Figaro, Pinocchio's cat: who he is and where he comes from
Pinocchio’s cat is called Figaro: he is Geppetto’s black-and-white kitten in Disney’s animated film, which premiered in 1940. He does not appear in Carlo Collodi’s original novel, where the most prominent cat is a swindler who teams up with the Fox. If you now fancy a “Figaro” of your own, the end of this guide covers what to know before adopting.
What is the name of Pinocchio’s cat?
His name is Figaro and he lives in the woodcarver Geppetto’s workshop with Pinocchio and Cleo, a little goldfish. He is a small kitten with a black coat and a white chest, muzzle and paws, who never speaks during the film and communicates through gestures, hisses and looks. That is exactly why he is so memorable: he behaves like a real cat watching everything that happens at home.
When people search for “Figaro Pinocchio”, they almost always mean him. But there is a detail that confuses many people and is worth clearing up.
What about the cat who tricks Pinocchio?
In the Disney film, Pinocchio meets a sly fox, Honest John, who travels with his sidekick Gideon, a cat. Together they hand him over to the puppeteer Stromboli. That character is also “a cat from Pinocchio”, but he has nothing to do with Figaro: one is the family pet and the other a minor villain.
Figaro in Disney’s 1940 film
According to Disney’s official Disney A to Z encyclopedia, published by D23, Pinocchio premiered in New York on 7 February 1940 and adapts a serialised story that Collodi, the pen name of Carlo Lorenzini, wrote for a children’s magazine in 1881. The film changed the original story a great deal for the screen: for example, the cricket who was a minor character in the book became Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio’s conscience.
Something similar happened with Figaro, except he was created from scratch. The encyclopedia describes him as a kitten co-star of the film who later had his own series of shorts, with seven further appearances. In one of them, Figaro and Cleo, he tries again and again to catch Cleo the goldfish until they end up as friends.
If you are interested in the character, the most reliable approach is to watch the film and those shorts through Disney’s official channels; many Figaro “fun facts” circulating online have no clear source.
Does Figaro appear in Collodi’s book?
No. In The Adventures of Pinocchio, Collodi’s novel, there is no kitten called Figaro. You can check this yourself in the English translation available free from Project Gutenberg: the only cat who matters to the plot is the Cat, who, together with the Fox, tricks Pinocchio to get hold of his coins.
In other words:
- Figaro is a Disney creation for the 1940 film.
- The Cat (alongside the Fox) is the feline character in the original book.
- Gideon is Disney’s version of that trickster cat, paired with the fox Honest John.
So, if someone asks you “what is Pinocchio’s cat called?”, the answer depends on whether they mean the film (Figaro) or the book (the Cat, with no proper name).
What breed is Figaro? The “tuxedo” pattern
Figaro does not represent any specific breed. His black coat with white areas on the chest, face and paws is what people commonly call a “tuxedo” cat, a type of bicolour cat. It is a colour pattern, not a breed: you can find it in mixed-breed cats and in cats of many breeds.
Cats Protection explains that the colours and patterns of domestic cats’ coats come from genetic changes that arose naturally, and that a single litter can include kittens of different colours. That is why a shelter “Figaro” may well have tabby, black or ginger siblings.
Choosing by colour is tempting, especially when it reminds you of a character you love. But day to day, their personality, age, health and how they fit into your home will matter far more.
What to know before adopting a cat like Figaro
If the film has made you want to share your life with a cat, think about these points before deciding:
- It is a commitment for many years. A cat needs daily care throughout their life, including during house moves, holidays or job changes.
- There are regular costs and unexpected ones: food, litter, veterinary check-ups, vaccinations, parasite control and possible illnesses.
- Kitten or adult. A kitten needs more supervision, play and patience; an adult usually has a settled personality, which helps you judge whether they will suit your routine.
- Living together. If there are children, dogs or other cats at home, tell the shelter so they can guide you towards the right match.
- Health and paperwork. Ask whether the cat is vaccinated, dewormed, neutered and microchipped, and what veterinary follow-up they need.
Prepare your home before they arrive
Before day one, have a litter box, food bowl, water bowl, scratching post and a quiet hiding place ready. Check windows, balconies, cables and plants. Our guide to preparing your home to adopt a cat takes you through it room by room.
And if you keep fish, as in Figaro’s shorts, protect the tank with a secure lid: a cat’s curiosity is not just a cartoon thing.
If you are looking for your own bicolour companion, or one of any other colour, you can browse cats for adoption at Miwuki Pet Shelter (in Spanish) and talk to the people who care for them to learn about their personality before you decide.
Conclusion
Pinocchio’s cat is Figaro, Geppetto’s kitten, whom Disney created for the 1940 film and who later starred in his own shorts. He does not exist in Collodi’s book: there, the story’s feline is the Cat, the Fox’s accomplice. His “tuxedo” coat is a colour pattern rather than a breed, so you can find very similar cats waiting for a family in any shelter.
