Meowth is a bipedal feline Pokémon with cream-colored fur, distinctive cream whiskers, and a gold koban coin embedded in its forehead, reflecting design origins from the Japanese maneki-neko charm. This species typically scavenges urban environments nocturnally for shiny objects like coins, but Meowth uniquely learned to walk upright and speak human language through dedicated effort. This pursuit was motivated by a desire to impress a female Meowth named Meowzie during its early life as an abandoned stray in Hollywood. Meowzie rejected its human-like traits as unnatural, causing profound heartbreak.

Following this rejection, Meowth joined the criminal organization Team Rocket. Initially intending to disrupt operatives Jessie and James, it instead formed a permanent partnership with them. The trio consistently pursues rare Pokémon, particularly Ash Ketchum's Pikachu, though their plans invariably fail. As a wild Pokémon refusing capture, Meowth serves as Team Rocket's tactician and translator. It uses its human speech to interpret other Pokémon's communications and devise mechanical contraptions for missions. However, this linguistic ability came at a biological cost, impairing its capacity to learn typical species moves like Pay Day and diminishing its combat effectiveness.

Meowth harbors persistent jealousy toward Persian—the evolved form of its species—especially Giovanni's Persian, which occupies Meowth's coveted role as Giovanni's "top cat." Despite frequent bickering with Jessie and James, Meowth demonstrates unwavering loyalty to them. Its personality blends cunning and pride with unexpected philosophical depth, occasionally reflecting on existential matters like gazing at the moon while lamenting life choices. This complexity includes moments of empathy toward abandoned or mistreated Pokémon, reflecting its own experiences.

In the animated short "Pikachu's Summer Vacation," Meowth appears alongside Jessie's Arbok and James's Weezing at a Pokémon resort, seeking rest away from human trainers. Their respite is disrupted by conflicts between protagonist Pokémon and a rival group. Attempting to silence the noise, Meowth procures a bomb. This plan culminates in Charizard—freed from a pipe by cooperative Pokémon efforts—accidentally crushing Meowth upon landing. The subsequent bomb detonation beneath Charizard further incapacitates Meowth, leaving it charred and comically defeated in a crater.

Throughout various anime seasons and films, Meowth's background is expanded in episodes like "Go West Young Meowth," delving into its pre-Team Rocket history. It intermittently displays romantic inclinations toward Pokémon such as Skitty, Glameow, and various Eeveelutions. Narrative arcs, like a Unova-region infiltration scheme where Meowth feigned expulsion to gain Ash's trust, underscore its proficiency in deception. Despite Pikachu's consistent skepticism, Meowth occasionally collaborates with it under duress, acknowledging potential friendship. Its development remains anchored in its bond with Jessie and James, featuring recurring themes of resilience amid failure and an undiminished aspiration for Giovanni's approval.