Meowth (Pokémon): Difference between revisions

← #051: Dugtrio	Pokémon	#053: Persian →
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Meowth (disambiguation).

Meowth ニャース Nyarth #052
Art by Ken Sugimori from FireRed and LeafGreen
Type Normal ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Scratch Cat Pokémon
Abilities Pickup or Technician Technician Blue-Striped ----- Tension Hidden Ability
Exp. at Lv. 100 1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #052 Johto #138 Hoenn #241 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R-099 Almia R— Oblivia
Height 1'04" Imperial 0.4 m Metric 1'04"/0.4 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 9.3 lbs. Imperial 4.2 kg Metric 9.3 lbs./4.2 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Yellow	Catch rate 255 (33.3%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 50% male, 50% female
Breeding Ground group 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 1 Base Exp.: 69 Battle Exp.: 691*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Meowth (Japanese: ニャース Nyarth) is a Template:Type2 Pokémon.

It evolves into Persian starting at level 28.

Biology

Physiology

Meowth has a distinctly feline appearance, resembling a small house cat. It has cream-colored fur, which turns brown at its paws and tail tip. Its oval-shaped head features four prominent whiskers, no nose, black-and-brown ears, and a glimmering gold oval coin (also known as a "charm") embedded in its forehead. Like Persian and 'real-life' cats, Meowth is capable of retracting the claws on its fore- and hind-paws and bringing them out again when needed.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Meowth are valued for their ability to collect coins using Pay Day, as it is the only Pokémon that learns it. Meowth are also capable of dealing relatively powerful scratching attacks like Fury Swipes or Night Slash.

Behavior

Meowth are very fond of anything round and shiny. As such, they have been known to wander about city streets and pick up anything that is round and shiny—coins in particular. Although they are apparently not nocturnal, they spend most of the daytime napping. Meowth are considered rivals of Murkrow, because Murkrow are also known for stealing round and shiny objects and these two Pokémon have been known to steal from each other's hordes.

Wild Meowth tend to live in groups in urban areas.

Habitat

Meowth usually live in towns and cities. They can also occasionally be found in vibrant forests or near beaches. It is normally native to Kanto and Johto.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime

Major appearances

Team Rocket's Meowth

Meowth is one of the two main Pokémon in the series (the other being Ash's Pikachu). Meowth is a member of Team Rocket, and he is unlike ordinary Meowth in that he can speak human language and walk on two legs instead of four. His first appearance was in Pokémon Emergency!.

His background story, including another female Meowth named Meowzie, was told in Go West Young Meowth.

Meowth was cloned in Mewtwo Strikes Back, but his clone couldn't talk or walk on two legs, just like an ordinary Meowth, likely due to the fact that Meowth needed to learn how to do this. The Meowth clone is encountered again in Mewtwo Returns.

Tyson's Meowth

Tyson's Meowth debuted in Like a Meowth to a Flame. This Meowth was dressed up like Puss in Boots.

Other

Over 100 years ago, The Black Arachnid had a Meowth.

In The Purr-fect Hero a kid named Timmy reunited with a Meowth that saved him from a Beedrill

Minor appearances

Ash used a Meowth during the Pokémon League entrance exam in The Ultimate Test. The Meowth was defeated by the instructor's Vaporeon.

Pokédex entries

In the manga

In the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Main article: Meowth (Team Rocket)

Meowth appears in the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga series along with his teammates Jessie and James. He first appears in the chapter Pikachu's Excellent Adventure.

In Days of Gloom and Glory, an unnamed Meowth based on Meowzie appears. Like in the anime, Meowzie finds Meowth's ability to speak human language "creepy". In the manga, she has at least one kitten, which she captures into a stolen Poké Ball to protect it from an impending flood.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Meowth's first appearance is a cameo in Bulbasaur, Come Home! as one of the Pokémon that escapes from Professor Oak's Laboratory.

