One ofGarfield’s most defining traits is his hatred of Mondays, which naturally started out as a recurring joke in the comics, where the start of the weekday always means bad luck for the famous feline. Many early strips would have something terrible happen to Garfield, with the day of the week serving as the punchline. Other times, the very concept of Monday seems to have dark, otherworldly powers.
The Garfield Movie
Based on Jim Davis’s comic series, Garfield is a new imagining of the lasagna-loving cat and his friends, opting for a fully computer-animated approach. Chris Pratt voices the titular cat, with the film aiming to explore his early days and new misadventures for him, his friends, and his family.
This is all the more surprising since, as a house cat, Garfield doesn’t have to endure the usual hang-ups that most people have with Mondays. This is actually something that has been brought up in the comics, although Garfield usually assures us he has his reasons.
Of course, people in the real world don’t necessarily like Monday, either, and find Garfield’s frustrations to be perfectly relatable, anyway. After all, there’s nothing like a charming cat straight out of the funny pages to beat the Monday blues.
June 25, 2025
Garfield has occasionally acknowledged that his outlook on Mondays isn’t always healthy. At the very least, it can come off as somewhat immature. There’s been at least one time in the funny pages when he’s decided to change his attitude, or at least attempt to.
While still in bed, hiding under the covers, Garfield admits his hatred of the first weekday is rather “childish.” He decides to man up and face his problem, but not necessarily head on. He throws his beloved teddy bear, Pooky, out from under the covers to face the day for him. Monday might not be easy for Garfield, but his stuffed buddy has got his back.
19The Time Even Tuesday Was Monday
July 29, 2025
Monday might not be the easiest day of the week,even for a cat, but at least it ends. Soon, the weekdays are finished and the weekend can begin. Of course, it still ends up being Monday all over again in a never-ending cycle. Of course, in a comic strip where anything could happen, even the passage of time is not assured.
In this strip, Garfield is happy and willing to greet the new day, realizing that Monday is over. As he rips off a page, the number has changed but not the day of the week, with the calendar claiming it’s still somehow Monday. Whether it’s a cosmic event of supernatural implications or a simple printing error, Garfield is left with no choice but to scream to the heavens that this is the Monday that will never end.
18The Time Monday Wasn’t Kind to Jon, Either
July 19, 2025
In Garfield’s mind’s eye, Monday isn’t just ominous, it has a corruptive influence on people having to endure the hated day of days. Of course, Garfield probably wouldn’t have nice things to say about anyone when Monday comes around the corner, as it is.
This strip has Garfield start out by talking about how there’s ugliness in the world. Upon seeing Jon early in the morning, with a face full of unshaven stubble and a mug of coffee in his hands, he notes his owner is not a morning person. To sum it up, the cat describes him as “Monday-morning ugly.”
17Garfield’s Failing Positive Thinking
June 03, 2025
Many people believe that there is some power in positivity. Putting some belief into an idea can sometimes help make it real. Pets might agree with the train of thought, as Garfield puts it to the test in one strip, even when it comes to something he’s famous for hating.
While still in bed, Garfield decides he’ll have a more positive outlook, starting with giving Mondays a try. While going on a stroll, he tells himself that he loves and is just crazy about Mondays. However, when he gets outside, getting caught in the rain gets him to rethink his attitude.
Not wanting to give up his new mantra, however, he decides to just tone things down to merely being “fond” of Mondays. Given how fond cats are known to be of water, one could argue Garfield was being gracious.
16Hang in There, Garfield
June 16, 2025
Sometimes, something simple is all that is needed to illustrate someone’s feelings. The smallest misfortune, not an elaborate story, can be more than enough to get someone’s point across. This is seen in one of the first strips to highlight Garfield’s hatred of Mondays. After all, this was before this loathing had become part of Garfield’s defining characteristics.
In one simple strip, Garfield is playing with a pulldown shade. He then gets pulled up with the shade and trapped inside, almost bringing to mind the cat in the “Hang in there, Baby” poster. Noting the day of the week, Garfield laments that he hates Mondays. Notably, this joke would be repeated in later strips.
15Garfield’s Fun With Wordplay
August 12, 2025
It’s always important to take pride in what you do, even if it’s simply having a negative opinion on a day of the week. Naturally, Garfield has taken his hatred of Mondays into an art form.
While looking out the window, Garfield starts the strip lamenting that it’s another Monday. He keeps going, adding a few insulting terms, like “mind-numbing” and “run-of-the-mill.” Jon tries to greet his cat, but Garfield feels like he’s on a roll, adding more alliterative words like “mundane” and “moribund.” In the end, Garfield might hate the day, but he at least takes time to take pleasure in his hatred.
14Monday the 13th
August 22, 2025
Around the world, people have a variety of superstitions. Even a simple number can evoke bad luck and warnings of doom depending on who you ask. In the West, the number 13 is traditionally considered bad luck. In particular, Friday the 13th is considered a day when bad luck is especially on people’s minds. However, Garfield believes that there is a day that is even less lucky.
While peeking out from his bed, Garfield spies a nearby calendar. Hiding under the covers, something he sees convinces Garfield that he isn’t getting out of bed today. Garfield reveals that, not only is it the start of the week, it is none other than Monday the 13th.
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13Garfield Vs. the Lawn Mover
June 11, 2025
Garfield’s hatred of Mondays doesn’t necessarily come from nowhere, but from having the worst of luck on that day of days. This is especially prevalent in the earliest days of the strip, which would see something bad randomly happening to Garfield, only for him to blame it on Monday.
In one such early story, Garfield jumps out the window, while bouncing off of a footrest. While people say that cats always land on their feet, Garfield’s poor luck gets the best of his before he sticks the landing. Jon passes by and runs his cat, presumably unaware, over with a lawnmower.
While Garfield survives the incident, he still isn’t baby about the quick shave, commenting that he hates Mondays. Of course, Garfield should expect the unexpected when playing daredevil.
12Jon’s Pep Talk
June 20, 2025
On Monday, even the simplest of things can become burdensome to Garfield. When Jon wishes Garfield a “Good Morning” in one comic, Garfield doesn’t even bother to peek out from out of the covers. Even Jon realizes he’s just kidding himself by trying to have a positive outlook. Soon, he falls asleep while holding a cup of coffee.
Garfield, while still hiding under his blanket, labels the simple greeting as a “Monday morning pep talk,” when commenting how much he hates them. Of course, when Jon seems to agree with the sentiment, it’s hard not to think Garfield has a point.
11Garfield’s Monday Countdown
June 21, 2025
Sometimes, when things look like they’re going your way, it might just be the fates' way of luring you into a false sense of security. With Garfield’s hatred of Mondays, it makes sense that he would have a weekly countdown to the stroke of midnight, with his hated day turning into Tuesday.
In one such story, Garfield is having such a countdown near a clock,almost like it was a holiday. Garfield even notes that nothing bad has happened to him all day, suggesting he’s finally broken his Monday record.
However, Monday still rears its ugly head at the literal last moment, with a cuckoo emerging from the clock, scaring Garfield. The cat then falls to the ground with an annoyed look on his face.
