Mrs. Norris patrols the corridors of Hogwarts Castle with Argus Filch, looking to catch even the smallest student infraction. Although
Filch himself is a squib (non-magical/wizard born), he seems to have a psychic connection with his feline companion and is
quite devoted to her. Although fans have ascribed magical properties to Mrs. Norris, author J.K. Rowlings has stated
that she's just an unpleasant cat!
In the films, three Maine coons played the part of Mrs. Norris. The unkempt appearance was achieved using a collar with
fake fur attached. In addition, hair was spiked up using a non-toxic hair gel. Mrs. Norris' malevolent red eyes were achieved
using digital effects, not contact lenses.
Mrs Norris is named after the thoroughly nasty aunt in Austen's Mansfield Park.
There is an obscure mention of the Potters owning a cat. In Lily Evans' letter to Sirius
Black she wrote that Harry Potter nearly killed the kitty flying on Sirius' present, a baby-sized
broomstick. The cat disappeared after Voldemort's attack on the family and its ultimate fate is unknown.
Professor
Minerva McGonagall is an animagus whose form is feline. She wore square spectacles that matched the markings around
the eyes of her silver tabby cat form. Her patronus was also a tabby cat.
Crookshanks, Hermione Granger's
pet cat and magical familiar, is part Kneazle as evidenced by his lion-like appearance and ability to solve problems on his
own without aid or teaching through humans.
Crookshanks is highly intelligent and was the only character to immediately catch on that Scabbers was not a real rat but
an Animagus in disguise. He is described as very large, bandy-legged, ginger-colored and with a "squashed head" or flat
face. This type of cat's face is known as a "pansy face." Based on these markings, Crookshanks' feline breed is
probably a hansa persian, or ginger persian cat.
Hermione bought her familiar from a store in Diagon Alley in 1993. Crookshanks had been there for quite some time, and
that the owner told Hermoine that "nobody wanted him." As a part-Kneazle, Crookshanks was biding his time for someone worthy of his companionship. Doubtlessly, he made himself
as unpleasant as possible until he bonded with Hermoine!
For the films, the animals sometimes received better treatment than the human actors – such as the scenes with
the cats Mrs. Norris and Professor McGonagall. Since most of the scenes were
filmed in a real castle, which was drafty and cold, the cats were provided heated floors to keep their paws and
their bodies warm. The human actors had no such comforts, but at least they had shoes!