In the TCG

Main article: Meowth (TCG)

In the TFG

One Meowth figure has been released.

• Next Quest: Meowth

Other appearances

Pokémon Snap

Multiple Meowth can be found during the Beach level. These Meowth are prone to accident and injury, as Pidgey is easily evoked to use Gust on them. Snap can also knock Meowth off a rock, making it fall to the ground.

Super Smash Bros.

Meowth appears from a Poké Ball. It attacks opponents with Pay Day.

Meowth using Pay Day in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Meowth returns as a Poké Ball Pokémon, attacking opponents with Pay Day.

Game data

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Pinball: A Meowth appears in a bonus stage that is accessible from the Blue Table. The player must hit the Meowth and get it to drop gold coins which must be collected.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Red*	Blue*	Berry (100%)
Yellow*
FireRed	LeafGreen	Nugget (5%)
Diamond	Pearl	Quick Claw (5%)
Platinum
Ranch		Pink Scarf (100%)
Events*		Amulet Coin (100%)

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM/HM

Generation V Other generations: I - II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
TM		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	TM01	Hone Claws	Dark	Status	0000—	—}}—%	15
	TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	0000—	090}}90%	10
	TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM11	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	0000—	—}}—%	5
	TM12	Taunt	Dark	Status	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM18	Rain Dance	Water	Status	0000—	—}}—%	5
	TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM24	Thunderbolt	Electric	Special	09595	100}}100%	15
	TM25	Thunder	Electric	Special	120120	070}}70%	10
	TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM28	Dig	Ground	Physical	08080	100}}100%	10
	TM30	Shadow Ball	Ghost	Special	08080	100}}100%	15
	TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	15
	TM40	Aerial Ace	Flying	Physical	06060	—}}—%	20
	TM41	Torment	Dark	Status	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	07070	100}}100%	20
	TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM45	Attract	Normal	Status	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM46	Thief	Dark	Physical	04040	100}}100%	10
	TM48	Canon	Normal	Special	06060	100}}100%	15
	TM49	Echo Voice	Normal	Special	04040	100}}100%	15
	TM65	Shadow Claw	Ghost	Physical	07070	100}}100%	15
	TM66	Payback	Dark	Physical	05050	100}}100%	10
	TM67	Retaliation	Normal	Physical	07070	100}}100%	5
	TM70	Flash	Normal	Status	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM77	Psych Up	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM83	Cheer Up	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	30
	TM85	Dream Eater	Psychic	Special	100100	100}}100%	15
	TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	0000—	090}}90%	15
	TM89	U-turn	Bug	Physical	07070	100}}100%	20
	TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	HM01	Cut	Normal	Physical	05050	095}}95%	30
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Meowth Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Meowth Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
Father	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	Amnesia	Psychic	Status	—	—%	20
	Assist	Normal	Status	—	—%	20
	Charm	Normal	Status	—	100%	20
	Flail	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15
	Foul Play	Dark	Physical	95	100%	15
	Hypnosis	Psychic	Status	—	60%	20
	Iron Tail*	Steel	Physical	100	75%	15
	Last Resort	Normal	Physical	140	100%	5
	Odor Sleuth	Normal	Status	—	—%	40
	Punishment	Dark	Physical	—	100%	5
	Snatch	Dark	Status	—	—%	10
	Spite	Ghost	Status	—	100%	10
	Tail Whip	Normal	Status	—	100%	30
Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Meowth in Generation V Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Meowth in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Meowth Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Meowth Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Special moves

