Thomas "Tom” Jasper Cat Sr. is an American cartoon character and one of the two titular main protagonists in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's series of Tom and Jerry theatrical animated short films. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, he is a grey-blue and white anthropomorphic domestic short haired tuxedo British cat who first appeared in the 1940 MGM animated short Puss Gets the Boot. The cat was initially known as "Jasper" during his debut in the short, but beginning with The Midnight Snack he was known as "Tom" or "Thomas".