Rum Tum Tugger

Rum Tum Tugger is one of the many feline characters in the musical Cats. Cats was inspired by the book, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by T. S. Eliot, published in 1939.

The Rum Tum Tugger is a black tom cat with leopard spots on his chest, and a wild mane. He is considered the ladies cat, and the rebel of the group. Some believe that he is one of Old Deuteronomy's children, and therefore brother to Munkustrap. The younger female kittens are in awe of him as well as some of older queens, especially Bombalurina. Demeter does not seem to like him at all.

"Oh the Rum Tum Tugger is a curious cat
And there's no need for you to doubt it;
For he will do
As he do do
And there's no doing anything about it."

Rum Tum Tugger is played by John Partridge in the CATS movie.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has stated that the part of the Tugger is intended to be a homage to Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. This homage is apparent in the way he moves on stage in the original Gillian Lynne choreography and the costume styling.