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball  N/A  Not available		Pokémon Pinball RS  N/A  Not available		Pokémon Trozei!    Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 12%% Friend Area: Energetic Forest Phrases 51%-100% HP Round things... I adore them, meow! 26%-50% HP My HP is half gone, meow! 1%-25% HP No more, meowch... Going to fall over, meowch... Level up Leveled up! Happy, mrowl! Partner phrases 51%-100% HP <name>, my HP is between 51% and 100%. 26%-50% HP <name>, my HP is between 26% and 50%. 1%-25% HP <name>, my HP is between 1% and 25%. Level up Leveled up! Happy, mrowl!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 8.2%% IQ group: G
Pokémon Ranger Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: (Cut ×1) Loops: 5 Min. exp.: 18 Max. exp.: 23 Browser entry   Meowth can cut trees down with its claws. It cleverly walks on its hind legs.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Poké Assist: Field move:  Normal  None Past ( Normal ) None Past (Electrify ×1) Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Rumble N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed			Pokémon Rumble Blast N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: Meowth is examining the PokéPark. He prefers the Attractions Bastiodon's Block Barrage and Tangrowth's Swing-Along.
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Strong: {{{Park2strong}}} Weak: {{{Park2weak}}} PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
Pokémon Conquest HP: Move: {{{ConquestMove}}} Attack: Ability 1: {{{ConquestAbility1}}} Defense: Ability 2: {{{ConquestAbility2}}} Speed: Ability 3: {{{ConquestAbility3}}} Does not evolve. Range: 0 Perfect Links: {{{ConquestLink}}}

Evolution

Unevolved Meowth  Normal

Level 28 →

First evolution Persian  Normal

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Meowth images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• 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.
  • It is possible, however, that all Meowth must learn to walk on their hind legs.
  • Strangely, the Meowth sprites outside of the Poké Ball in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver show it walking on four legs.
  • Also, Meowzie and the Meowth Clone from Mewtwo Strikes Back walk on four legs, although the aforementioned Meowth Clone did stand on it's hind legs when confronting Meowth of Team Rocket.
• Meowth is the first Pokémon in the Pokémon anime to talk.
• In Pokémon Platinum, Meowth is the one of the few Pokémon not in the Sinnoh Pokédex, and not introduced in Generation IV, to have a new sprite. Nidoran♀, Muk, Oddish, Hitmonlee, Ninetales, Primeape, and Registeel are the others.

Origin

Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:

On the Origin of Species: Meowth

Junichi Masuda states 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's name appears to be a combination of meow, the sound a cat makes, as well as mouth, possibly referring to the anime version's gift of gab. Nyarth likely originates from the Japanese word for Siam (シャム Syamu) with the sounds switched around, yielding Myasu and in turn ニャース Nyāsu when said in a Meowth-type voice—in the Japanese anime, Team Rocket's Meowth tends to work nyā, the Japanese equivalent of meow, into his dialogue quite often.

In other languages

• German: Mauzi - Derived from mauzen, a description of the sound a cat makes.
• French: Miaouss - From miaou (meow).
• Korean: 나옹 Naong - Possibly a corruption of 야옹 yaong (meow).
• Chinese (Taiwan): 喵喵 Miāo Miāo- 喵 is the sound a cat makes, pronounced like "meow".
• Chinese (Hong Kong): 喵喵怪 Miao Miao Guai - 喵 is the sound a cat makes (meow). Literally "meow meow monster".
• Brazilian Portuguese (anime only): Miau - Is the sound a cat makes (meow).

Related articles

• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Meowzie
• Tyson's Meowth

External links

• Article on Wikipedia
• Pay Day, the fanlisting for Meowth

Notes

First partner trios

Kanto

Bulbasaur

Charmander

Squirtle

Johto

Chikorita

Cyndaquil

Totodile

Hoenn

Treecko

Torchic

Mudkip

Sinnoh

Turtwig

Chimchar

Piplup

Unova

Snivy

Tepig

Oshawott

Kalos

Chespin

Fennekin

Froakie

Alola

Rowlet

Litten

Popplio

Galar

Grookey

Scorbunny

Sobble

Paldea

Sprigatito

Fuecoco

Quaxly

See also: player's first Pokémon

← #051: Dugtrio

Pokémon

#053: Persian →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.