Summary

• Garfield might be a master of sarcasm and pranks, but beneath that lazy, lasagna-loving exterior, he's got a surprising range of emotions.
• His bonds with Pooky, Nermal, and Liz reveal his softer side, and highlights how even the laziest, most sarcastic cats have a surprising capacity for affection—just on their own .
• Despite his mean demeanor, Garfield truly cares for Jon and Odie, which he oftentimes shows even when he's not meaning to.

Garfield loves lasagna, he hates Mondays, and he finds no greater enjoyment in life than when he’s messing with Jon or bullying Odie. Indeed, when it’s not coming from food, Garfield’s happiness comes from the embarrassment, suffering, or overall misfortune of others. However, that shouldn’t suggest that Garfield doesn’t have a softer side.

Sure, Garfield is a mischievous scamp, one who will pull a cruel prank on someone without giving it a second thought, but he’s also a well-rounded character with complex feelings and emotions. For instance, Garfield goes through bouts of depression from the monotony of his life, and he also experiences loneliness when Jon or Odie aren’t around. But also, Garfield experiences intense happiness, and he has moments when he feels like being sweet to those he loves. And sometimes, Garfield finds himself showing his softer side even when he doesn’t want to, as shown in these 10 hilarious comic strips!

10 Garfield Really Didn’t Want to Like His Best Friend When They First Met

Garfield - October 23, 1978

Pooky the Teddy Bear is Garfield's all-time best friend, and has been practically since the beginning of the comic strip - but they didn't start out that way. Garfield randomly found Pooky in Jon's room while pilfering through one of his drawers (assuredly to mess with him in some way). Upon meeting the Teddy Bear, Garfield is immediately insulting. Garfield calls the stuffed animal "dumb", "stupid", and "silly-looking". However, after only a few moments of holding him, Garfield finally decides to give this Teddy Bear one final name: "Pooky".

Garfield did not want to like Pooky when he saw him for the first time, but soon afterward, he decided that Pooky would be his new best friend, as he was filled with love for the Teddy Bear totally against his will.

9 Garfield Couldn’t Help but to Succumb to Nermal’s Unarguable Cuteness

Garfield - March 15, 1980

Nermal is the self-proclaimed 'Cutest Kitten in the World', and in this comic, it seems Garfield would reluctantly agree. Usually, Garfield is as mean to Nermal as he is to Jon or Odie, as he finds Nermal's cuteness irritating (which is perhaps rooted in jealousy). However, when Nermal gives Garfield a hug and a kiss goodbye, any irritation Garfield feels toward Nermal completely melts away - literally.

Nermal is like a little reminder of what Garfield used to be—young, cute, and full of energy—all things Garfield would rather not be reminded of as he lounges in his older, lazier years.

After Nermal gives Garfield a hug and a kiss, and then leaves Garfield's house to go back home, Garfield's body literally melts from the kitten's adorable actions. Garfield has made it clear in the past that he is not a fan of Nermal, but in this case, he couldn't help but to succumb to Nermal's unarguably cuteness.

8 Garfield DID NOT Intend for Odie to Hear What He Really Thinks of Him

Garfield - May 11, 2016

Garfield famously despises Odie, something he's proven time and again by the fact that one of his favorite things to do is bully the pup for no reason. However, it's also been shown throughout the comic strip series that Garfield secretly does love Odie, the same way one loves an annoying sibling. While that may be how Garfield really feels about Odie, he never intended to let Odie know. But, because of his "big thought balloon", that's exactly what Garfield does.

While breaking the fourth wall, Garfield its to the reader that he actually enjoys being around Odie - and Odie somehow overhears him. In response, Odie gives Garfield a big hug, returning his sweetness with physical affection, even if Garfield's soft moment was purely accidental.

7 Garfield Falls In Love with Liz Totally Against His Will

Garfield - December 15, 2006

Liz is Garfield's veterinarian, so he's naturally pretty wary of her. Ironically enough, Liz is also Jon's long-time love interest, who eventually becomes his official girlfriend after years of unfortunate dates. Needless to say, Garfield was not ready to accept Liz as a member of his family - until he inadvertently fell in love with Liz himself.

When Liz and Jon are watching a movie at Jon's house (with Garfield hanging out next to Jon on the couch), Liz comments on the amount of cat hair that Garfield has left on the couch, saying, "I like that in a man". With that comment, Garfield's apprehension towards Liz completely vanishes, as he tells Jon that he's in love with her, and there is no way for him to fight it.

