It was used as the opening track for John's fifth studio album, Honky Château, released in 1972.

[3] "Honky Cat" was also released as the A-side of John's thirteenth single.

[6] Record World said that the "sparkling mix and funky backbeat suit Elton's slidy vocal down to the ground.

"[7] Cash Box said "Faster than a speeding 'Rocket Man,' and more powerful for the rinky-tink fun of it all, this track from [John's] #1 LP should be his biggest ever.

27 on his list of the 30 best Elton John songs, calling it a "funky, horn-laden hit" and writing that "it's hard to compare the odd mix of electric piano and wheezing saxophone to any other single in Elton's songbook.