Kit-Cat Identifier

Identifying Your Kit-Cat Clock

There have been many different types of Kit-Cat Clock over the years. If you already have an existing Kit-Cat Clock and want to know when it’s from, here’s a handy guide. Just look for the features your clock shares with these descriptions, and you’ll know when it’s from:

Standard Editions

Battery or electric?

  • If your Kit-Cat Clock is battery operated, it was manufactured between 1990 and now.
  • If your clock needs to be plugged in, it was produced before 1990.

What’s on the front?

  • If the front of your Kit-Cat clock has “Kit-Cat” written on its clock face, then it was made after 1982.
  • If your Kit-Cat Clock has a bowtie, it was made after 1954. If it has no bowtie, it was made before 1954.
  • If your clock has front paws, it was made after the mid-fifties. If it has no front paws, it was made before.

What’s on the back?

  • If there’s a number stamped on the back, your clock was made between 1982 and 1989. If there’s no number, it was made between 1964 and 1981.
  • If the back of the clock says San Juan Capistrano, CA , your Kit-Cat Clock was made between the mid-sixties and the early-nineties.
  • If the back of the clock says El Monte, CA, your Kit-Cat Clock was made in the early- to mid-sixties.
  • If the back of the clock says Seattle, WA, your Kit-Cat Clock was produced between the 1940s to 1950s (check the front paws to know just when!)
  • If the back of the clock says Portland, OR, you have one of the original, very rare “hometown” Kit-Cat Clocks from the 1930s!
  • If it has a metal back, it was produced in the 1940s or 1930s (check the location written on the back to be sure!)

Limited Editions

Limited Edition Kit-Cat Clocks have been produced every year since 1992. Each year’s limited editions are different and make the age of your Kit-Cat very easy to identify. For a complete list of Limited Edition Kit-Cat Clocks and the years they were produced, please see our Limited Edition Kit-Cat list.