6 Garfield Thinks His Friends & Family Forgot His Birthday (& It’s Heartbreaking)

Garfield - June 19, 1994

Sometimes, when Garfield is showing his softer side, it's not necessarily moments where he's being nice, but vulnerable - and that's exactly what readers get in this comic. On his birthday, Garfield is hoping to find his friends and family (Jon, Odie, and Pooky) throwing him a surprise party. Garfield excitedly sneaks around the house, giving them ample opportunity to surprise him for his birthday. But, after going into every room, Garfield finds no one, so he just decides to go to bed, depressed.

The sight of Garfield being disappointed on his birthday because those he really does love didn't it is truly heartbreaking. But then, it's revealed that they were simply hiding in the one spot they knew Garfield would visit: his bed - bringing a happy ending to one of Garfield's most vulnerable comics.

5 Garfield Finally Lets His True Feelings for Arlene Show

Garfield - May 26, 2017

Arlene is Garfield's girlfriend, though their relationship is way more akin to a casual fling than a committed partnership. Arlene matches Garfield's cynical sarcasm with quick wit, making them a perfect match. However, Garfield rarely shows Arlene how much she means to him, but during one magical date under the moonlight, that changed completely.

As Arlene and Garfield are sitting on a fence together, Arlene asks Garfield if he ever thinks about their future together, to which Garfield replies, "Nope". Then, Garfield clarifies, "I'm too busy enjoying our time together right now", which is met with a content pur from Arlene. Garfield is incredibly reluctant to open up about his feelings, and even holds back a little when he does. But some people are worth overcoming that reluctance, and to Garfield, Arlene is one of them.

4 Garfield Actually Misses Odie When He’s Gone (& Has a Hilarious Way of Showing It)

Garfield - June 30, 1984

During a Garfield story arc where Garfield kicks Odie into next week (really), the pup is missing from a week's worth of comic strips - indeed, he was sent hurtling through a time vortex of Garfield's own creation. What's interesting, though, is that Garfield actually started to miss Odie. It seems Garfield regretted what he had done to Odie, and he's certainly chosen an odd way to express that.

In this comic, Garfield flings his own head into his food bowl, simulating how Odie would knock him into his own food almost daily. This proves that Garfield does care about Odie (something he would later it in front of him), despite not being able to stand the pup on a day-to-day basis, which is truly an example of Garfield showing his softer side against his will.

3 Garfield is Extraordinarily Nice to Jon Twice in One Comic Strip

Garfield - May 11, 1984

One of Garfield's favorite things to do is mess with Jon. However, it's also clear in this series that Garfield does genuinely love Jon, and while he has a funny way of showing it sometimes, the affection never lessens. In fact, it even shines through when Garfield isn't even trying to be outwardly affectionate.

Jon points out how funny it is that Garfield is stroking his back before asking Garfield why he's being so affectionate, but Garfield tells Jon that he was just squishing a spider. While he may have just been killing a spider, Garfield was still pawing at Jon affectionately whether he meant to or not. Plus, just the act of killing the spider is a kindness itself. Unless he was just rubbing spider-guts on Jon's shirt, in which case Garfield only appeared affectionate (definitely against his will).

2 Garfield is Ready to Risk His Life to Save a Stranger

Garfield - July 16, 2016

Garfield's apathy knows no bounds, as he can watch someone get hurt or be the cause of someone else's suffering and feel absolutely nothing. Though it seems when someone's life is on the line, Garfield will spring into action. In this comic, Garfield is at the beach when he hears someone shouting from the water that they can't swim. Garfield runs to the shoreline to try and save them, only to realize it was a fish pulling a prank on him.

Garfield is left feeling like a fool, but that doesn't discount the fact that he was willing to put his own life on the line to save a stranger. Garfield wasn't trying to be nice or show his softer side, he simply proved that - when the situation called for it - he was willing to be a hero (even against his own will).

1 Garfield Really Does Love Jon & Odie (Especially When He’s Not Conscious)

Garfield - March 23, 2003

At this point, it's been firmly established that Garfield - while consistently mean to them - does genuinely love Jon and Odie. Usually, Garfield shows that affection through pranks and cruelty, but sometimes, he accidentally lets his true feelings for them show, even when he doesn't realize it. In this case, it's when Garfield's sleeping.

In this comic strip, Garfield, Jon, and Odie are all cuddling together in Jon's bed. Jon briefly wakes up to see his two pets sound asleep on top of him before smiling and going back to sleep himself. Garfield was unconscious during his display of affection, but the fact that he was there at all confirms his love for Odie and Jon, even if he didn't mean to show it. Which is why this is one of the 10 best Garfield comics that showed his softer side (against his will).