Alice's Adventures in Wonderland · Character
Cheshire Cat
Also known as Cheshire Puss, Puss
- Supporting
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 5
The Cheshire Cat feels like a secret that has learned to smile: all sharp teeth, long claws, and unhurried amusement. Its gaze seems to make nonsense feel almost sensible—and leave you wondering what it knows.
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 5
- Books
- 1
The Cheshire Cat appears to Alice as a puzzling guide, offering riddling observations with the calm assurance of someone who finds Wonderland’s confusion perfectly ordinary. It can vanish from its tree branch until only its grin remains, and later its head appears in the air before fading away again. Its elusive presence gives Alice a companion for questions that have no straightforward answers.
Description
The Cheshire Cat is described as a grinning cat with very long claws and many teeth; the text provides no definite coloring, eye color, or build. It sits on a tree branch, its grin prominent enough to remain as its body disappears. At other times, the cat’s head seems to float in the air, emerging gradually and then fading from sight. Its expression and shifting outline give it an unmistakably uncanny, amused presence. The Cheshire Cat is a large cat distinguished by a grin stretching from ear to ear, a great many teeth, and very long claws. His coat color, eye color, and markings are not specified. He appears at ease, whether seated by a hearth or among tree branches, with a watchful, amused presence; his smile is so striking that it seems to linger even when the rest of him is gone.
Connections
Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals
Aliceconflicting source relationships
The Cat converses with Alice, explains that the Hatter and March Hare live nearby, and offers a playful, cryptic perspective on her choices. Alice later expects to see it at the Queen’s croquet game.
Duchessconflicting source relationships
Alice identifies the Cheshire Cat as belonging to the Duchess, and the court’s dispute over how to execute it is referred to her.
King of Heartshostile sovereign and unwanted visitor
The King dislikes the Cat’s appearance and orders it removed; the Cat refuses his offer to kiss his hand, prompting the Queen to order its execution.
Queen of Heartswould-be executioner and target
At the King’s request to remove the Cat, the Queen immediately orders its head off, though the Cat disappears before the execution can be carried out.
Story so far
BOOK 1Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Key events
Gallery
Book 1: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Appearances
Meet Cheshire Cat in Bookworm
Meet Cheshire Cat in your EPUB — spoiler-safe to the book you're on.