Ethan Brooks
The cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's, named Cat in the film, was played by a feline actor named Orangey. Orangey was trained by famous animal handler Frank Inn and had already been in several productions prior to Breakfast at Tiffany's, including the 1951 film Rhubarb, in which he played the titular character. While Orangey was well-trained and could stay on set for hours, he was known for biting and scratching his co-stars and would sometimes flee the set after filming his scenes, causing production to shut down until he was found. Despite his reputation, Orangey won a Patsy award (the animal equivalent of an Oscar) for his role in Breakfast at Tiffany's, making him the only cat to have won the award twice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the cat in the movie | Cat |
| Real name of the cat | Orangey |
| Other names | Jimmy, Jeremy, Rhubarb |
| Gender | Male |
| Breed | Tabby |
| Type of tabby | Mackerel, marbled, or marmalade |
| Trainer | Frank Inn |
| Awards | 2 Patsy awards |
| Year of death | 1967 |
| Stunt doubles in the movie | Yes |
| Behaviour | Bit and scratched co-stars, fled the set |
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What You'll Learn
The cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's was called Cat
The cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's was indeed called Cat. The character was described as a "poor slob without a name" by Audrey Hepburn's character, Holly Golightly. However, the real-life cat actor who played Cat was called Orangey, a red domestic shorthair tabby cat.
Orangey was a successful feline actor and was even referred to as a "kitty celebrity". He was described as "a real New York type cat, just what we want" by Sam Wasson, author of 5th Avenue, 5AM: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman.
Orangey was trained by famous animal handler Frank Inn and was known for his ability to stay for long periods of time during filming. However, he was also known for exhibiting "diva behaviour", often running away after his scenes were filmed, causing production to shut down until he was found. He was also reported to scratch and spit on costars after a scene ended, earning him the nickname "the world's meanest cat" by one studio executive.
Despite his reputation, Orangey's talent was recognised and he won a Patsy award (the animal equivalent of an Oscar) for his role as Cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
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Cat was played by a cat actor called Orangey
Orangey was a professional, staying on set for hours while his scenes were being filmed. However, he was not always the most pleasant actor to work with. He was known to bite and scratch his co-stars, and flee the set once his scenes were over, causing shooting to be suspended until he was found. In fact, one studio executive called him "the world's meanest cat". To prevent Orangey's escapes, Frank Inn even posted guard dogs at the exits of the studio!
Despite his reputation, Orangey's talent was undeniable. He was the first cat ever to play a title role in a film, starring as Rhubarb in the 1951 film of the same name. He also appeared in more serious roles, such as a fugitive cat in the 1959 film The Diary of Anne Frank. By the time he starred in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Orangey was already a seasoned actor with a decade of experience.
Orangey's performance in Breakfast at Tiffany's earned him his second Patsy award, the animal equivalent of an Oscar. To date, he remains the only cat to have won two Patsy awards.
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Orangey was trained by famous animal handler Frank Inn
The cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's, named Cat in the film, was played by a feline actor called Orangey. Orangey was trained by famous animal handler Frank Inn, who had previously served as an assistant to Rudd Weatherwax, trainer of Pal, the star of the early "Lassie" films.
Orangey was already a celebrity in his own right before starring in Breakfast at Tiffany's. He had made his film debut in the title role of the 1951 film Rhubarb, becoming the first cat ever to play a title role in a film. He won a PATSY (the animal equivalent of an Oscar) for his performance.
Frank Inn described Orangey as "a real New York type cat, just what we want. In no time at all I'm going to make a method, or Lee Strasberg type, cat out of him." However, Orangey was not always the easiest actor to work with. He was known to bite and scratch his co-stars and would sometimes flee the set after filming his scenes, causing production to be temporarily shut down until he was found.
Despite his diva-like behaviour, Orangey was prized for his ability to stay on set for several hours while his scenes were being filmed. His talent and unique personality made him one of Hollywood's most in-demand feline actors. In addition to his role in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Orangey appeared in numerous other films and TV shows, including The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Beverly Hillbillies.
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Orangey was known for biting and scratching his co-stars
The cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's, named Cat in the film, was played by a feline actor named Orangey. Orangey was a marmalade or mackerel tabby and was already a celebrity before starring in Breakfast at Tiffany's. He was trained by famous animal handler and trainer Frank Inn, who had previously trained Pal, the star of the early "Lassie" films.
Orangey's success in Breakfast at Tiffany's earned him his second Patsy award, the animal equivalent of an Oscar. He remains the only cat to have won two Patsy awards.
Orangey's other notable roles include playing a millionaire cat in the 1951 film Rhubarb, for which he won his first Patsy award, and a fugitive cat in the 1959 film The Diary of Anne Frank. He also appeared in The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Batman, alongside Eartha Kitt, who portrayed Catwoman.
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He won a Patsy award for his role in Breakfast at Tiffany's
The cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's was played by an orange tabby cat named Orangey, who won a Patsy award for his role in the film. Patsy awards are given out by the American Humane Association's Hollywood branch and are considered the animal kingdom's equivalent of an Oscar.
Orangey was a trained cat, taught by the famous animal trainer Frank Inn, who also trained the pig who played Arnold Ziffel on Green Acres and Higgins the Dog, who appeared in the TV series Petticoat Junction. However, despite his training, Orangey was known for being difficult on set. He often scratched and bit actors and would sometimes flee after filming a scene, causing a shutdown in production until he was found.
Despite his challenging behaviour, Orangey was prized for his ability to stay for several hours during filming. Sam Wasson, author of 5th Avenue, 5AM: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, noted that Orangey was "a real New York type cat, just what we want".
Breakfast at Tiffany's was not Orangey's first role. He had previously appeared as Sally's cat, Mr. Henderson, on The Dick Van Dyke Show and as Rusty on The Beverly Hillbillies. He also played uncredited roles as Matilda Cat in The Beverly Hillbillies and alongside Eartha Kitt, who portrayed Catwoman in Batman.
Orangey's last known appearance was in 1967-68, and he died in 1967, buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. His role in Breakfast at Tiffany's, however, remains one of his most notable achievements, with the Patsy Award recognising his performance as "Cat", a homeless feline visiting Audrey Hepburn's character, Holly Golightly.
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Frequently asked questions
The cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's was called Cat in the film. However, in real life, the cat was called Orangey.
Orangey was trained by famous animal handler and wrangler Frank Inn.
Orangey was not always well-behaved on set. He would behave himself while a scene was being shot, but he was known to bite or scratch his co-stars once the scene was over. He was called "the world's meanest cat" by a studio executive.
