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Six Christmas-season films give cats a memorable moment without being built around them: Christmas with the Kranks, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Gremlins, Scrooged, While You Were Sleeping and Black Christmas. The selection comes from a Cats.com article by Kellie B. Gormly, last updated January 3, 2026. The films mix cozy comedy, romance, fantasy and horror, and several contain scenes that may upset viewers who are sensitive to animal peril, so the notes below flag those moments.
What counts as a “supporting role” here
The list covers films where cats appear in incidental or secondary roles. It leaves out movies that star cats or revolve around a cat-centred plot. Gormly, writing for Cats.com, says she watched a dozen movies reported to contain cats before choosing these six. That is a description of how the picks were made, not a count of how many Christmas films include cats.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
DVD For Cats: While You Are Gone Relaxing Cat Video, Cat Movie for Separation Anxiety | $12.47 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Cats (1999) | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Cats (2019) [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ZDBFddVUL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Cats (2019) [DVD] | $7.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat | $6.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Cat People (1982) [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41vJxZM6H7L._SL160_.jpg)
|
Cat People (1982) [DVD] | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
At a glance
| Film | Year | Genre | Cat involvement | Sensitivity note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas with the Kranks | 2004 | Comedy | Muffles, a fluffy white Persian belonging to the Kranks’ neighbor; recurs later in the story | No content note given in the source |
| National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation | 1989 | Comedy | Aunt Bethany’s cat is caught up in the Griswolds’ tree and dinner chaos | A cat is electrocuted; the scene leaves a cat-shaped burn on the carpet |
| Gremlins | 1984 | Comedy-horror | Cats seen around Mrs. Deagle in a sequence involving the Gremlins | Threatening context for the cats; the source does not establish what happened to them afterward |
| Scrooged | 1988 | Comedy | Two silvery white Turkish Angoras sit with television executive Preston Rhinelander and place their paws on the screen | No content note given in the source |
| While You Were Sleeping | 1995 | Romantic comedy | Lucy, played by Sandra Bullock, lives with a calico named Mel; another longhaired cat appears at the apartment of the man Lucy rescues | No content note given in the source |
| Black Christmas | Not stated in the source | Horror | A cat named Claude is present in a murder scene and later appears near the victim | Horror and animal-related scenes; flag before viewing |
The six films
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
The cat’s role here is the largest of the six. Luther Krank steps on the tail of Muffles, and the incident starts a feud with neighbor Walt Scheel. Muffles returns later in the story, which makes it the only pick where the cat carries an ongoing thread. Of the six, it is the most cat-forward while still being a holiday comedy about a family that decides to skip Christmas.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Aunt Bethany’s cat is a side element in the Griswold family’s chaos around the Christmas tree and dinner. The electrocution scene is the most serious animal-harm moment on the list, and the source describes it as upsetting for cat lovers. Viewers who want to avoid it should check the film’s scenes before watching with children or other sensitive viewers.
#1 Best Overall
Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins is the list’s strangest inclusion, and the source acknowledges that it is debatable as a Christmas movie. It is here because the holiday setting runs throughout, with Christmas trees, music and other seasonal signs. The cats appear around Mrs. Deagle during a Gremlins sequence. The source records a threatening context but does not say what happened to the cats, so readers should not assume a particular outcome.
Scrooged (1988)
The cats enter the story when television executive Preston Rhinelander suggests programming for cats and dogs. Later, two silvery white Turkish Angoras sit with him while he watches television, and they place their paws on the screen. It is a short sequence, but it is one of the few moments on the list that plays cats for gentle comedy rather than conflict.
Rank #2
- Movie dvd
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
This romantic comedy has a holiday setting and a steady, low-key cat presence. Lucy, played by Sandra Bullock, lives with a calico named Mel. A second longhaired cat appears in the apartment of the man Lucy rescues, which gives the film a light domestic texture without any cat plot.
Black Christmas
This is the list’s clear outlier and not a conventional heartwarming holiday film. The cat Claude is in a murder scene and later appears near the victim. The source does not give a release year, so none is stated here. Because of the horror tone and the animal-related scenes, it suits viewers who already want genre films, not those looking for a gentle seasonal watch.
Rank #3
Choosing the right picks for your viewing
- If you want no animal harm at all: skip National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Black Christmas. Christmas with the Kranks, Scrooged and While You Were Sleeping have no content note in the source.
- If you want the most cat screen time: start with Christmas with the Kranks, where Muffles recurs, then consider Scrooged for its paws-on-the-screen sequence.
- If you are comfortable with horror or genre films: Gremlins and Black Christmas are the two picks outside the holiday comedy mainstream.
- If you want a romance with a cat in the background: While You Were Sleeping is the only romantic pick, with Mel the calico in the apartment.
Where to watch
This guide does not confirm current streaming or rental availability for any of the six films. Streaming catalogues change by date and region, so check a current streaming guide before planning a viewing. If you prefer to own a copy, a physical disc is one option, but the edition and its availability should be verified before you buy.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Factory sealed DVD
Rank #4
- Factory sealed DVD
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
