One would be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t familiar withGarfield. The lasagna-loving cat is one of the most iconic characters in cartoon history, and has even been featured in practically all forms of media, including animated series, feature films, and - of course - the original comic strip. Basically, there have been no shortage ofopportunities for people to get to know Garfield, including an introduction to his mother, who couldn’t be more different from the fan-favorite feline.
In theGarfieldcomics published in December 1984, Garfield gets locked out of his house when Jon goes on a week-long trip to a cartoonist convention. Desperate for food, Garfield walks into an abandoned Italian restaurant, where he runs into an older female cat who immediately recognizes him.This cat is Garfield’s mother, and their story together is told across nine comic strips, broken up into three distinct mini-sagas.
The firstcrop ofGarfieldcomic stripspublished Dec. 11-13, 1984, begins with Garfield meeting his mother in the abandoned restaurant, though he doesn’t initially recognize her. In fact, Garfield’s mom has to say a few stereotypical ‘mom phrases’ for Garfield to see who she really is, and once he does, he’s overjoyed to be reunited with his mother. Together, they walk through the restaurant, where it’s revealed that this is the same Italian restaurant where Garfield was born.
In this story arc’s next crop ofGarfieldcomics published Dec. 14-15, 18, 1984, it’s revealed that Garfield’s mother wasn’t living in this abandoned restaurant alone, as her father, Garfield’s grandfather, was living there as well. Garfield meets his grandpa for the first time, and his grandpa tells him that if he’s going to live there, he’s going to do what they do for food: hunt mice. Of course,Garfield - being the pampered, lasagna-loving cat that he is- complains the entire time, and outright refuses to hunt mice (especially the big one in the last comic).
In this story arc’s final crop ofGarfieldcomics published Dec. 19, 22, 25, 1984, Garfield decides that he can’t live with his mom and grandpa forever (or even for another second), so he heads back to Jon’s house. Unfortunately, it’s snowing pretty heavily outside, and Garfield had forgotten that he’s lost. Garfield gets trapped in the blizzard, and almost gives up when he hears his mother’s voice in his head, telling him to keep going. And sure enough, Garfield made it home just in time for Christmas.
Garfield’s Mom (& Grandpa) are Nothing Like the Lasagna-Loving Cat Fans Know & Love
Garfield’s Mom & Grandpa Hunt for Their Meals, & Garfield Does Not
Garfield’s mom and grandpa are alley cats who have taken up residence in a local abandoned restaurant where they hunt for every meal they eat, and they expect the same of any cat who wants to live with them - even Garfield. Garfield, on the other hand, is perhaps the softest, most pampered house cat in existence. Garfield doesn’t even like eating cat food, preferring lasagna to Meow Mix, so it’s no wonder he’d have absolutely no interest in eating live rodents - especially if that means hunting for them (don’t forget, Garfield is also profoundly lazy).
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In fact, there’s even a moment in this saga where Garfield’s mom jokingly says that Garfield might have been switched in the maternity ward, implying that he’s not her son because of how soft he is. While that was just a joke, as Garfield’s mom proves that she loves him very much, the joke spoke to how different his mom is from Garfield. Looking at Garfield, one would assume that his mom is also a food-loving house cat. Instead, she’s a badass little alley cat, killing mice for every meal. In other words, she’s everything Garfield is not.
Garfield Couldn’t Be Like His Mom Even If He Wanted To
Garfield’s Mom Hunts Mice, but One of Garfield’s Best Friends is a Mouse
Not only is Garfield lazy and pampered, which are two things that are not ideal for a mouse-hunting cat, he couldn’t be like his mom and grandpa if he wanted to. Why? Because one of Garfield’s best friends is a mouse. In November 1984, Garfield meets (and even names) a mouse named Squeak. Jon wants Garfield to hunt Squeak, but instead, Garfield goes out of his way to protect his little friend, and ends up even helping him find a permanent place to live.
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There’s no way Garfield could kill mice anytime he was hungry, and not just because there’d be no mice left on Earth after a while, but because of his relationship with Squeak. But, beyond any moral objections, it’s just a simple fact that Garfield is nothing like his mother, which is a fun tidbit fans learn upon reading this comic strip saga that’s especially revealing aboutGarfield’s past.
Garfield
Garfield is the central character in Jim Davis’s comic strip, which officially began in 1978 under the same name. Garfield is an orange tabby cat with a love of lasagna and a disdain for Mondays. He tends to torment his owner and dog while trying to secure more food - and quiet.
