Nyarth, known as Meowth in English-language media, is a unique feline Pokémon distinguished by his bipedal stance and ability to speak human language. He acquired this skill through intense self-teaching during his early life as a stray in an urban environment. His motivation stemmed from falling in love with a female Meowth named Meowzie; he learned human speech and upright posture to impress her. Meowzie spurned him, viewing these traits as unnatural. This rejection led him to join Team Rocket, influenced by "Rocket" being the first human word he comprehended. As a core member of Team Rocket alongside Jessie and James, Nyarth serves as their strategist and translator. He devises plans to capture rare Pokémon, particularly Ash Ketchum's Pikachu, and constructs mechanical contraptions for their schemes. While consistently loyal to Jessie and James, he occasionally portrays himself as their superior. His effort to learn human language directly resulted in his inability to use his species' signature move, Pay Day. Nyarth harbors persistent resentment toward Persian, the evolved form of Meowth, due to being replaced as Giovanni's favored "top cat" by one. This fuels both his refusal to evolve and a general disdain for Persian Pokémon. During the Diamond & Pearl saga, Nyarth engaged in a notable long-term deception. He feigned expulsion from Team Rocket after a fabricated failure, gaining temporary trust from Ash and his companions. This ruse aimed to infiltrate the Raimon City Pokémon Center to steal stored Pokémon by exploiting their vulnerability. The plan involved scanning Nurse Joy's Audino to bypass security. Though initially successful, the scheme was ultimately thwarted by Ash's group. Beyond his antagonistic role, Nyarth displays unexpected empathy. He relates to abandoned or mistreated Pokémon due to his own past, offering reassurance to Ash's Chimchar after its abandonment by Paul and understanding the motivations of pirate Pokémon seeking revenge against neglectful trainers. Nyarth's personality blends cunning, pride, and occasional philosophical introspection. He frequently observes the moon, reflecting on his life choices. While adept at deception—often tricking Ash's group into trusting him—Pikachu remains consistently wary due to prior betrayals. Despite their rivalry, Nyarth and Pikachu collaborate when necessary, and Nyarth occasionally laments their inability to be friends under different circumstances. His design retains classic feline traits, including ending sentences with "Nyā" (equivalent to "meow"), underscoring his dual nature as a talking Pokémon with persistent cat-like instincts.