Garfield is an American comic strip created by Jim Davis, launched on June 19, 1978, featuring an orange tabby cat who loves lasagna and lives with his owner Jon and his friend Odie. The series contains various characters including Arlene, Pooky, and Nermal, and has diversified into merchandise generating significant revenue. Over the years, Garfield has evolved from a simple comic strip into a computer-animated series with a wide range of associated products.