Meowth (Pokémon)

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Meowth ニャース Nyarth #052
Artwork from FR/LG
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 -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #052 Johto #136 Hoenn #241 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— 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 Gender unknown
Breeding Ground group 1 cycles (255 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 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 Normal-type Pokémon.

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 prominent whiskers, no nose, black-and-brown ears and a gold oval coin (also known as "charm") embedded in its forehead. Meowth's coloration, its love of coins (see Special abilities) and its charm indicate that Meowth is based on the Japanese Maneki Neko, a cat-shaped figurine that is said to bring good luck and money to its owner.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Meowth are valued for their ability to collect coins using Pay Day.

Meowth is the only known Pokémon that learns Pay Day.

Behavior

Meowth are very fond of anything round and shiny. As such, they have been known to wander about city street and pickup 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. This is because Murkrow are also known for stealing round and shiny objects and that 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.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime

Meowth is one of 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, likely due to the fact that Meowth needed to learn how to do this.

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

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

In the manga

Pokémon Special

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

Super Smash Bros.

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

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

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

Game data

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

Base stats

Type effectiveness

Template:DP type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation I Level Move Type Start Scratch Growl 12 Bite 17 Pay Day 24 Screech 33 Fury Swipes 44 Slash

Generation II Level Move Type Start Scratch Growl 11 Bite 20 Pay Day 28 Faint Attack 35 Screech 41 Fury Swipes 46 Slash

Generation III RSE Level Move Type Start Scratch Growl 11 Bite 20 Pay Day 28 Faint Attack 35 Screech 41 Fury Swipes 46 Slash 50 Fake Out

Generation III FRLG Level Move Type Start Scratch Growl 10 Bite 18 Pay Day 25 Faint Attack 31 Screech 36 Fury Swipes 40 Slash 43 Fake Out 45 Swagger

Generation IV Level Move Type Cat. Start Scratch Growl 6 Bite 9 Fake Out 14 Fury Swipes 17 Screech 22 Faint Attack 25 Taunt 30 Pay Day 33 Slash 38 Nasty Plot 41 Assurance 46 Captivate 49 Night Slash

By TM/HM

Generation I # Move Type TM06 Toxic TM08 Body Slam TM09 Take Down TM10 Double-Edge TM11 BubbleBeam TM12 Water Gun TM16 Pay Day TM20 Rage TM24 Thunderbolt TM25 Thunder TM31 Mimic TM32 Double Team TM34 Bide TM39 Swift TM40 Skull Bash TM44 Rest TM50 Substitute

Generation II # Move Type TM02 Headbutt TM03 Curse Unknown TM06 Toxic TM07 Zap Cannon TM09 Psych Up TM10 Hidden Power TM11 Sunny Day TM13 Snore TM16 Icy Wind TM17 Protect TM20 Endure TM21 Frustration TM23 Iron Tail TM25 Thunder TM27 Return TM30 Shadow Ball TM31 Mud-Slap TM32 Double Team TM34 Swagger TM35 Sleep Talk TM39 Swift TM40 Defense Curl TM41 Dream Eater TM43 Detect TM44 Rest TM45 Attract TM46 Thief TM50 Nightmare

Generation III # Move Type TM03 Water Pulse TM06 Toxic TM10 Hidden Power TM11 Sunny Day TM12 Taunt TM17 Protect TM18 Rain Dance TM21 Frustration TM23 Iron Tail TM24 Thunderbolt TM25 Thunder TM27 Return TM28 Dig TM31 Shadow Ball TM32 Double Team TM34 Shock Wave TM40 Aerial Ace TM41 Torment TM42 Facade TM43 Secret Power TM44 Rest TM45 Attract TM46 Thief TM49 Snatch HM01 Cut HM05 Flash

Generation IV # Move Type Cat. TM03 Water Pulse TM06 Toxic TM10 Hidden Power TM11 Sunny Day TM12 Taunt TM17 Protect TM18 Rain Dance TM21 Frustration TM23 Iron Tail TM24 Thunderbolt TM25 Thunder TM27 Return TM28 Dig TM31 Shadow Ball TM32 Double Team TM34 Shock Wave TM40 Aerial Ace TM41 Torment TM42 Facade TM43 Secret Power TM44 Rest TM45 Attract TM46 Thief TM49 Snatch TM58 Endure TM65 Shadow Claw TM66 Payback TM70 Flash TM77 Psych Up TM78 Captivate TM79 Dark Pulse TM82 Sleep Talk TM83 Natural Gift TM85 Dream Eater TM87 Swagger TM89 U-turn TM90 Substitute HM01 Cut

By breeding

Move	Type	Cat.	Father
Amnesia			Psyduck, Golduck Sentret, Furret Wooper, Quagsire Swinub, Piloswine Slakoth, Slaking Wailmer, Wailord Numel, Camerupt Torkoal Bidoof, Bibarel
Assist			Skitty
Charm			Pikachu** Vulpix*** Dugtrio*** Golduck*** Growlithe*** Snubbull, Granbull Teddiursa Swinub***, Piloswine*** Houndour***, Houndoom*** Phanpy Skitty Numel***, Camerupt*** Spheal, Sealeo, Walrein Pachirisu Buneary Lopunny Glameow, Purugly
Flail			Dunsparce Phanpy, Donphan Zigzagoon Slakoth, Slaking Torkoal Spinda
Hypnosis			Stantler Spinda Glameow, Purugly
Last Resort			Eevee, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon Aipom Espeon, Umbreon Phanpy Pachirisu Ambipom Leafeon, Glaceon
Odor Sleuth			Growlithe, Arcanine Girafarig Swinub, Piloswine Houndour, Houndoom Phanpy Poochyena, Mightyena Zigzagoon, Linoone Electrike, Manectric Spoink, Grumpig Mamoswine
Psych Up			Vulpix**, Ninetales** Meowth**, Persian** Psyduck, Golduck Farfetch'd** Espeon, Umbreon** Girafarig** Dunsparce** Sneasel** Stantler** Nuzleaf**, Shiftry** Skitty**, Delcatty** Spoink, Grumpig Spinda Kecleon** Absol** Glameow**, Purugly** Weavile**
Punishment			Mankey, Primeape Slaking Infernape
Spite			Dunsparce
*Indicates moves only available through chain breeding. **Indicates moves only available through TM.

Special moves

In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Meowth knows Shadow Hold and Shadow Rush as a Shadow Pokémon, and learns Sing after being purified.

Side game data

Template:Side game

Evolution

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

• Meowth's number in the National Dex (52) happens to be the reversed version of Pikachu's (25). It is unknown whether or not this was intentional. However, in the anime, Team Rocket's Meowth and Ash's Pikachu are close rivals.
• The original sprites of Meowth depicted it standing on all fours, not like a human. 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. The more recent Meowth sprites, however, in the Pokémon games depict it standing on its hind legs, as if Meowth had the natural ability to walk on two legs. Tyson's Meowth is also able to walk on two legs, seemingly naturally.

Origin

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.

Junichi Masuda states that Meowth is based on Satoshi Tajiri's own pet cat.

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 is similar, with nyā being the Japanese equivalent of meow.

In other languages

• German: Mauzi
• French: Miaouss, miaou is the french transcription of meow/miaow.
• Korean: 나옹 Naong
• Chinese (Taiwan): 喵喵 Miao Miao - 喵 is the sound a cat makes, pronounced like "meow."

Related articles

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

External links

• Article on Wikipedia
• Pay Day, the fanlisting for Meowth
• Snapshots of Meowth from Super Smash Bros. Brawl

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

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