Published Sep 10, 2025
Tonic the cat makes a grand entrance at the premiere of Caught Stealing, accompanied by stars Austin Butler and Zoë Kravitz. Anastasiia Riddle / usatoday.com
In the movie Caught Stealing, I caught the cat Bud – in real life, an actor Siberian cat named Tonic – stealing the show. The cat character doesn’t function as a peripheral touch of cuteness in the show; Tonic plays a leading role as Bud, and he even upstages the humans!
If Tonic, a brown tabby, looks familiar, it’s because he’s become a feline movie star over the past several years. Tonic also appeared in the movies Pet Sematary in 2019, and Thanksgiving in 2023. Darren Aronofsky, director of Caught Stealing, told NPR that Tonic was a very professional and pleasant cast member.
“When Tonic was coming to set, Tonic would get excited – like Tonic knew it was time to work,” Aronofsky, a self-proclaimed dog person, told NPR. “Cats definitely are in their own universe, and you kind of gotta work with whatever they give you. Tonic’s not a type of cat you pet. I would have to stop myself because Tonic doesn’t like to be touched. You just have to respect that.”
The action-packed, suspenseful Caught Stealing, set in New York City’s East Village in the late 1990s, introduces the Bud character early. His human – Russ, a British guy with a mohawk played by Matt Smith – asks his neighbor if he can take care of his cat while Russ goes home to London for a family matter. The neighbor – Hank, played by Austin Butler – is startled by the sudden request, but Russ is in a mad dash to leave, and Bud walks right into Hank’s apartment.
Austin Butler stars as a reluctant yet responsible cat guardian to Bud — portrayed by Tonic the cat — in Caught Stealing. Sony Pictures / Sony Pictures
Then, Hank discovers that his neighbor is involved in some pretty shady stuff, and criminals come after him. Poor Bud gets pulled into all the drama, often riding around New York City in a duffle bag with Hank, who is trying to outrun the violent criminals and a police detective. A central plot element is just too purrfect for cat lovers in a movie featuring a cat character: Russ hid a key that the goons are desperate to find in fake rubber poop, placed among real waste in Bud’s litter box!
I won’t spoil the plot of Caught Stealing, but I do recommend you go see it – if anything, to see Tonic!
Somehow, during all the fast-paced drama in Caught Stealing, Bud/Tonic never seems phased. He is a pretty chill cat, according to his fellow cast member, Butler.
“Tonic is so brilliant, isn’t he? He’s a scene stealer,” Butler told NPR. “He had this very primal fire in his eyes, you know. And so when you fed him a treat, he didn’t just take it out of your hand with his mouth. He would grab it with his paw. He’s like this tiny little tiger. It’s just so impressive to see. And then on top of that, he could stay on a mark for an hour and a half. He’s just so focused.”
A review in The Washington Post said that Tonic’s performance is “arguably more nuanced than Butler’s,” referring to actor Austin Butler.
The review in The New York Times said this about the cat, regarding when he first appears as the cat in need of a babysitter: “A hissy, longhaired beauty given to biting, Bud effectively cranks up the movie’s Rube Goldberg-like machinery by darting into Hank’s apartment.”
In real life, Tonic lives in Toronto, Canada with his human mom: Melissa Millett, an animal trainer. She shared with NPR Tonic’s amazing story, which began eight years ago, when he was found as a stray kitten wandering the streets of Toronto. Millett took the kitten home to live with her and her four other rescue cats, and a Chihuahua. She has trained all of her pets to perform at fairs and festivals!
Screenshot from the official trailer for Caught Stealing, featuring Austin Butler and Tonic the cat. Sony Pictures Entertainment / Youtube.com
Tonic was just a year old when he got his first role, playing the intense role of the cat in the Pet Sematary remake. Tonic joined the cast of another horror film four years later in Thanksgiving.
Millett says that Tonic really digs being a feline actor!
“Tonic comes out like he’s having the time of his life,” she told NPR. “He loves the work, and he walks around with his tail high.”
Tonic made a funny appearance at the August 29th New York City premiere of Caught Stealing. He is wearing a vest and driving a miniature car in the TODAY Show video on TikTok.
