Comedian Ricky Gervais has released a new adult animated series titled *Alley Cats* on Netflix. In this 18-rated show, Gervais voices the character Gus, the leader of a group of feral cats who communicate and behave like disaffected middle-aged men, often lounging on sofas and exchanging crude, off-color jokes.

The series, which debuted recently, features profanity-laden dialogue as a central element in its humor. Gervais described the concept to Netflix simply as “cats, and they swear.” Alongside Gervais, the voice cast includes Diane Morgan as Olive, a less intelligent cat, and Tom Basden as a pampered house pet named “Ponce” who occasionally joins the feral cats and becomes the subject of ridicule.

While the animation quality has drawn some positive comparisons—reminiscent of Judith Kerr’s illustrations in the *Mog* children’s books—the show’s humor has been met with significant criticism. Reviewers have described the content as relentlessly vulgar and lacking in wit, with examples including Gus making offensive remarks during a funeral scene and in conversations about other animals such as snails and hedgehogs. A recurring theme throughout the episodes is the portrayal of cats as rude, lazy, and self-centered, often accompanied by crude sexual jokes that push boundaries.

Despite occasional attempts at sentimental moments, such as references to lost kittens or familial love, critics found these outweighed by the frequent use of coarse language and offensive humor. The show’s half-hour episodes reportedly fail to sustain engagement, with some viewers unable to watch all installments in a sitting.

Supporters of Gervais are expected to form a core audience for *Alley Cats*, consistent with his established fan base. However, some commentators have suggested that the series represents a decline in creative quality compared to his earlier work.

*Alley Cats* is now available for streaming on Netflix.