Did you know that Sylvester the Cat gets his name form the word sylvestris, which is the scientific name for the domestic cat species? This play on words denotes a very special tuxedo cat that appears in many Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, and is most often depicted chasing Tweety Bird, Speedy Gonzales or Hippety Hopper. He dates back to 1941, when a Sylvester prototype appeared in Bob Clampett’s cartoon, “The Hep Cat”. This cat had no specific name, but he greatly resembled the modern Sylvester, except for his lisp. Although no one knew yet exactly what to call … Continue reading →