Meowth is a small, felinePokémon with cream-colored fur that turns brown at the tips of its hind paws and tail. Its ovoid head features four prominent whiskers, wide eyes with slit pupils, two pointed teeth in the upper jaw, and a gold koban coin embedded in its forehead. Its ears are black with brown interiors and are flanked with an additional pair of long whiskers. Meowth is a quadruped with the ability to walk on its hind legs; while the games almost always depict Meowth on two legs, the anime states that Meowth normally walks on all fours. It can freely manipulate its claws, retracting them when it wants to move silently. The tip of its tail curls tightly.
Meowth is attracted to round and shiny objects and has the unique ability to produce coins using its signature move, Pay Day. Meowth and its evolved forms are the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Pay Day by leveling up. Being nocturnal, it is known to wander about city streets at night and pick up anything that sparkles, including loose change. Upon finding a sparkling object, its eyes will glitter and the coin on its forehead will shine brightly. It shares this intrigue with Murkrow, with whom it often fights with for objects and prey. Meowth is a playful but fickle Pokémon with the capacity for human-like intelligence, with at least one member of the species teaching itself how to speak. Meowth tends to live in urban areas.
In Alola, Meowth has a slightly different look. Alolan Meowth's fur is a light blue-gray color. Instead of brown markings, the tip of its tail, whiskers, digits, and the insides of its ears a whitish-gray. Alolan Meowth's whiskers have a slight curve compared to regular Meowth's straighter whiskers, and it has silvery eyes.
Meowth was introduced to Alola as a gift to royalty.[1] The luxurious royal lifestyle soon led to Meowth diverging from its origins and becoming the selfish, prideful, and cunning Alolan Meowth. Alolan Meowth will turn hysterical if its coin or pride are besmirched. When the monarchy fell, the rare Alolan Meowth went feral and eventually grew as common in Alola as anywhere else.
Galarian Meowth
Galarian Meowth has a shaggy, greyish-brown coat resembling a beard, as well as yellow eyes and a toothy grin. Its coin is now black and extremely hard, with the darkest and hardest coins being especially valued and respected among the species.
Galarian Meowth's body has partially turned to iron as a result of many years of living with a race of savage seafarers. As a result of many battles, Galarian Meowth develops the ability to evolve into Perrserker, instead of Persian. Kantonian Meowth and Galarian Meowth don't get along.
Gigantamax Meowth
Some Kantonian Meowth are capable of Gigantamaxing. As Gigantamax Meowth, it has become larger and longer in size. The body extends from the lower half to the shoulder, while the gold coin gains a symbol. Meowth's eyes change to a glowing gold color. The tail grows long as well, with the end of its tip extending. The tail gets even larger and bumpy when it uses an attack. Three red clouds surround it below the shoulders.
The giant coin on Gigantamax Meowth's head emits a lot of Gigantamax power that surrounds the area with a golden gleam. Its desire for shiny objects increases to the point where it will cause damage to skyscraper windows and exterior walls for the sake of sharpening its claws.[2] The symbol on Gigantamax Meowth's gold coin is believed to be the key to unlocking the secrets of Dynamax.
Meowzie is the main reason behind Meowth's ability to talk and walk on two legs. He fell in love with her when he was still a stray Pokémon on the streets of Hollywood.
An Alolan Meowth appeared in Acting True to Form!. After working with Team Rocket, it later arrived at the Team Rocket HQ after stealing the trio's money to buy an airline ticket to Kanto. At the Team Rocket HQ, it became an assistant to Matori.
Other
Galarian Meowth in the anime
In The Purr-fect Hero, a Meowth saved Timmy from a Beedrill in the past. For most of the episode, Timmy believed Meowth was the same Meowth that had saved him. However, this was proven wrong when the real Meowth appeared to save Timmy again.
In Mewtwo Strikes Back, a Meowth was cloned from Team Rocket's Meowth. It was the only cloned Pokémon who didn't join its brethren in battling their progenitors. Unlike Team Rocket's Meowth, this Meowth is incapable of speaking human language, as that trait was learned behavior. Meowth reappeared in Mewtwo Returns.
Go West Young Meowth featured a gang of Meowth living on the streets of Hollywood. Team Rocket's Meowth was revealed to be a former member, while his love interest Meowzie currently is one.
Meowth, the Scratch Cat Pokémon. Meowth loves to roam at night to gather coins and other objects that sparkle, but it spends most of the daylight hours sleeping.
Meowth, Alola Form. The Scratch Cat Pokémon. A Dark type. Meowth are not native to the Alolaregion, but people brought them here. Eventually, their appearance changed to what we now see. They are prideful and cunning.
In Days of Gloom and Glory, an unnamed Meowth based on Meowzie appears. Like the anime, Meowzie finds Meowth's ability to speak the human language "creepy". In the manga, however, she has at least one kitten, which she captures in a stolen Poké Ball in order to protect it from an impending flood.
A Meowth appeared as one of Sham's Pokémon, which attacked Green and Silver while they were escaping from Masked Man's compound, as seen in a flashback from The Escape. Sham's Meowth later presumably evolved into one of her three Persian.
Masatoshi has a Meowth, which debuted in GDZ18. It is talented at playing the shamisen, a Japanese stringed instrument that was once made using cat hide.
Multiple Meowth can be found during the Beach level. These Meowth are prone to accident and injury, as Pidgey is easily provoked to use Gust on them. Snap can also knock Meowth off a rock, making it fall to the ground.
Meowth appears as a random trophy. Meowth's trophy in this game is based on the anime ending theme Meowth's Party.
