SerpApi.Org
The Far Side has always featured animals front and center. With Gary Larson's love of the environment, almost every single animal a person can think of has been featured in The Far Side at one time or another. His ability to convey animals in a relatable way is one of the biggest reasons people love his series so much.
Of all the animals Larson features in his strips, he seems to have a peculiar adoration for domesticated pets. Dogs, cats, and even fish seem to have grand features and are frequently mentioned throughout the strip. Of these creatures, though, none seem to make fans laugh as much as cats do.
This Cat Gets A Unique Chocolate Box For Christmas
No Human Would Ever Want This Present
This cat is probably ecstatic about her Christmas present, but readers certainly wouldn't be. Upon closer inspection, what appears to be a normal chocolate box is actually a box of various mice and rodents. Which, for a cat, is probably a pretty amazing and thoughtful gift. For a human, though, not so much.
When Larson chose to illustrate cats, he did so in a way that diversified them across his comic strip series. Some cats, such as the ones featured here, were more personified and anthropomorphic. On other occasions, the cats almost lacked detail, featuring little beady eyes and nothing else. Larson's usage of his unique art style to characterize cats depending on their personality is a huge testament to his work as a cartoonist.
This Cat Is Feeling Too Co-Dependent
His Owner Must Feel Pretty Hurt About This Session
True cat lovers can take jokes about cats like nobody's business. Cats are hyper-independent creatures and are known for notoriously doing what they want to do, regardless of the consequences.For cat owners, seeing a cat go to therapy almost makes a little too much sense.
Larson would often create comics like this, taking stereotypes and making them as literal as he could manage. If cats could talk, many would probably go to therapy for one reason or another. By creating this image for his fans, Larson had plenty of cat owners laughing over their Sunday newspaper.
These Cats Are Curious About Thelma's Shoppe
This Is One Of Larson's Most Artistic Comic Strips
Larson's love of wordplay certainly comes into this comic strip, with him taking the phrase "curiosity killed the cat" and making it a reality. As hordes of cats swarm into this shop, readers can only wonder what they must find inside.
The Far Side's wordless comics are among some of the best in the series, with fans thrilled to find a new wordless strip by Gary Larson. This particular panel says everything the reader needs to know without a single line of dialogue. Larson's ability to do such things puts his talents as a cartoonist and an artist on full display.
This Woman Wants To Pet This Clearly Vicious Cat
This Cat Doesn't Seem Too Friendly
If this woman could take a hint, she probably wouldn't pet this Siamese cat. Even though this cat's owners look like they've been torn to shreds, this old woman tries her luck anyway, hoping to pet a pretty cat.
This comic strip couldn't be more relatable for cat owners of angry kittens. It can be such a hassle to explain to people that a cat isn't friendly, only to watch it come back to bite them when they ignore those warnings. Creating relatable comic strips like this one is part of why The Far Side is considered one of the best comic strip series of all time.
This Cat's Wildest Dream Has Finally Come True
If Only He Could Get Outside
Most of our domesticated feline friends would be absolutely ecstatic if a rodent truck and a bird-filled semi crashed into one another. For this cat from The Far Side, that dream has been made a reality. In another hilarious wordless comic from The Far Side, fans get to see what the inner thoughts of real cats must look like.
Larson was always very good at putting himself in the shoes of other people and animals. Looking at life from all kinds of perspectives, Gary Larson's willingness to be open-minded is truly at the core of why so many of his comics resonate with such a large audience.
Cats Don't Hear A Word We Say
To Cat Owners, This Is Not Surprising News
Every cat owner has had the horrible experience of reprimanding their pet, only to realize they aren't listening to a word they say. Part of the appeal of cats is their independent nature and ability to care for themselves to a certain degree. However, the downside with those traits is that they will continue clawing up the furniture if they feel like it.
This comic strip was specifically among a few where Larson drew empty speech bubbles rather than entering words. These unique comics allowed readers to fill in what they thought fit in the speech bubbles themselves. Larson was always great at allowing readers to interact with the comics rather than remaining an outside viewer.
These Scientific Cats Discovered Something Atrocious
Whatever It Was Left Them Dead At The Scene
Investigators and police officers make up many of the funniest comic strips in The Far Side series. Seeing that recurring theme clash with cats was certainly exciting for many series fans. Larson often integrated recurring themes, such as cats or police officers, into his series. Many readers believe it was done intentionally to bolster the series since it lacked recurring characters or a plot line.
Other fans disagree. Many readers claim that because Larson made his comic strips based on whatever came to him first, recurring themes were a natural consequence of how Larson wrote his strips. Whichever is the case, it certainly made for a hilarious comic in this situation.
This Cat Takes A Hot Shower
Realistically, This Shower Head Is Terrifying
Having a showerhead like this would be a nightmare for anyone else, but it works well for this big orange cat. Larson has created dozens of absurd comic strips over the years, with many of them gaining popularity despite the cancellation of this beloved comic strip series.
It can be gross for cat owners to remember that their cat cleans themselves with its tongue. After seeing this strip, one would wager that many readers wiped their cats down with a wet rag for good measure.
Look What The Cat Dragged In
Poor Ernie Has To Keep The Door Shut
Every cat owner has had the misfortune of watching their cat drag something nasty home at one time or another. The phrase "look what the cat dragged in" didn't come from nowhere. This poor cat is in for a rude awakening, however, when he realizes that his owners have no intention of opening up the door.
This comic strip is unique in a small way to some readers, but in a big way to true fans. True fans of Larson's comics know that he rarely uses named characters. The name Ernie appears throughout The Far Side multiple times, more than any other name Larson used during the comic strip's run. Fans of the series often seek out comic strips with named characters to see if it's the same character they've seen before.
This Dog Wants The Cat Outside
Unfortunately, He Won't Be Getting His Wish
In the '80s and '90s, it was much more commonplace for dogs to sleep outside, even in the winter. In the Midwest, plenty of dogs sleep outside year-round thanks to the technological advancement of heated dog beds and bowls. This dog doesn't seem to appreciate the cold outside if his creepy whispers are anything to go by.
Some of the best comic strips from The Far Side feature dogs. However, in this comic, the dog simply can't take the spotlight off this comfortable cat, no matter how hard he tries. For cat owners who also own dogs, this strip is hilariously relatable and honestly a little sad when you take it from the dog's point of view.
