The Curious Case of Dolores Umbridge’s Cat Plates: Real Kittens Behind the Magic

Dolores Umbridge’s infamous pink office in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is known for many things — its unsettling sweetness, authoritarian menace, and, of course, the peculiar cat plates lining the walls. But did you ever wonder how those charming, animated felines were created? Far from CGI conjuring, the filmmakers enlisted the help of over forty real kittens to bring those plates to life.

In a clever blend of practical effects and digital wizardry, the production team filmed dozens of adorable kittens in various poses and moods — playing, yawning, and even purring. These furry actors were captured against green screens, allowing the footage to be expertly composited onto more than 200 ceramic plates, some of which were deliberately left blank to suggest that some cats had 'wandered off.' The kittens were even dressed in tiny costumes to add an extra layer of charm, before being lovingly rehomed after filming wrapped.

This whimsical detail offered a striking contrast to Umbridge’s grim personality, amplifying the unsettling atmosphere of her office. Thanks to a careful mix of real-life feline performances and digital magic, those plates remain one of the most memorable quirks of the wizarding world.

So next time you see those kitty plates, spare a thought for the real kittens who did their part to make the magic believable — perhaps the only creatures brave enough to face Umbridge’s wrath without a single hiss.