Meowth using Pay Day in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Trophy information
"This... is Meowth's dream. Meowth strides all over the globe, scattering invitations to other Pokémon insisting they come to "Meowth's Party." At this wonderful party, guests are packed in like sardines as Meowth climbs up the stage with its faithful guitar. It strikes a chord, pauses, and then rocks their world!''
Meowth returns as a Poké Ball summon, attacking opponents with Pay Day. However, it instead faces one direction rather than attacking from all sides.
Trophy Information
"A Scratch Cat Pokémon. It's one of the most famous Pokémon and very fond of things that glitter--the gold medallion on its head could be seen as an indicator of this infatuation. There are many Pokémon that resemble cats, but Meowth is the only one that can use Pay Day to receive coins at the end of battle. It evolves into Persian."
Meowth returns as a Poké Ball summon, with its abilities unchanged from Brawl.
Meowth trophy in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
Meowth also appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.
Trophy information
NA: "Meowth is a Normal-type, Scratch Cat Pokémon who absolutely loves anything shiny. It's a creature of the night, and it's not unusual to discover a Meowth and a Murkrow fighting over their finds. Meowth's attack Pay Day can deal a ton of damage if an opponent gets caught in it. How purrfect!"
PAL: "Meowth, a Normal-type Pokémon, loves round, shiny things. It runs around at night, hunting for little treasures and trinkets, but often ends up getting into fights with Murkrow about who'll get to keep them. Watch out for Meowth's Pay Day attack. If it catches you from behind, it can be purralysingly pawerful!"
Meowth returns as a Poké Ball summon, retaining the same behavior as before. It also appears as a Spirit.
Game data
NPC appearances
Pokémon Pinball: A Meowth appears in a bonus stage that is accessible from the Blue Table. The player must hit the Meowth and get it to drop gold coins which must be collected.
Meowth withdraws its sharp claws into its paws to slinkily sneak about without making any incriminating footsteps. For some reason, this Pokémon loves shiny coins that glitter with light.
Meowth withdraws its sharp claws into its paws to slinkily sneak about without making any incriminating footsteps. For some reason, this Pokémon loves shiny coins that glitter with light.
At some point, Meowth made itself at home near camp and started dropping by to nap or play around. I wouldn't mind so much if it'd just keep its paws off the NEO-ONE...
Niue released a one-dollar coin featuring Meowth as part of a commemorative promotion for the Pokémon franchise, with Meowth on one side and the nation's coat of arms on the other.
In Go West, Young Meowth, it was stated that Meowth of Team Rocket had to learn and practice standing on his hind legs like a human, implying that Meowth as a species is not naturally able to stand on their hind legs. However, almost all sprites in the games and the Pokédex in the anime depict it standing on its hind legs, suggesting Meowth has the natural ability to walk on two legs. Tyson's Meowth is also able to walk on two legs, seemingly naturally.
The only time Meowth is depicted on all fours in the games is in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver; when the player places Meowth as the first Pokémon in their party, Meowth will walk on four legs behind the player.
Meowth is the only Pokémon to have regional forms for multiple regions.
Meowth is the only Pokémon to have both a regional form and Gigantamax form.
Meowth may be considered a counterpart of Mankey. Both of them are Generation I Pokémon who evolve into their evolved forms at or above level 28. Meowth is exclusive to Pokémon Blue, Silver, SoulSilver, and Let's Go Eevee!; while Mankey is exclusive to Red, Gold, HeartGold, and Let's Go, Pikachu!. Also, in Black 2 and White 2, Yancy will trade the player a Meowth if the player is male, and Curtis will trade Mankey if the player is female. Additionally, both seem to have a similar color scheme.
Meowth appears in Pokémon Battle Chess. It doesn't behave like any traditional piece in chess.
Meowth seems to be based upon the Japanese legend of the 招き猫 Maneki-neko, also known as the lucky cat or beckoning cat. According to one legend, a cat raised its paw to welcome a lord and saved his life when a lightning bolt hit the spot where he had been standing. Maneki-neko are often used as charms in restaurants and shops to bring customers fortune and good luck. Statues of the cat are usually depicted holding a koban, an ancient coin used in Japan, like the one on Meowth's head. Meowth's color and pattern suggest that it also draws inspiration from Siamese cats. Its Japanese Pokémon category also suggests it is based on a Bakeneko.
Unlike the normal Meowth, Alolan Meowth appears to be based more on domestic cats that underwent selective breeding, specifically those owned by royalty. In particular, its appearance resembles the "British Blue" color variant of the British Shorthair, an imported breed known well for its large and rounded head and pronounced 'smile', which the breed developed through artificial selection as part of the process of developing its pedigree.
Based on its appearance and SwordPokédex entry, Galarian Meowth may be based on Norwegian Forest cats, large fluffy cats with beard-like ruffs, or European Wildcats, with traits of the Vikings that kept the breed's presumed ancestors on their ships.
Gigantamax Meowth's elongated body may be based on a sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus about a giant cat with outstretched arms and the longcat meme.
Name origin
Meowth may be a combination of meow (the sound a cat makes), mouth, and wealth, alluding to the Maneki-neko's capacity to bring good fortune. The -th may also be borrowed from Nyarth, as both meow and nyā are onomatopoeia of a cat's cry.
Nyarth may be a play on ニャー nyā (the sound a cat makes in Japanese).
Berry (100%)
Nugget (5%)
Quick Claw (5%)
Pink Scarf (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Meowth images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
