The Aristocats was inspired by the true story of a Parisian family of cats, circa 1910, that inherited a fabulous fortune.
Actor and singer Maurice Chevalier was talked out of retirement to sing the title song for The Aristocats by the Sherman brothers, who’s father had written the big Chevaliar hit “Living in the Sunlight, Loving in the Moonlight”. He was finally convinced after hearing a demo version of the song where Richard Sherman imitated him. Robert Sherman stated that Chevalier’s recording is Chevalier imitating Richard Sherman imitating Chevalier. It would be Chevalier’s last work before his death in 1972.
The Aristocats was the last film to be approved by Walt Disney himself, and the first one produced after his death in 1966.
The names of the cats in Scat Cat’s band are Shun Gon (piano and drums), Hit Cat (guitar), Peppo (accordion), and Billy Boss (cello)
Eva Gabor (Duchess) and Pat Buttram (Napoleon) were both starring together in the TV series Green Acres while recording voices for The Aristocats.
The goose sisters in The Aristocats, Abigail and Amelia, are voiced by Carole Shelley and Monica Evans, who also provided the voices of Maid Marian and Lady Cluck in Robin Hood.
Thurl Ravenscroft, most famous for voicing Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger, but probably most well known to Disney fans for his singing voices on several Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and the Enchanted Tiki Room, provided the voice of Russian Cat in The Aristocats.
According to it’s opening credits, the film’s proper title is The AristoCats. However, each home video release has had it written as The Aristocats on the cover.
The character of Scat Cat was designed to be voiced by Louis Armstrong. The character’s look was modeled after Armstrong - the way he played his trumpet, his roly-poly physique, right down to the prominent gap between his teeth. However, at the last moment, for unknown reasons, Armstong quit the film without recording a single line. His replacement, Scatman Crothers, was directed to “Pretend you’re Satchmo.”
