Cheshire cat Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cheshire Cat
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland character
The Cheshire cat as illustrator John Tenniel envisioned it in the 1865 publication
Created by	Lewis Carroll
Voiced by	Sterling Holloway Tony Pope (Disneyland attractions) Jim Cummings (current) Keith David (Once Upon A Time in Wonderland) Stephen Fry
Information
Species	Tabby British Shorthair Cat
Gender	Male (the Queen of Hearts cries "off with his head" when the cat upsets the king)
Quote	"Most everyone's mad here" "You may have noticed that I'm not all there myself"

The Cheshire Cat is a famous fictional cat from Lewis Carroll's classic book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This mysterious cat is known for its huge, mischievous grin. It also has a special power: it can disappear and reappear whenever it wants! Sometimes, only its iconic grin is left floating in the air. The Cheshire Cat is a very popular character and has appeared in many movies, TV shows, and even cartoons.

Where Did the Grin Come From?
Lewis Carroll's Character
Images for kids
See also

Where Did the Grin Come From?

An early drawing of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland

Have you ever wondered where the saying "Grinning like a Cheshire Cat" came from? There are a few ideas about its origins in English history.

One popular idea comes from Cheshire, a county in England. This area has many dairy farms. People there say cats grin because they have lots of milk and cream to enjoy!
Another theory suggests that cheese was once made in Cheshire in the shape of a grinning cat. When people ate the cheese, the last part left was the smiling cat's head. This might have led to the famous phrase.

Lewis Carroll's Character

The Cheshire Cat is most famous for its role in Lewis Carroll's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Alice Meets the Cat

Alice first meets the Cheshire Cat at the Duchess's house. Later, she finds it sitting on a tree branch. The cat loves to appear and disappear, which can be quite confusing! It often talks to Alice in a puzzling but funny way.

The Cat's Wisdom

The Cheshire Cat sometimes brings up tricky ideas that make Alice think hard. It can be a bit annoying or confusing for her. But the cat also seems to cheer Alice up. For example, it suddenly appears at the Queen of Hearts' croquet game, which is a bit of a surprise!

A Head Without a Body

One of the most famous moments with the Cheshire Cat happens when it's sentenced to death. The cat plays a trick by making only its head appear, without its body! This causes a big argument between the executioner, the King, and the Queen of Hearts. They can't decide if you can chop off a head that isn't attached to a body!

At another point, the cat slowly disappears until only its grin is left. Alice famously says that she has "often seen a cat without a grin but never a grin without a cat." This shows just how unique and magical the Cheshire Cat is.