CatNap and Smiling Critters: The Complete History of the Experiments

Introduction

The Smiling Critters line first appeared on Playtime Co.'s shelves in the late 1980s. Eight colorful animals with ear-to-ear smiles, soft fur, and scented bellies promised parents peace of mind and children joy. A lavender-scented cat that lulled little ones to sleep. A dog wagging its tail cheerfully. A bear with a heart that smelled of roses. It was a brilliant marketing move. But, like everything at the factory, the Smiling Critters had a hidden agenda.

Behind the plush exterior lay more than just a line of toys. It was a sophisticated system of mind-control experiments led by Dr. Harley Sawyer. Each animal had its own specific role. And one of them—the purple cat CatNap—became the Prototype’s right-hand man and the main antagonist of an entire chapter. In this article, we’ll tell the full story of CatNap and all his friends: from commercials to tragic endings.

The Creation of Smiling Critters: More Than Just Toys

The official 1989 Playtime Co. catalog describes Smiling Critters as eight fluffy friends who will help your child cope with any emotion. Each character had its own personality, color, scent, and therapeutic purpose. Parents were encouraged to buy the complete set so that their child could choose a toy to match their mood.

But alongside retail sales, a testing program was launched within the factory. Dr. Sawyer, head of the Big Bodies initiative, saw potential in Smiling Critters. If a toy can influence a child’s emotions, why not amplify that effect? Why not create a toy that literally lulls anxiety to sleep? Or, conversely, puts the child to sleep?

Eight orphans adopted through the Playtime Co. program served as the basis for creating the living versions of the Smiling Critters. Unlike earlier experiments such as Huggie Wuggie, the focus here was not on physical strength but on psychological impact. Each creature was given a unique aromatic “gas” that emanated from its body. It was a byproduct of Poppy Gel, converted into a volatile form. Thus began the story of Experiment 1188 and its counterparts.

CatNap (Experiment 1188): The Prototype Priest

The flagship character of Smiling Critters was CatNap—a purple cat with yellow eyes, half-closed eyelids, and a perpetual, slightly eerie smile. His belly was adorned with an image of the moon, and his signature scent was lavender. In advertisements, he was positioned as the perfect sleep companion: he rocked babies to sleep, purred lullabies, and filled the room with a soothing scent.

But the real CatNap was far from this image. Experiment 1188, created from a human child, had the ability to emit not lavender, but a powerful red-colored sedative gas. This gas, called Red Smoke, was a derivative of Poppy Gel and caused hallucinations and paralysis in the victim. It was used to subdue violent experiments and re-educate disobedient employees.

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CatNap was fanatically devoted to the Prototype. Unlike the other experiments, who obeyed out of fear or under duress, he saw Experiment 1006 as a deity. In his room—a small cubbyhole deep within the factory—a veritable altar had been set up: the Prototype’s childhood drawings, candles, flowers. CatNap cared for his “master,” brought him gifts, and believed their bond was a friendship. The Prototype, however, simply used him as a reliable guard and gas delivery boy.

Chapter 3: The Cat's Kingdom

In the third chapter of Poppy Playtime—Deep Sleep—the protagonist finds herself in an abandoned orphanage next to the factory, which is entirely under CatNap’s control. Every location here is saturated with his gas: the poppy room, the tunnels, and the Playhouse. The cat himself is barely seen at the beginning, but his presence is felt everywhere—in the red mist, in the graffiti on the walls, in the drawings depicting a tall figure with long arms.

CatNap hunts the player methodically. He doesn’t just kill—he plays games. One moment he’s frozen like a statue, the next he’s slipping through the shadows, and then he’s sending nightmares your way with his gas. Every encounter with him is a battle that is less physical and more psychological.

The climax of the chapter is a direct confrontation. The protagonist uses electric traps to ignite the gas filling the room. CatNap, engulfed in flames, lets out a heart-wrenching scream. His body burns to ashes. But before he dies, he reaches out a paw toward the Prototype’s altar—as if hoping the god will save him. The god does not come.

