Meowth

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#052 Meowth Meowth's artwork from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Category Scratch Cat Pokémon Original Region Kanto National Dex Nr. #052 Kanto Dex Nr. #052 Johto #138 Hoenn #241 Generation 1 Pokémon Color Yellow First Appearance Pokémon Red & Blue (1998) Latest Appearance Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! (2018) Type(s) Normal Ability/ies Pickup, Technician (Hidden: Unnerve) Average Height 1'04" Average Weight 9.3 lbs. Evolves Into Persian #052 Meowth Alolan Meowth's artwork from Pokémon Sun and Moon. Category Scratch Cat Pokémon Original Region Kanto National Dex Nr. #052 Kanto Dex Nr. #052 Alola #??? Generation 1 First Appearance Pokémon Sun & Moon (2016) Latest Appearance Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! (2018) Type(s) Dark Ability/ies Pickup, Technician (Hidden: Rattled) Average Height 1'04" Average Weight 9.3 lbs. Evolves Into Persian

Meowth (Japanese: ニャース Nyarth) is a Normal-type Pokémon. It evolves into Persian starting at level 28.

Its Alolan variant is Dark-typed.

Biology

Kantonian Meowth

Meowth is a small, feline Pokémon with cream-colored fur that turns brown at the tips of its hind paws and tail. Its ovoid head features four prominent whiskers, wide eyes with slit pupils, two pointed teeth in the upper jaw, and a gold oval coin embedded in its forehead. Its ears are black with brown interiors, and are flanked with an additional pair of long whiskers. Meowth is a quadruped with the ability to walk on its hind legs; while the games always depict Meowth on two legs, the anime states that Meowth normally walks on all fours. It can freely manipulate its claws, retracting them when it wants to move silently. The tip of its tail curls tightly.

Meowth is attracted to round and shiny objects, and has the unique ability to produce coins using Pay Day. It is known to wander about city streets and pick up anything that that sparkles, including loose change. Upon finding a sparkling object, its eyes will glitter and the coin on its forehead will shine brightly. Meowth is a playful Pokémon with the capacity for human-like intelligence, with at least one member of the species teaching itself how to speak. Meowth tends to live in urban areas.

Alolan Meowth

Meowth was introduced to Alola as a gift to royalty. The luxurious royal lifestyle soon led to Meowth diverging from its origins and becoming the selfish, prideful, and cunning Alolan Meowth. Alolan Meowth will turn hysterical if its coin or pride are besmirched. When the monarchy fell, the rare Alolan Meowth went feral and eventually grew as common in Alola as anywhere else. Alolan Meowth's fur is a light blue-gray color. Instead of brown markings, the tip of its tail, whiskers, digits, and the insides of its ears a whitish-gray. Alolan Meowth's whiskers have a slight curve compared to regular Meowth's straighter whiskers, and it has silvery eyes.

Trivia

• Niue released a one-dollar coin featuring Meowth as part of a commemorative promotion for the Pokémon franchise, with Meowth on one side and the nation's coat of arms on the other.
• In the Pokémon anime episode Go West, Young Meowth, it was stated that Meowth of Team Rocket had to learn and practice standing on his hind legs like a human, implying that Meowth as a species are not naturally able to stand on their hind legs. However, almost all sprites in the games and the Pokédex in the anime depict it standing on its hind legs, suggesting Meowth has the natural ability to walk on two legs. Tyson's Meowth is also able to walk on two legs, seemingly naturally.
• Meowth is the first Pokémon in the Pokémon anime to talk.
• The charm on Meowth's forehead bears a strong resemblance to an Amulet Coin.

Origin

Junichi Masuda has stated that Meowth is based on Satoshi Tajiri's own pet cat. Meowth seems to be based upon the Japanese legend of the 招き猫 Maneki Neko, also known as the lucky cat or beckoning cat. According to one legend, a cat raised its paw to welcome a lord and saved his life when a lightning bolt hit the spot where he had been standing. Maneki Neko are often used as charms in restaurants and shops to bring customers or fortune and good luck. Statues of the cat are usually depicted holding a koban, an ancient coin used in Japan, like the one on Meowth's head.

Name origin

Meowth may be a combination of meow (the sound a cat makes) and mouth. The -th may also be borrowed from Nyarth, as both meow and nyā are onomatopoeia of a cat's cry.

Nyarth may be a combination of ニャー nyā (the sound a cat makes) and the switched sounds of シャム Shamu (Siam, former name of Thailand), becoming ミャス Myasu. Siam relates to a cat breed, the Siamese, which in turn relates to Meowth's evolution, Persian, and the Persian cat breed.

Stats

Base Stats
HP		40
Attack		45
Defense		35
Sp. Attack		40
Sp. Defense		40
Speed		90
Total		290

Gallery

Artwork

Dream World artwork

Dream World artwork

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Alolan Meowth

Pokémon Sun and Moon artwork.

Pokémon Sun and Moon anime series artwork.

Pokémon Adventures artwork (Cent).

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Sprites

Generation V

Generation VI

Generation VI (Shiny)

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National Pokédex
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