Shiny hunters prove that sometimes it's not always about having the strongest team — it's about having a gorgeous one too. There are many lovely critters in the world of Pokemon that trainers would be proud to enter into any beauty contest.
Just like in the real world, some trainers are dog people while others are cat people. The feline friends found throughout the generations have had designs ranging from alluring to ugly so those looking to have a well-groomed and fashionable team will want to make sure they choose only the best.
10 Purugly
This kitsch Pokemon doesn't look that pretty on the surface, but hear us out. Purugly is the embodiment of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi — its beauty comes from its imperfections. This big tabby cat's design visually articulates the kind of big burly bruiser Purugly is meant to be. Seriously, Glameow might have received a glow-up here!
9 Delcatty
Delcatty's design is simple and elegant with a small bit of goofy flair. The ring around its neck is meant to look like an orthopedic neck pillow. As the Pokedex says, it "eats and sleeps whenever it decides," which is perfectly on-the-nose, as any cat owner would know. The lavenders and tans look calming and proper which is a perfect combination for the Prim Pokemon.
8 Persian
Persian's design screams Normal-type Pokemon in the best of ways. Its simple colors and lack of many frills make it so trainers won't mistake it for being one of the other elemental types. Even Persian's shiny maintains this simplistic design to the point where it's almost impossible to tell the two apart.
It does look more like a Siamese cat than its namesake but does that really matter when it's so iconic as a part of Team Rocket? Persian perfectly encapsulates the Right-Hand Cat trope and makes Giovanni look better just by staying close to his side.
7 Meowstic
Meowstic has some of the most noticeable gender differences out of any Pokemon. When an Espurr evolves, it can not only take on a whole new look based on its gender but exclusive attacks and abilities as well. The two cat-like creatures contrast each other well and are so noticeably different that no trainer could mistake them for being the same. Plus, their shinies are just plain gorgeous!
6 Solgaleo
One of the legendary Pokemon of its generation, Solgaleo's entire design screams regal and powerful. It takes inspiration from the eye of Ra, an Egyptian sun goddess known for taking the form of a lion. Even its name is reminiscent of the fiery orb in the sky as it references Gallileo, the astronomer that first presented evidence that the Earth revolves around the sun.
5 Liepard
If anyone sees a Liepard hissing at them, they know it's time to run. Its bright colors and patterns are almost reminiscent of those found on poisonous frogs in the Amazon, which evolved to let everyone know the kind of danger they pose. It becomes obvious when considering this why Team Flare would have so many of them in their employ — they want to scare their enemies into submission.
4 Incineroar
Incineroar has such an iconic look that even Masahiro Sakurai took notice. With a champion's belt on its waist, there's no way to doubt that this Pokemon is a wrestler through and through. It's even called the Heel Pokemon, which is a wrestling term for the villain in a given match.
The wrestling motif is even more apparent when comparing Incineroar to the Tiger Mask wrestlers found competing in places like New Japan Pro Wrestling. No one sees this Pokemon and doesn't immediately think of a professional wrestler.
3 Mew
Cats can be quite mischievous and playful, which made them a perfect inspiration when designing Mew. It looks as adorable as its name, and that playfulness rings out true in every part of its design. Even the fact that Mew is pink while its shiny is blue adds to the lore of the game itself with how it matches Ditto's colors. Its original sprites might have been a bit wonky, but the design itself is flawless.
2 Zeraora
Zeraora has a truly striking design. No, that wasn't just an electricity pun either. It looks like the combination of the Hawaiian god of thunder with a tiger — powerful and fierce. Not all mythical Pokemon get movies, but the team at Game Freak knew they'd struck gold with Zeraora's iconic design and made that happen.
1 Meowth
Meowth is as iconic as the Japanese legend of the Maneki-neko that inspired it. It's likely one of the best cats in all of video gaming let alone Pokemon. It's easily recognizable, the koban on its head hints at its signature move, and in Japan, it draws on even more inspiration from the Bakeneko.
Plus, just take a look at Meowth's Gigantimax version! The fact that it's a shoutout to one of the most famous cat memes of all time is too brilliant to not praise. We could keep going but a certain Pokemon said it best himself, "Meowth, that's right!"