DogDay (Experiment 1187): Leader of the Resistance

The orange DogDay bulldog is the complete opposite of CatNap. In the ad, he was described as an energetic and loyal friend who’s always there to support you. And this trait has, surprisingly, carried over into his experimental version.

DogDay, known as Experiment 1187, refused to obey the Prototype. Instead, he led the resistance—a group of Smiling Critters who were trying to escape or find a way to stop the madness. The rebellion was brutally suppressed. CatNap personally punished the traitors. DogDay was captured, maimed, and thrown into a prison block, where his body was slowly devoured by the smaller versions of the Smiling Critters—the so-called Critter Toys.

When the protagonist finds him in Chapter 3, DogDay is a horrifying sight: his lower half is missing, he’s chained to the wall, and tiny monsters with grins are crawling all over him. Despite this, DogDay remains sane. He warns the player of the danger, asks them to stop CatNap, and, if the player fails to do so in time, dies a painful death, devoured by Critter Toys. This is one of the most terrifying and, at the same time, touching moments in the entire series.

The Rest of the Smiling Critters: Fates and Experiment Numbers

All eight characters in the series were experimental. Their exact numbers vary across different sources, but according to the most consistent lore:

In the game, they appear either as cardboard cutouts or as miniature Critter Toys monsters—twisted, hungry, and ruthless. That’s all that’s left of the once-cheerful group. Their souls, trapped in grotesque bodies, serve as a constant reminder of what Poppy Gel does to those who fail the test.

The Connection Between the Hour of Joy and the Prototype

The Smiling Critters played a key role in the events of the Hour of Joy—the rebellion of the experiments led by Prototype. CatNap supplied the rebels with Red Smoke, which paralyzed the guards and staff. DogDay tried to save those who didn’t want to take part in the massacre. The rest of the Critters split up: some followed CatNap, others followed DogDay.

This rift proved fatal. The Prototype had no need for allies with a will of their own. He used CatNap as a weapon, and when he no longer needed it, he discarded it. Just like in the finale of Chapter 3, when the burning cat begged for help, and God didn’t even show up.

Smiling Critters Experiment Table

FAQ

Question 1: How many Smiling Critters are there in total?
The lineup includes eight characters: CatNap, DogDay, Bobby BearHug, CraftyCorn, Bubba Bubbaphant, KickinChicken, Hoppy Hopscotch, and PickyPiggy.

Question 2: Is CatNap a male or female cat?
According to the lore, CatNap is a cat. In English, he is referred to as “he.” He is a male, formerly a human boy.

Question 3: Why was CatNap used as a prototype?
He viewed Experiment 1006 as a deity. As a child, he was likely lonely and in need of a protector. The Prototype exploited this psychological trauma.

Question 4: Is DogDay still active?
No. In Chapter 3, he dies after being eaten by Critter Toys. However, his role in the lore as the leader of the resistance is very significant.

Question 5: What are Critter Toys?
These are miniature, aggressive versions of the Smiling Critters that swarm the prison block. They are the result of failed experiments or the disintegration of the original bodies.

Question 6: Will there be more Smiling Critters in the next chapters?
Not directly—probably not. But their influence is present in every chapter. Perhaps new Critters will appear, created using the same principle.

Question 7: Does CatNap smell like lavender?
In the ad—yes. But its real scent is the chemical odor of Red Smoke, which is more likely to cause suffocation and hallucinations.

Question 8: Who came up with Smiling Critters?
The marketing department at Playtime Co., though the pilot version was personally overseen by Dr. Harley Sawyer.

Conclusion

Smiling Critters is the most tragic chapter in the history of Playtime Co. Behind the bright colors and smiles lie shattered children’s souls, and behind the harmless gas lies a weapon of mass destruction. CatNap, a fanatical priest, and DogDay, an unbroken leader, became the two poles of a single tragedy. Their friends, whose names we see only on posters, have vanished, leaving behind nothing but hungry monsters.

The next time you see a Smiling Critters ad, remember: every toy in that factory was once a living creature. And every smile is a scream frozen in time.