Chances are you recognise the individual shown above in one of his sneakier moments. Or, at least, you think you recognise him. But, in actual fact, Sylvester of Sylvester and Tweety fame is not who he would have you believe he is.
What has come down to posterity is that Sylvester is an evil and cunning creature who will do whatever he can to capture and eat Tweety Pie. And yes, this is what he did in the cartoon version. But, in the live action series that came earlier (which I haven't been able to get any pictures for because it never really existed. I just made it up. So deal with that), Sylvester was far more sinister even than he was shown to be on the cartoon.
In the lesser-known live action series, Sylvester was, in fact, not a cat at all! He only pretended to be one. He was, in actual fact, a man in a cat suit!
And what is totally unknown about the live action series is that it wasn't a work of fiction at all. It was based on the shocking life story of an individual who would prefer we keep his identity secret. It was really a documentary into the life of a poor, twisted man, who would do anything to do keep his face from being seen in public. (This is why he was portrayed in the live action TV series by an actor, as he couldn't bear to show his face.)
The reasons why he was not willing to show his face in public are manifold, and probably not worth going into here. However, it is worth mentioning that it stemmed from a very embarrassing situation in childhood, as so many of our personality disorders do. Mine does. But again, that's not really worth going into here.
The name by which Sylvester is known in the cartoon series, 'Puddy Tat', is actually a corruption of the phrase used to describe him in the live action series, 'Pudding Cat'. The reason he was known as Pudding Cat was because the man in the cat suit liked eating pudding a lot. It was, in fact, one of the few things that brought him consolation in his long, hard days dressed in a cat suit.
Being a university lecturer, this poor man in the cat suit often came up for ridicule by his students. If your lecturer were dressed in a cat suit, would you not laugh and insult him? It is a testament to his spirit and courage that he continued in this job. Lesser men in cat suits would have quit before the age of 27. But this particular man in a cat suit continued until he was well over 60. He carried on coming into lectures, to meet a wave of derisive laughter when he stated, "Good afternoon. My name is Pudding Cat" in his terribly upper class accent. For he was, of course, a man of great breeding. Most university lecturers are, even ones in cat suits.
So next time you see an image like this:
do not be so quick to smile and laugh. There is the story of a tortured man behind it. Consider that. The story was changed substantially for the cartoon series; indeed, changed to the effect that it became merely puerile stupidity. The truth was much darker, as it is with most things.
Remember it. Be very afraid.