Garfield’s Best Jon Quote Of The 1970s Proves The Comic Is Aging Better Than Fans Think

Published Sep 11, 2026, 7:30 PM EDT

Merlyn De Souza is a freelance writer and anime enthusiast based in Goa, India, with a Bachelor's in English Literature. When she isn't writing, she can be found exploring various realms of entertainment, including, but not limited to, K-dramas, novels, and even the occasional manhwa. She also enjoys all things creative, like sewing and makeup.

The 80s and 90s are commonly considered the golden eras of Garfield, when the now-iconic franchise exploded in popularity and delivered some of its most nostalgic strips. However, there is still something to be said for the 70s era of Garfield, which still retains a charm of its own. In the two years that the series made its big entry, Garfield released about 561 strips in the 70s: 196 in its debut year of 1978 and 365 in 1979.

Granted, the series was still finding its footing at the time, establishing its running jokes, themes, and catchphrases, as well as introducing new characters, some of whom, like Nermal and Liz, would stay, and others like Lyman, who wouldn't. Even so, Garfield's oldest strips from the 70s are still worth revisiting today, and one strip with Jon's best quote from said era proves just why.

Jon's Most Relatable Quote From The 70s Depicts A Classic Cat Parent Struggle

One of Jon's most memorable and resonant quotes in Garfield from the 70s comes from a strip from December 12, 1978. Garfield himself is missing from this particular strip, but he is most certainly present through other means, as Jon himself points out in a very matter-of-fact manner. In the most straightforward tone, Jon simply states:

I own a cat, and when you own a cat, eating a meal takes on an all-new perspective, knowing that somewhere in there is a cat hair with your name on it.

As such, while Garfield may not be present in the flesh in this particular strip, his fur most definitely is. Funnily enough, a Sunday strip from January 14, 1979, even calls back to this gag as Jon tries to find the cat fur in his food, ultimately exclaiming in frustration that he can't eat till he finds that hair. And while Jon throws a fit, Garfield casually goes, "Silly me. I forgot to put it in there."

To a casual reader, this particular quote by Jon might not stand out right away, but to anyone who's been around a cat in any capacity, this Garfield strip depicts a classic struggle that all cat parents are all too familiar with and can still relate to even 48 years later.

For the most part, many cat owners, like Jon, have resigned themselves to the fact that they will find cat fur everywhere, including their food. This is only one of the many universal struggles of owning a cat depicted in Garfield, especially earlier on in the series and throughout the 70s in particular. And this relatability is a huge reason for the franchise's lasting success.

Garfield's Relatability Is Still One Of Its Biggest Draws

While a lasagna-loving, Monday-hating cat isn't the most normal of occurrences, Garfield still manages to be incredibly relatable, which is surely one of the main reasons why it has grown into one of the biggest comic strip franchises alongside other greats like Peanuts. Sure, the series' fun personalities and the over-the-top character quirks are entertaining, but beyond these established gags, what still keeps readers coming back is Garfield's relatability.

In fact, Garfield has always been rooted in relatability, whether that's Jon's early struggles with bachelorhood or Garfield's innate hatred for Mondays, which reflects the universal apprehension surrounding the start of a new week and the return to one's weekly routine. Over the top as he may be, readers are still able to see a bit of their own cats in Garfield, and wanting to see more of his feline shenanigans is at the core of the series' simplistic yet lasting charm.