This is about a skilled martial arts cat who fights crime. He works for McClaws's Detective Agency, led by Big Mama, and is aided by his friends and inventor Dr Katmandu. Karate Kat's catchphrase is "I'm lean, I'm mean, a karate machine. Kee-yow," which he says before transforming into his karate outfit. He battles against his nemesis, Big Papa, a gang leader with two lackeys, Boom-Boom Burmese and Sumo Sai.