My husband gifted me a Kit-Cat clock soon after we were married. We hung it in our tiny Brooklyn apartment’s kitchen, and its kitschy design worked well with the rest of the space. The thing is, I felt like it was constantly watching me with its huge, moving side eyes; it almost seemed to be judging how I was using my time. The big smile and wagging tail didn’t help either. The Kit-Cat clock (or Klock as the manufacturer spells it) has been an iconic piece of pop culture for over 90 years. The animated feline was designed in 1932 by designer Earl Arnault (1904–1971) at the height of the Great Depression. Arnault was working for Allied Clock Company in Portland, Oregon, at the time and wanted to design a piece for the home that would put a smile on peoples’ faces during those hard times.  

The earliest examples of the Kit-Cat were manufactured in metal in the early 1930s with metal clock hands, four toes on each of the two paws, a knob on the front to wind the motor, and a wired cord. The clocks stopped being made in metal in the 1940s, as the company switched to Bakelite. The 1950s were a decade of significant growth for the Kit-Cat: it became a fixture in the American kitchen. The most significant design change to the clock happened in 1954 when the cat’s top paws, whiskers, and dapper bowtie were added. Sales increased even more. “Lucille Ball used to buy them by the case to give as birthday gifts and at Christmas,” says current owner Woody Young. “It was as popular as the hula hoop.” 

The company prides itself on always manufacturing every part of the clock in the United States. In 1962, Allied Clock moved production to southern California and renamed itself the California Clock Company. Then, in 1982, the owner of the California Clock Company convinced Ohio native and serial entrepreneur Woody Young to take over as president and owner and keep the Kit-Cat going strong. One of Young’s first decisions was to put the name of the clock on the front of the cat. This would prevent any confusion with the copies being made by other companies.  

The recession of the late 1980s almost put an end to the Kit-Cat when American electric motor manufacturing was almost exclusively relocated to Asia, leaving Kit-Cat without an American motor supplier. Then, in 1990, the company developed the capability to supply power for animation and timekeeping using two C-size batteries. The 1990s also brought the first limited edition color Kit-Cats. Then, in 2001, Kit-Cat was joined by Lady Kit-Cat, swapping out the bow tie for pearls and eyelashes.  

Now, after 90 years, Kit-Cat doesn’t show signs of going anywhere. In fact, for the last 50 years, someone has purchased a Kit-Cat clock every three minutes. According to the California Clock Company, more than 70 percent of the population recognizes the Kit-Cat. Those who do not own their own clocks have most likely seen it in movies like Back to the Future, television shows like The Simpsons, or music videos like Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”  

The clock originally sold at five-and-dime stores for $3.95 but now retails for over $50. You can find your own Kit-Cat at several brick-and-mortar shops and online.