squid he's defeated in battle) to Mr. Blik, who needs it more than he does.
Is It Any Good?
Catscratch is a generic cartoon show that involves oddly drawn characters who don't really look like anything, very loud voices, very bright colors, and many instances of people and creatures and things being bashed, broken, and bonked. The show is a by-the-book program, but that doesn't mean it's not sometimes funny or even touching. Many kids will get a kick out of it, although you may not be as tolerant. There's nothing terribly wrong with it, but nothing terribly right, either.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Gordon is so upset that his tail is so short, and why he decides in the end to keep it that way. Also, why does getting turned green make Mr. Blik less of an authority figure in the house? But mostly this is just a silly show that will make kids laugh if they're quite young.
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 9, 2005
- Cast : Maurice LaMarche , Rob Paulsen , Wayne Knight
- Network : Nickelodeon
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate