You know what’s unfair? A genuine miscarriage of – well, if not justice, exactly, something justice-adjacent, like, I don’t know, integrity or maybe dignity or something like that. Look, I’m not really clear, but something is being subverted, and it’s late and I fell asleep and then woke up remembering because I’m on the Westernmost Coast I need to do Cold Start before the morning so then I found out that there are cat head-shaped taillights for motorcycles and here we are.
What was I talking about? Oh yeah, right, the unfairness. And not just any unfairness: taillight unfairness, arguably the worst sort of unfairness. And that’s not just me saying that, the UN agrees with me. Don’t check on that, though, it’ll make you look like a jerk.
Here’s what the unfairness is about: it is possible – and has been possible for at least 40+ years – to purchase, from a number of readily available and legally reputable sources – a taillight for your motorcycle that is shaped like the head of a cat.
Yes, these are a thing! And while their actual history has proven elusive so far, they seem to have been around since the 1970s, though exactly why a taillight shaped like the head of a cat was determined to be something motorcycle culture needed is a little beyond me.
Maybe everyone was just getting sick of staring at glowing red Maltese Iron Crosses? I mean, I get that.
The cat portrayed in these taillights is a little strange, too. It has a kind of upturned nose and an oddly wide head with ears set far at the sides. It doesn’t really resemble a normal domestic cat, and I think looks a lot more like a Pallas’s Cat:
The taillight itself seems to be of fairly decent quality, and has a notch with a clear section so it can act as a license plate lamp as well:
That’s pretty common on a lot of motorcycle taillights, and I’m happy to see that even with the challenges of molding a recognizable feline head, that feature can be retained.
But why should these be restricted to motorcycles? Why have automobile drivers so far shied away from cat head taillights, or, really, taillights that mimic the look of any mammalian head?
I think one could make it work, too, in the right applications. Look at this Corvair: I think a set of cat head taillghts add some really unexpected charm to the rear of the car! And they send a very pro-glowing-feline message that we all need to hear, sometimes.
You know, I could add a third brake lamp to my 2CV…
I have never liked motorcycles and don’t think I ever will, but I must have this.
I’ve always liked motorcycles, but I wouldn’t want this on mine.
Also, Jason’s writing often reminds me of Douglas Adams’ and that’s high praise IMO.
There’s already a third brake light solution out there. I’m sure there’s gotta be some Winky the Cat’s left. https://www.jcwhitney.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/winky-the-white-cat.webp
What would it take to get snail taillights for the 2CV?
An awful lot of money to injection mold lights but you could probably cast or slump something. Maltese custom busses used to use a locally made super sized 59 Chevy lens. Or you could just put a snail silhouette over a flat lens
If they let Tamiya mold that today, I bet they could get a better looking cat head than that. Those molds are so old they are back when they couldn’t get a great design without some compromises such as the flat face and stubby ears
Step 1: Find a Rite Lite still in its original box with all of the pieces:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53533708526_e055edcba8_c.jpg
Step 2: Use precisely all of the 162 red pegs that come standard with the kit:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52472774190_d011b247fc_c.jpg
“You know, I could add a third brake lamp to my 2CV…”
Yeah, please do! And continuing the feline theme while keeping it French you could do worse than some S.E.V. Marchal fog lamps:
https://fgclassic.fr/1863-large_default/pair-of-fog-lights-sev-marchal-709-starlux-180mm-nos.jpg
Or
https://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20191003/20/starlightboy/53/dd/j/o2592194414605920958.jpg?caw=800
that cat face looks high AF.
Are we 100% sure this is meant to be a cat? That upturned nose makes it look a lot like various species of bat.
As my username might indicate, I’m here for this!
I don’t see that.
But the very purpose of a taillight is to be seen. This feels oxymoronic at best. Or maybe ironic? I don’t know. I don’t know how language works.
Torch, you and I still long for the days of the JC Whitney catalog.
I miss those catalogs so much….
Something about the catalog era in general was great. I’ve never looked at so much stuff that I didn’t even want to buy, but enjoyed browsing through regardless. And scrolling on an endless Amazon page just ain’t the same. I want that tactile feel.
Winky!
https://www.jcwhitney.com/catalog/winky-the-cat/
CHMSL for your 2CV popped to mind while reading, then you spoiled it. You can find much better than that tacky crap.Years ago, forget which crap box, probably VW, the CHMSL went out, and the OEM replacement was more than I wanted to spend. Looked around ebay, and found a full rear wing, NEW in packaging, with LED CHMSL for a Mitsubishi for $20 delivered. That wing is probably still in my attic.
Put the tail-light on the 2CV. Put the wing on the Changli.
I’m thinking it’s the perfect addition to a ’59 Cadillac, with them mounted vertically so they fit. A little cat on cat action, if you will..
On that note, then it’s also unfair that there are no DOG taillights for cars!
Or LLAMAS! I love llamas/alpacas, they are so funny looking, ha ha
Where’s the justice?!
*plays “And Justice For All”*
When it comes to cats, there is no justice. Only retribution.
your outrage is bassless
Ha ha! Good one
*remastered golf clap*
What’s doubly interesting is that unlike cars, there are very few motorcycles named after cats for some reason.
I think Jaguar needs to have these on the tail of the 01, and maybe even made to fit older Jags!
Except they would probably simplify and geometricize the shape until it was nothing more than a 3D roundrect with two triangles on top. And opaque with no rear window to let the taillight light out.
If you could get those on a Cougar…
Put three on each side and have them light up sequentially on turns would be perfection.
I think you meant, purrfection
Eartha Kitt agrees.
I can tell you are personally offended that A) No one clued you into these earlier and B) slight to moderate disgust for all bikers who do NOT have one of these on their bikes.
It somewhat amazes me that these are still available since so nuch of motorcycling as I see it is portrayed as macho, and feline as more feminine. There’s a Harley near me that is absolutely comical (to me, not the owner I’m sure) with how many skull stickers and chrome skull and crossbones he has on it. MOAR SKULLZ! He used to have ape hanger bars on it, which is hilarious because he’s about 5’4”.
Its wild these have been around decades and yet I, along with it seems everyone else here, has never seen them.
If not the cat tail lights I’m sure the old JC Whitney catalog had something similar for the old VW Beetle.
Are you sure that isn’t a bottle of sex panther? Because you know 60% of the time it works every time
It’s illegal in nine countries. It’s made with bits of real panther, so you know it’s good.
It’s very pungent
If you’ve ever walked into an older small motorcycle shop (or any shop that regularly sees a variety of cruisers): the sheer amount of tacky motorcycle kitsch you can buy is staggering.
The staggering is just a side effect of the aftershave fumes in there…
And not just Harleys neither. The early Gold Wings also spawned a whole universe of chrome covers and light bars and rhinestone-lined mudflaps.
It’s so ubiquitous it’s got its own special word: farkle