7 Christmas Movies With Cats...Or Are They? (Plus the GREATEST Cat Christmas Movie Ever)

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Look, I'm not saying I'm a total trendsetter, but I've been saying for years--YEARS--that pumpkin spice is going to be replaced by apple cider, and the fact that I can find apple cider flavored coffee is proof I'm right.

So, considering my sterling track record as a trend maven, you'll thank me for these amazing movie recs. Sure, Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas Movies staring a small, rotating cast of B movie stars is all the rage at the moment. We're all watching the suit and the lumberjack duke it out for the delightfully type A, but secretly losing her shit protagonist--now...but mark my words, it's gonna be Christmas cats in 2045.

That being said, these cat movie recommendations add an extra layer of fun because are they Christmas movies or horror movies? You can't tell by the titles, so read the synopsis below.

Use the most sinister voice in your head. Enjoy.

A Gift From Bob

Synopsis (direct from everyone's favorite source to both cite and constantly shit on, Wikipedia): James looks back at the last Christmas he and Bob spent scraping a living on the streets and how Bob helped him through one of his toughest times – providing strength, friendship and inspiration – and ultimately teaching each other about the true meaning of Christmas spirit along the way.

Things to love about this movie:

  • There is a cat. Bob.

  • It is a biographical drama.

  • It is a Christmas movie.

  • It is a sequel.

  • It is based on a book.

Things to hate about this movie:

  • Bob died six months after filming, so there won't be more Bob movies.

Meet Me in St. Louis

Synopsis (from TCM because they had the shortest one): Young love and childish fears highlight a year in the life of a turn-of-the-century family.

Things to love about this movie:

  • There is a cat.

  • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

  • Judy Garland. If that's your thing.

Things to hate about this movie:

  • It's a "classic" so, you know, racism.

  • The cat is not loved by all...I won't spoil it for you but Cinema Cats will.

Black Christmas

Synopsis (Yup, Wikipedia again): The story follows a group of sorority sisters who receive threatening phone calls and are eventually stalked and murdered by a deranged killer during the Christmas season.

So this one actually IS a horror movie. Huh.

Things to love about this movie:

  • It's actually a slasher flick.

  • It's Canadian.

  • It's got a cult following so you can pretend to be cool.

  • There's a cat.

Things to hate about this movie:

  • It's actually a slasher flick.

  • Cult following = you won't get what all the fuss is about.

Scrooged

Synopsis (Thanks Wikipedia): Based on the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Scrooged is a modern retelling that follows Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a cynical and selfish television executive, who is visited by a succession of ghosts on Christmas Eve intent on helping him regain his Christmas spirit.

Things to love about this movie:

  • 1988 Bill Murray.

  • You could totally call it "screwed" by accident and no one could blame you.

  • It's yet another Christmas Carol.

  • There's a cat. Scratch that. There are several.

Things to hate about this movie:

  • It's yet another Christmas Carol.

While You Were Sleeping

Synopsis (You already know...): Lucy Eleanor Moderatz is a lonely fare token collector for the Chicago Transit Authority, stationed at the Randolph/Wabash station. She secretly loves Peter Callaghan, a handsome commuter, though they are strangers. On Christmas Day, she rescues Peter from the oncoming Chicago "L" train after muggers push him onto the tracks. She accompanies the comatose Peter to the hospital, where a nurse overhears her musing aloud, "I was going to marry him." Misinterpreting, the nurse tells his family that she is his fiancée. Lucy has a cat.

Things to love about this movie:

  • Bill Pullman. Cause who doesn't wanna bone the dad from Casper?

  • There's a cat.

  • Plenty of cringe. Which was par for the course of 90s movies.

Things to hate about this movie:

  • The story is ridiculous. But we've all seen reddit, so maybe totally believable?

  • Sandra Bullock pretending to be anything but a badass woman. Why did she have so many roles like this?!

Santa Claws

Synopsis (IMDB for the win): Tommy leaves his kittens out for Santa to take back to the North Pole, but after a major allergic reaction Santa can't deliver presents anymore, so the kittens have to deliver the rest of the presents to all the boys and girls.

Things to love about this movie:

Things to hate about this movie:

  • Absolutely nothing. Cinematic perfection.

Home for the Holidays

Synopsis (Wiki who?): The film follows Claudia Larson, who after losing her job, kissing her ex-boss, and finding out that her daughter has plans of her own for the holidays, departs Chicago to spend her Thanksgiving with her dysfunctional family.

Things to love about this movie:

  • The Maine Coon named Frank.

  • The plot is relatably fucked-up.

  • Jodi Foster directed it.

Things to hate about this movie:

  • It'll trigger your family-related PTSD.

  • The name. There are at the very least two other movies with the same name.

The greatest cat Christmas movie ever, drumroll please...

Naturally, it's Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever. This Lifetime delight is cheeky, snarky, stupid, hilarious fun. Aubrey Plaza nails the voice and attitude we've ascribed to Grumpy for years. While she's now gone, but not forgotten (Grumpy, not Aubrey), it only adds to the nostalgia.

I won't say anything more. It's time to go watch. You're welcome.

Happy holidays.